3 Vegan Products I’ve Been Digging

Cruelty-free Products. Tell your Friends

Eating vegan food is not enough. Being vegan means monitoring every single thing you purchase to ensure that you’re not supporting cruelty in what you wear or use.

We are all different types of vegan. Some of us eat mainly vegan and let it go when milk ingredients are smuggled into ridiculous things like cereal and granola bars.

Some of us are amazing vegan chefs and have built entirely vegan wardrobes, but still have pets we feed animal products.

Some of us eat vegan, but don’t consider insects animals.

It doesn’t matter which type of vegan you are, because these are just details and we all want the same thing: a more civilized world where humans don’t act out of entitlement. Monitoring consumer purchases is essential to creating this world.

1) Acne.org Skin Care

Acne.org, run by Daniel Kern, a longtime acne sufferer, has a 3 step regimen with facial wash, treatment and jojoba moisturizer priced lower than any other acne products on the market ($38.44 for all three, plus about $10 in shipping for Canadians).

Let’s talk effectiveness first. Acne care is all about prevention and unfortunately, those with acne prone skin need benzoyl peroxide just like diabetics need insulin.

Daniel Kern has developed a regimen which in my opinion balances the skin very well while preventing acne. Hormonal fluxes can still cause breakouts, but this is an effective way to keep skin at its best without overdrying, thanks in part to Daniel’s suggestion to incorporate jojoba into the moisturzer – a non-comedogenic oil.

The downside to Acne.org’s products? Fugnation. What ugly packaging. Like anyone with great skin would care!

Here is Acne.org’s  statement:

1.	We Do  Use only USP grade ingredients	1.	We Do Not  Test on animals or use any animal byproducts
2.	Stringently quality control all ingredients and extracts	2.	Add ingredients simply for “label claim”
3.	Use only the most pristine filtered deionized water	3.	Add fragrances or perfumes
4.	Follow all FDA required testing procedures	4.	Add colors or dyes
5.	Carefully select ingredients for their unique effectiveness	5.	Cut any corners
6.	Manufacture all of our products in the U.S.A.	6.	Outsource
7.	Let you decide what is right for you	7.	Advertise or have a marketing budget
8.	Listen and take your input seriously	8.	Forcefeed our agenda
9.	Welcome any and all good product alternatives	9.	Compete with other brands
10.	Only make a product if we can do it better than anyone else in the world	10.	Pretend we can be the best at everything

People who have suffered from acne genuinely want to help others. I see people suffering from this disease every day who I want to help, but it’s not the time or the place. So, try it out and let me know if you have any further suggestions, cause I do.

Isla’s Extra Tips for Clear Skin:

• use a foundation brush to apply weekly glycolic peels, medical grade
• use an ice cube to kill bacteria and reduce swelling once a day
• eat vegan, duh. Who needs all the added chemicals and hormones in animal foods?
• get lots of sleep
• Fresh. Squeezed. Orange Juice.
• tan intermittently from Sept. to November (hormones fluctuate when the seasons change)
• vitamin A acid, or DermAGel. Can be interchanged with Daniel’s topical treatment.
• it’s all about prevention.

2) Weleda Deodorant

Although Weleda is a 99.9% vegan company, I did find that they use lanolin in some of their products, a wax derived from sheep’s wool. They reason that shearing the wool doesn’t hurt the animal, but  those educated on animal agriculture know the truth about any type of animal product (that animals aren’t products).

But what I find more important: Weleda uses pure ingredients – no preservatives or artificial fragrances, and they don’t test any of their ingredients or finished products on animals.

I stumbled upon Weleda products while looking for a non-toxic deodorant. Aluminum, the main  ingredient in drugstore deodorants, has been linked to breast cancer and can cause hormonal imabalances. So I’ve been trying out crystals and enzymes and other alternatives (Tom’s of Maine, Kiss My Face, Jason…) but nothing has come close to working for a lasting fresh scent and sweat resistance.

Weleda deodorant is alcohol based and therefore dries quickly. It has a very mild citrus scent (also comes in Rose and Sage). It is seemingly magical, so I really recommend you vote Weleda with your $s and ditch the Secret/Degree/Dove crap that’s going to kill you.

$15 for a small bottle but not much is needed per use. Hella worth it.

Here is Weleda’s statement on animal testing:

Weleda does not test its ingredients or personal care products on animals. It is unnecessary for us to do so, as the plant materials that makeup our pure formulations have been used internally and externally for countless centuries. Long before animal-testing was introduced, all “testing” was done on humans, establishing a system of trial and error. Thus, many materials were established as safe and effective. As a result, Weleda’s use of raw materials has a long history of safe usage. We ensure that our biodynamically grown ingredients and those provided by our partners have not been tested on animals.

3) Giovanni Hair Care Products

I am sooo picky about shampoo and conditioner. Mainly because I hate most of the heavy artificial scents (I am scents-itive), and don’t want to succumb to Redken’s (l’Oreal’s) animal testing or go bald at the hand of Sodium Lauryth Sulfate (a known toxin). Giovanni ticks all these boxes.

The scent is a barely there citrus scent, due to the amazingly pure ingredients used like rosemary, valencia orange, mango, lemongrass, ginko biloba, echinacea… need I go on? You could eat this stuff.

The products are vegan! Except for some use of lactoferrin in a few products, don’t really get why they need to use it.

They have never tested their products on animals and on the FRONT of the product, they tell you: Cruelty-free & No Animal By-Products.

And equally as important, the Giovanni Smooth as Silk line I’ve been using does not over-saturate hair, leaves the hair soft and lathers better than any other SLS-free shampoo I’ve tried.

Also, a 250 ml bottle is $10. For pure ingredients, that’s a friggin’ steal!

*Weleda and Giovanni are both available at Whole Foods

The Only Type of Beauty

On this dublicious track, hip-hop star, Rebecca Dawn, raps about real beauty –

Cruelty-free Beauty!

"The worst part of waking up is cruelty in your cup" Folgers, by P&G

*pic by Michiel Meyboom

Instrumentals by Hug Machine.

Deeply Superficial

Winter Cruelty-Free Goodies

1. Clarisonic

A (gentle!) electric toothbrush for your face, the Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing System is a gentle way to exfoliate your skin daily. I’ve been try to sleuth out whether this company, Pacific Bioscience Laboratories, tests on animals, because they do also create cleansers and serums, but it’s a bit more difficult because their main product is this electronic device. Please let me know if anyone has any dirt on this dirt-eliminating company.

The Clarisonic Mia (the mini version) is $150.00 dollars and worth every penny because it’s a massage for your face which takes off up to six times the amount of make-up as manual washing. It also combats dryness and evens skin tone, leaving your skin baby smooth, baby.

2. Kat Von D Autograph Liquid Eyeliner

Haven’t been able to find any info about Kat Von D being vegetarian (although I did see her photographed at The Cheesecake Factory last week with her fug bf). But Kat Von D has come out naked against fur, like the rest of the somewhat considerate fame-whores. You can’t judge an eyeliner by its celebrity endorser though. This liquid eyeliner goes on with precision and has that color pop that many dry eyeliners don’t. I like the Rhi-Venge Electric Blue to switch it up a little when everything outside is grey.

3. Moroccan Oil Shampoo

Not tested on animals to the extent of the bunny symbol (the most trusted and universally recognized cruelty-free symbol – they even  specificy that none of their ingredients are animal tested), Morrocan Oil has been the best hair product I’ve found for keeping the hair healthy and soft.

I was a little skeptical when I noticed that the shampoo doesn’t have any sulfates – the component which creates lather (which is actually a good thing as sulfates are thought to strip the hair of its natural oils), but this shampoo does have a bit of soft lather to it if you apply,  rinse, then reapply, so it doesn’t leave the hair feeling stripped as other non-sulfate shampoos do. At $18.00  a bottle, this shampoo requires only a dime size amount, so it’s worth it. And so are you. Take that l’Oreal. (You test on animals, we steal your catch phrase.)

4. TIGI Brunette Goddess Conditioner

The most important thing about this conditioner is that it smells like cupcakes. Secondly, it makes your hair smooth, tangle-free, and shiny. TIGI tests their products on humans, not animals. A great way to have your cupackes without eating them, too.

5. Druide Almond Body Wash

This pricy bodywash ($10.00 for a small bottle), smells amazing, like almond extract, and is a great alternative to bar soap. Druide is a completely vegan brand. The consistency of this product is almost liquid, so it’s more like a concentrated serum of natural ingredients like sandalwood, oriental verbena, and bitter almond.

6. Make Up For Ever Aqua Creamliner

Though their website is extremely flashy and unhelpful – very Fashion File 1993 – the consensus on Make Up For Ever seems to be that they don’t test on animals (and haven’t for ten years), which is great because their Aqua Creamliner is a product far superior to Mac’s Fluidline. This creamy eye make up can be used as both a liner and shadow. It goes on smoothly, but also comes off smoothly, contrary to Mac’s Fluidline which is difficult to apply, even harder to take off, and which dries up almost instantly, rendering it useless.

Another piece of evidence that this brand does not test on animals is that they are affiliated with Sephora.

Here is Sephora’s response letter to their policy on animal testing:

Thank you for contacting Sephora.com

Sephora.com is a retailer for over 250 brands. Our private label brand, Sephora Collection, is cruelty free (meaning, the products have never been tested on animals) (Note from EnviroWoman: Cruelty-free is more than this, the product should also not include animal ingredients), but I cannot guarantee that every brand we sell is. Due to public outcry in the 1980′s, the vast majority of cosmetics companies stopped animal testing.

Other than the CARGO Plant Love lipstick I don’t know of any other lines that we carry that are entirely free from being packaged in plastics.

You will want to look for any of these logos: (Labels can be deceiving, so be careful. No specific laws exist regarding cruelty-free labeling of products, so companies can take liberties.)

• “No New Products tested on Animals”
• “No Animal Testing”
• “Cruelty Free”

If you would like more information regarding Animal Ingredients and Companies that don’t test or ones that do check out these websites:

• www.leapingbunny.org
• http://www.peta-online.org/mall/cc.html
• http://pw1.netcom.com/~axleplus/stuff/hotstuff/company.html

Best regards, Sarah R. Sephora.com Client Services

Fall Out

The Real Reason Behind Fall Break-Outs

For anyone who has noticed they tend to break out more in the fall, it’s not the stress of a new school term or a new job. It’s not because you’re depressed that winter is coming.

In the book, Acne RX, written by Dr. James E. Fulton Jr., I recently learned that there are fluctuations in our hormones that occur once our UV intake is reduced after summer. Our testosterone (the hormone responsible for the libido) increases at this time, providing us with the primal urge to go out and git er done, as biologically, babies have a better chance at surviving if they are born in the middle of summer. Consequentially, it is testosterone that ups our sebum production, clogging pores.  How nice that our outdated animal urges try to force us to have unwanted children.

It has been recorded that acne sufferers in Northern climates tend to have an increase in breakouts during fall, whereas Southern climates do not experience this phenomena.

So if it seems like your skin is always trying to sabotage you just when you’re trying to get your life on a new track, here some steps you can take:

1) Get a little UV as the sun is peacing out. Tan once a week for several weeks. Dermatologists would freak at this suggestion, but it just makes sense doesn’t it? You can always lightly cover your face if you don’t want facial sun damage.

2) Up your skin regimen as fall sets in. If you’re stopped using a product with active ingredients, pick it back up a few weeks before fall sets in to keep the skin running like a well oiled not oily machine.

3) Keeping the skin exfoliated is the trick. Have a glycolic or salicylic peel to get at those impurities deep under the skin’s surface.

Don’t forget to choose solutions that aren’t tested on animals. If we don’t ask for it with our dollars, it will never stop. Pretty much any pharmaceuticals are going to be tested and if you have debilitating acne, well you just have to do the best you can, but here’s a list of the bad guys to watch out for:

*I have only included the companies which I’m familiar with. Click link for further info.

Companies that are NOT Animal Friendly

• Alberto-Culver Co. (Alberto V05, Baker’s Joy, Consort, FDS, Just for Men, Mrs. Dash, Nexxus, Noxzema, Soft & Beautiful, Static Gaurd, St.Ives, Sugar Twin, TRESemmé) [PET]
• Arm & Hammer *SEE CHURCH & DWIGHT
• Avon Products Inc. [UNC] ["Avon will conduct animal testing only when required by law."]. *However, do, at least have a formal policy against testing via their breast cancer research fund.
• Baush & Lomb (Curel, Soft Sense, Clear Choice) *Owns Charles River Breeding Laboratories
• Beiersdorf Inc. (Nivea, Basis, Eucerin, florena, Juvena, la prairie, Labello) [UNC]
• Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream *SEE UNILEVER
• BIC Corp. *Observing Moratorium [PET]
• Blistex, Inc. (Foille, Kank-A, Glysomed)
• Block Drug Co. (Sensodyne, Carpet Fresh, Lava, Polident, Targon) [PET]
• The Body Shop Int’l *SEE L’OREAL [YES, STOP ASKING]
• Braun *SEE P & G
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (4-Way, Alpha Keri, Ammens, Aussie, Ban, Bufferin, Clairol, Comtrex, Coumadin, DuPont Pharmaceutical, Elisor, Excedrin, Final Net, Fisherman’s Friend, Fostex, Glucophage, Herbal Essences, Keri, Redmond)
• Burberry *Fur promotion or marketing
• Burt’s Bees
• [Coco] Chanel Inc. (Allure, Chanel) *Fur promotion or marketing
• Church & Dwight (Aim, Answer, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Brillo, Cameo, Carter’s Laxative, Close-Up, Enamelon, First Response, Kaboom, Lady’s Choice, Lambert Kay, Mentadent, Nair, Naturalamb, Orange Glo, Oxi Clean, Pearl Drops, Pepsodent, Rigident, Trojan) [PET]
• Clairol *SEE P & G
• Clorox (409, ArmorAll, Burt’s Bees, Fresh Step, Glad, Green Works, Javex, Lestoil, Liquid Plumber, Oxi Magic, Pine Sol, SoftScrub, S.O.S., Tilex) [PET]
• Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Afta, Colgate, Crystal Cosmetics, Hill’s Science Diet, Irish Spring, Mennen, Palmolive, Skin Bracer, SoftSoap, Speed Stick, Ultra brite) [PET]
• CoverGirl *SEE P & G
• [Coco] Chanel Inc. (Allure, Chanel) *Fur promotion or marketing
• Church & Dwight (Aim, Answer, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Brillo, Cameo, Carter’s Laxative, Close-Up, Enamelon, First Response, Kaboom, Lady’s Choice, Lambert Kay, Mentadent, Nair, Naturalamb, Orange Glo, Oxi Clean, Pearl Drops, Pepsodent, Rigident, Trojan) [PET]
• Clairol *SEE P & G
• Clorox (409, ArmorAll, Burt’s Bees, Fresh Step, Glad, Green Works, Javex, Lestoil, Liquid Plumber, Oxi Magic, Pine Sol, SoftScrub, S.O.S., Tilex) [PET]
• Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Afta, Colgate, Crystal Cosmetics, Hill’s Science Diet, Irish Spring, Mennen, Palmolive, Skin Bracer, SoftSoap, Speed Stick, Ultra brite) [PET]

• Dial Corp. *SEE HENKEL
• Donna Karan *Fur promotion/marketing & Fragrances managed/owned by Estee Lauder
• Dolce & Gabbana *Fur promotion or marketing
• Elizabeth Arden (Alberta Ferretti, Alfred Sung, Badgley Mischka, Bob Mackie, Britney Spears, Cynthia Rowley, Elizabeth Taylor, Geoffrey Beene, Halston, Hilary Duff, Hummer, Intervene, Juicy Couture, Liz Claiborne, Lulu Guinness, Mariah Carey, PREVAGE, Wings)

• Fendi *Promotes Fur & Fragrances managed/owned by Unilever
• Gillette Co. *SEE P & G
• Glad Products Company (Brita, Glad, Hidden Valley, Kingsford, Match Light)
• Gucci Group *SEE PPR GROUP
• Helene Curtis Industries *SEE UNILEVER
• Henkel AG (Borateem, Borax, Citre Shine, Coast, Combat, Dep, Dial, Dry Idea, Purex, Renuzit, Right Gaurd, Schwarzkopf, Soft Scrub, Soft &Dri, Sta-Flo, Tone, Zout) [OWN ADMISSION]
• Jergens Soap Co *SEE KAO
• Johnson & Johnson (Aveena, Band-Aid, Clean & Clear, Listerine, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, RoC, Tylenol) [PET]
• Johnson Products Co. *SEE L’OREA
• Estee Lauder: American Beauty, Aramis, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and Bumble, Clinique, Coach, Daisy Fuentes, Darphin, Donna Karan, Flirt, Good Skin, Grassroots, Jane, Jo Malone, Kate Spade, Kiton, La Mer, Lab Series, MAC Cosmetics (M-A-C), Michael Kors, Missoni, Ojon, Origins, Prescriptives, Prescrptives, Rodan and Fields, Rodan & Fields, Sean Joh, Stila, Tom Ford Beauty, Tommy HilfigerAmbre Solaire, Anais Anais, Belle Color, Biotherm, Body Shop Int’l, Cacharel, CCB, Cosmair, Dermablend, Diesel, Fructis, Garnier, Gemey, Giorgio Armani, Gloria Vanderbitl, Helena Rubinstein, Inné, Jade, Kerastase, Kiehl’s Since 1851, La Roche Posey, Lancôme, Lanvin, Matrix, Maybelline, Mizani, Movida, Nutralia, Nutrisse, Nutritioniste, Ombrelle, Phas, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Redken, Sanoflore, Sho Uemura, Shu Uemura, SkinCeuticals, Softsheen Carson, Synergie, Vichy, Viktor & Rolf, Yves Saint Laurent

• KAO Cosmetics Corp. (Ban, Bioré, Curé, GUHL, Jergens, John Frieda, Kanobe, Molton Brown) [NTW] *Still filing NEW animal testing patents
• Kimberly-Clark Corp. (Andrex, Cottonelle, Depend, DryNites, GoodNites, Hakle, Huggies, Intimus Gel, Kleenex, Kotex, Little Swimmers, Neve, Pingos, Poise, Pé, Scott Paper, talo, Viva, Wondersoft) [PET]
• Laboratoires Garnier *SEE L’OREAL
• LaCoupe Salon [PER OWN ADMISSION]
• Lever Brothers *SEE UNILEVER
• Lifestyles Condoms (Ansell Healthcare Products Llc)
• Limited Brands (Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Henri Bendel, La Senza, C.O. Bigelow) *Unclear on ingredient policy, Veronica’s Secret has sold fur products [STATUS in DISPUTE]

• Mars Candy (Snickers, M&M’s, Twix, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, Starburst, Dove, Skittles, Pedigree, Masterfoods) *Yes, the candy company is conducting all sorts of hideous experiments!
• Max Factor *SEE P & G
• Mennen Co. *SEE COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
• Nalgene (Sybron International) *Water bottle maker, imports lab animal restraints!
• Nestlé S.A. (Alcon, Alpo, Butterfinger, Cailler, Callie, Carnation, Cheerios, Chef America, Coffee Mate, Friskies, Gerber Co, Kohler, Maggi, Nerds, Nescafe, Novartis, Oreo, Perrier, Peter, Purina, Sanpellegrino, Thomy, Vittel, Wonka)
• Neutrogena Corp *SEE JOHNSON & JOHNSON
• Noxell Corp (Noxzema) *SEE P & G

• Olay Co. (Oil of Olay) *SEE P & G
• Oral-B Worldwide *SEE P & G
• Oscar de la Renta Ltd *SEE PPR GROUP
• Pantene (Procter & Gamble) [PET]
• Parfums Givenchy SA (Givenchy, Extravagance, Amarige)
• Pfizer Inc. (Bain de Soleil, Visine, Plax, BenGay, Viagra!, Warner-Lambert) [PET]
• Phoenix Brands LLC (Fab, Dynamo, RIT Dye) [NVS]
• Playtex Products Inc. (Banana Boat, Woolite, Jhirmack, Baby Magic, AvoTriplex, AVP, Wet Ones, Diaper Genie) [PET]
• PPR Group/Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bedat, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Printemps, Redcat, Roger & Gallet, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney) *No known policy
• Prada Group (Fendi) *No known policy
• Procter & Gamble Co. (Secret, Crest, Vidal Sassoon, Tide, Cover Girl, Covergirl, Max Factor, Oil of Olay, Gillette, Oral-B, Old Spice, Hugo Boss, Wella, Noxema, SK II, Clairol, Eukanuba, LOTS MORE) [PET]
• Purex Corp. (Procter & Gamble)
• Reckitt Benckiser (Lysol, Mop & Glo, Clearasil, Cattelmen’s, Dettol, Woolite, Calgon, Vanish, Veet, Airwick, Finish, Electrasol, Resolve, Spray ‘N Wash, French’s, Woolite) [PET]
• Revlon Inc. (Almay, Jean Naté, Ultima II, Visage Beaute) [UNC]
• Richardson-Vicks (Procter & Gamble) [PET]
• Rimmel (supplied by Unilever)
• Sally Hansen *SEE COTY
• Schering-Plough (Coppertone, Ban de Soleil, Dr. Scholl’s) [PET]
• Scott Paper Co.
• S.C. Johnson & Son (Drano, Edge, Fantastik, Glade, Off, Pledge, Raid, Saran, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Skintimate, Tempo, Vanish, Windex, Ziploc)
• SmithKline Beecham (AquaFresh, Contac, Tums) [PET]
• Softsoap Enterprises (Colgate-Palmolive)
• Suave [PET]

• 3M (Scotch, Post-It) [PET]
• Tom’s of Maine *This was once a GREAT company, and unfortunately, is no longer. Their profits WILL go to Colgate regardless of what they say. Tom’s of Maine has even gone so far as to start putting Fluoride into their toothpastes which once were free of it. AVOID! *SEE COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
• Trojan *SEE CHURCH & DWIGHT

• Vidal Sassoon *SEE P & G
• Vogue Magazine
• Wyeath Pharmaceuticals (American Home Products, Chapstick, Centrum, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Robitussin)
• Yves Saint Laurent *SEE L’OREAL

• Unilever: Ades, Becel, Axe/Lynx, Ben & Jerry’s, Bertolli, Birds Eye, Boursin, Bovril, Breyers, Brooke Bond, Chicken Tonight, Cif, Hellmann’s/Best Foods, Colman’s, Comfort, Continental, Cornetto, Cup-a-Soup, Degree, Domestos, Dove, Elizabeth Arden, Fabergé, Findus, Flora, Finesse, GB Glace, Golden Gaytime, Good Humor, HB, Helene Curtis, Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Iglo, Imperial Margarine, Impulse, Kibon, Klondike, Knorr, Kwality Wall’s, Lakme, Langnese, Lawry’s and Adolph’s, Lever 2000, Lifebuoy, Lipton, Lux, Magnum, Maille, Marmite, Paddle Pop, Peperami, Persil, PG Tips, Pond’s Creams, Pot Mash, Pot Noodle, Pot Rice, Prince Matchabelli, Q-tips, Ragú, Rexona, Rinso, Salon Selectives, Sana, Scottish Blend, Selecta, Signal, Skippy, Slim Fast, Snuggle, Solero, Spry, Squirrel, Suave, Sunsilk, Sure, Surf, Timotei, Twink, Vaseline, Vermonster, Viennetta, Vim, Wall’s, Wish-Bone

Factory Farming – Ugh! As If!!!

It’s such a dawg eat dog world out there these days, people assume that taking, killing, and gorging are part of the process of nourishing ourselves. But if you’ve ever pondered the thought: you are what you eat, the substances that you choose to ingest are not only forming your physical self, but your inner self. {If you’re not vegan, please don’t getcha back up here. Being Halloween and a peak emotional time for me, I’ve hit up a few Reese’s lately (although I’m sure if I had a bit more drive to bake, I could concoct something vegan just as good…)}

Alicia Silverstone’s new book: “The Kind Diet” is sort of the antithesis to “Skinny Bitch” while sharing the same knowledge. Getting older doesn’t have to mean getting fat and sick. I always knew that Cher would make it to the top. Now, if she could just make another good movie (instead of this Miss Match crap).Go Girl.

Laser Beams In My Dreams

Skip the Brazilian, Go For the Beam!

dawnofanewera chats with Collette from Midwest Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Centre to delve into the magical process of laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal works through the process of selective photothemolysis, causing permanent damage to the hair follicle by targeting darker areas of melanin, while not heating the skin.

“The anagen phase is when the hair is most vulnerable to the laser,” Colette explains.

Why Laser Hair Removal?

In comparison to electrolysis (electricity delivered to each individual hair follicle), laser hair removal is faster, more efficient, and less painful. Although electrolysis can be a good solution for fair hair. Generally, people also feel that laser hair removal is less painful than waxing and it’s definitely more effective long-term. It’s very satisfying and liberating.

What Are the Typical Results?

Genetic pre-disposition is always a factor to be considered, but generally you’ll see a difference with each treatment – with the hair becoming softer, the shaving issue is 100% improved. The back can be more difficult because it’s an area of thicker skin, but the bikini area responds wonderfully, as well as the chin and the upper lip.

How Much?

Bikini is around $125, underarm area is around $125, and full leg (both) is about $650 (which includes bikini and feet). Nobody wants to be a hobbit!

Who’s Doing It?

Anyone from their 20s to 60s, mainly.  We all have dormant hair follicles that are prone to becoming active if certain hormones are triggered through things like pregnancy and menopause.

Those with light skin and dark hair are the best candidates for Laser Hair Removal. But those individuals with darker skin can have coarser hair and can therefore also benefit from it. The LightSheer laser works the best for those with darker skin tones.

Does It Hurt?

Some people say it feels like an elastic band snapping against your skin. It’s a little more intense than this – a bit sharper than an elastic. But everyone’s pain threshold is different. If it’s pain-free, it’s not doing what it’s supposed to.

Any Way to Ease the Pain?

Suck it up! It’s over fairly quickly. Some people are more apprehensive and choose the EMLA, a topical anathestic cream which costs about $40 and is put on  60-90 minutes before the treatment. It doesn’t take the pain away, but does take the edge off. Tylenol can help take the edge off, too.

(*Collette uses a special trick of of placing the climax of her stories at the climax of the pain.)

What Can Go Wrong?

The most common problem occuring with laser hair removal is hyper-pigmentation because the laser is attracted to pigment. If you’ve been out in the sun, the laser gets a little over-excited and can discolor the darker area of the skin. 80% of hyper-pigmentation goes away, but it can be permanent. Improper technique can burn the skin and cause small blisters so choose your clinic wisely and choose a technician you’re comfortable with.

Or… you could just be a

Just saying : )

*Title in reference to a cheer we used to do at the YMCA Camp Chief Hector. The 12-13 year old group was called the Kananaskins, and we sang a cheer that went a little something like this…

(stomping and clapping)

We’re the ones from Kananaskins

We’re the ones who have the fun

We’re the ones who act like asses *donkeys* (this was a Christian camp…)

Put the others on the run.

Second verse same as the first

Whole lot louder and a whole lot worse.

(Repeat lines 1-4)

Chorus:

Laser beams – woo, woo (twirling gesture)

In my dreams – woo, woo

Laser beams – woo, woo

In my dreams – woo, woo

(…there was more to the cheer… something about a chicken train that we were riding all day… Crazy Christians.)

Junk in tha Trunk

A friend of mine once referred to her derriere as a cottage cheese buffet (not that that stopped her from mooning people out the school bus window.) Following is an article I wrote on cellulite for “Swag Magazine”; I put it in quotation marks because it’s a fake magazine that only exists in the owner’s mind. Enjoy ladies!

What is more famous than celebrities these days? Celebrity cellulite. From Mischa Barton to Britney Spears, celebrity thighs and butts are finding their way onto magazine covers – exposed cellulite super-imposed, circled in white, and pointed to with arrows. In a world not only meticulous about size and shape – texture, too, has taken center stage in the requirements for perfection. So who wants to see all this cellulite blown-up and zoomed in on? The media is appealing here to the many people who love to bust typically glossed-over celebrities for their imperfections in order to see them as regular, flawed people. But unfortunately, instead of making readers feel better about themselves, the result of this cellulite hunt is a white circle around our own thighs and butts. Hilariously referred to as “hail damage” or “mattress phenomenon”, cellulite is an appearance of dimpled skin caused by collections of fat cells that bulge through the mesh of the connective tissue beneath the skin. Appearing most commonly on the upper thighs and buttocks, cellulite can also be visible on the upper arms and stomach, but is not necessarily related to being overweight. “I don’t care how skinny you are,” Cindy Simonelli from Dermal Laser Centre comments. “Everyone has it.” Well, maybe not everyone, but most women – up to 95%. So – if so many women have cellulite, then why has it become a universal secret shame? With women showing more skin in the media these days, posing in bikinis and sometimes naked for photo shoots, a new window has opened for close scrutiny of areas that were previously covered up. Then of course there is airbrushing to thank for our collective forgetting that women are not poreless and Barbie-plastic smooth. Or maybe it’s because men, in comparison, rarely suffer from cellulite. Whereas women have thinner skin than men (physically – not emotionally…) when women’s fat cells expand they burst through their connective tissue; men’s outer skin is thicker and obscures surplus fat. Elements that can contribute to cellulite besides genetics are: smoking, fatty foods, lack of exercise, poor circulation, hormone changes, stress, and caffeine. Except when caffeine is rubbed onto the skin, it can reduce the appearance of cellulite… Or can it?

With names like Fat Girl Slim and WonderBod Jiggle Gel, many cellulite creams these days contain caffeine, thought to increase blood flow and drain water from fat cells. Another popular ingredient often found in cellulite creams is Retinol, which is supposed to penetrate the skin and increase collagen production, making the skin thicker and hiding the fat (however high of amounts of Retinol can cause the skin to redden and peel). Some creams also contain DMAE – an anti-oxidant found in our fishy friends that stimulates the muscles to contract and become firmer. But the bottom line is: there is a lack of evidence to show that any of these ingredients can reach the fat through the skin. It has been difficult to measure the results of cellulite creams without standardized testing, but the general consensus among doctors is that even if the creams do work, the results are very temporary, lasting from minutes to hours, and at $25 to $75 a bottle, uncertain results can be are a waste of money.

Another option for cellulite reduction is Velasmooth, which – in cellulite’s continual quest for the limelight – was recently performed on famewhore Kim Kardashian in her reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” after comments made by Paris Hilton (aka Wonky McValtrex) surfaced comparing KK’s behind to a trash bag full of cottage cheese.  Velasmooth combines gentle light and radio frequency energies with mechanical rollers and vacuum suction. The heat and light shrinks the size of the fat cells, while the rollers and vacuum stimulate blood vessels to increase circulation to the local area and increase the metabolic process. The downside? An initial treatment package costs just under $3000, with monthly follow-up sessions priced at around $150 a pop. But according to Cindy Simonelli from Dermal Laser Centre: “it does work.” Having administered the treatment to clientele ranging from women in their mid-twenties to women in their sixties, Simonelli has seen many happy clients leave her clinic. “I have seen patients lose several inches,” she remarks. Velasmooth is not painful, but may leave the skin feeling slightly warm and red for a short time. It is often used in preference to the more controversial cellulite treatment on the market – Lipodissolve (otherwise known as mesotherapy.)

Evolving in France in the 1950s, Lipodissolve is now available in North America, though it is not yet adequately tested or approved. Using a series of medicated injections, Lipodissolve is thought to melt away localized areas of fat. The ingredients in the injections vary, but usually include: PCDC (a soybean extract and bile derivative – um… yuck!), alpha lipid acid, enzymes, plant extracts, and multivitamins. Some injections also include anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and hormones. The need for regulation within these ingredients is one reason why the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is concerned. The other cause for concern: where does the fat go? A question that 100 000 North American patients have been willing to overlook as long as the fat is gone. But at $375 to $1500 per treatment session, and four to eight treatments to notice results, Lipodissolve is not only expensive, but can be uncomfortable for those squeamish about needles, and can leave bruising for up to three weeks. Not to mention the horror stories that have been linked to the process – infections similar to flesh-eating disease, tissue death, and allergic reactions, making a little junk in the trunk seem not so bad. “I looked like I was eight months pregnant,” Annette Clark told ABC news after a Lipodissolve session on her stomach provoked an allergic reaction that left her waking up in an ambulance.

For those seeking a more natural cellulite treatment, there is lymphatic drainage massage. Lymph is a clear, slightly yellow fluid that circulates the body carrying white blood cells and antibodies to tissue and organs to help maintain the immune system. Lymphatic drainage massage is a technique that uses light pressure and gentle rhythmic strokes to increase lymphatic flow and help rid the body of toxins and fat by drawing fluid to the capillaries and causing the puckering of the skin to subside.

But maybe the most effective treatment in fighting cellulite is simply building muscle. We all saw the toned female athletes in the Olympics last summer wearing tiny  bodysuits, so it’s safe to say that the swimmers, volleyball players, runners, and gymnasts are keeping their cellulite in check. Muscle creates a firm base that makes fat lie flat, and also increases metabolism, burning more calories than fat. Squats and lunges are especially good cellulite-busting techniques as they activate larger muscle groups.

With all the recent obsession with cellulite, if perfection and imperfection are  equally as fascinating, then perhaps one is not better than the other.

Update: Veganism is great for the badunk-a-dunk.

And that is the first time I have ever typed that word!

Erase Replace Embrace New Face

5 Product Switches For Cruelty-Free Hygiene

Instead of LifeDeathBrand cotton pads, try:

EcoTools Eco Cleansing Sponges, made with soybean oil and cotton, are soft on one side for make-up removal and spongy on the other, offering mild exfoliation for the face and lips. But best of all, each one lasts for one month and a bag costs the same amount as a bag of cotton swabs.

Instead of Secret or some shit, try:

Kiss My Face Liquid Rock has a liquid crystal roll-on deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminum. The summer scent smells like orange blossom.

Instead of Crest or some shit, try:

**I was going to put this -

Damn. The strawberry flavour was so non-poisonous tasting.

…but have learned that, although Tom’s of Maine was once a great company, they are now owned by Colgate (raging animal testers!). You can buy Tom’s of Maine with the reasoning that it will influence Colgate to change their animal testing policies (PETA is taking this stance), but I’ll be looking for an alternative to Toms of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste.

Instead of Pantene or some shit, try:

Earth Science Citress Shampoo lathers nicely, and has a real fruit extracts like grapefruit, orange, and lemon that give it a mild refreshing scent.

Instead of l’Oreal Studio FX or some shit (which smells like a Rico Suave on the prowl), try:

Alba Botanica Strong Hold Style Gel has wheat proteins, B vitamins, and antioxidant protection. It’s a lightweight effective gel, however I suggest wetting your hands before applying to help it absorb. With strict policies against animal testing:

We share your concern that animals not be used to test cosmetics, toiletries and household products. We do not test our products or ingredients on animals, nor do we ask others to do so for us. Furthermore, we require that all our ingredient suppliers meet the same criteria of no animal testing. We offer a unique collection of quality personal care products for caring consumers seeking natural, organic and cruelty-free ingredient alternatives within the vegetarian ethic.

… Alba is smarter than Jessica herself.

Now, a bibliographic music sample of the lyric that inspired this title. RIP Left Eye : (

Sun, Sun, Sun(less tanners): Which are Good? Which are Bad?

Are you more afraid of aging than death?

Then sit back and let me be your lab rat today in:

3 Cruelty-Free Sunless Tanners

Pitted Against Each Other

1. Clarins Liquid Bronze Self-Tanning

Brand: Clarins claims their motto is “plants and nothing but plants”. Clarins also claims that it was one of the first companies to stop testing on animals in 1988.

Scent: Eggnog. It doesn’t have that nauseating soy-sauce-brown-sugar scent that many other self-tanners emanate, but still has a strong scent.

Effectiveness: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning works, but at what cost? (see below)

Longevity: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning should be applied every 2 or 3 days.

Skin Irritation: ingredients include DHA, Erythrulose, aloe vera, and vitamin e. I did notice some mild breakouts with this product, possibly because the product contains too many ingredients (hence the added scent to conceal them.)

Price:$32.00

Verdict: Although the scent of this product is better than most, its ingredients are not gentle enough on the skin.

2. Phytomer Creamy Self Tanning Gel

Brand: Phytomer claims to have respect for natural equilibrium in their algae farming practices. They also claim to act for environmental protection.

Scent: None. The only self-tanner I have tried that does not smell. There is a fragrance listed in the ingredients, but it does not smell, let alone smell like a self-tanner.

Effectiveness: Aye, there’s the rub… While Phytomer’s Creamy Self Tanning Gel appears to work on the body, producing a light, but natural tan, the results aren’t as noticeable on the face.

Longevity: I applied this stuff every single day to my face while I was in Hawaii, and still couldn’t tell if it was working. Even the body results only last 2 days max.

Skin Irritation: Phytomer contains marine sugars to stimulate the skin’s melanin. The product is a clear, silky gel, but has more of an oily than creamy texture, no matter what they say. So does it cause breakouts? The rich texture is not something those with problem skin want to risk.

Price:$44.50 ~ Yowsa.

Verdict: Better work for that price! Oh right, it doesn’t really.

3. Nature’s Gate Upper Tanagement

Brand: Nature’s Gate Organics claims to seek to replace chemicals with natural alternatives and claims to value sustainability.

Scent: Coffee ice cream or Bailey’s, but mild – not overbearing.

Effectiveness: This stuff is dope. It works overnight to create a natural look.

Longevity: Tanagement should be applied roughly twice a week. 

Skin Irritation: Containing olive oil as a moisturizer and ivy as a soothing anti-inflammatory, Tanagement is the best natural colour you can get without rubbing dirt and berries on your skin. Because this tanner is in the cream form, it can be mixed with moisturizers and (so far) has not induced any breakout wrath.

Price: Tanagement is on sale at Whole Foods right now for $14.99 ~ an unbeatable price. (Normally it is around $22.00)

Verdict: Hands down winner!

*None of these products are tested on animals.

And now, a bibliographic shout out to the propaganda that inspired this title:

Hopefully the kids asked their parents, then thought about it on their own, possibly researching the different drugs available, possibly from the library from an AADAC pamphlet and determined what their effects were, then went out and experimented with a couple (and questionned the ones that were tested on animals), then made the decision for themselves.

Winter Beauty

In the ugly season, when colour seeps from our faces and we question whether global warming is really such a bad thing, here are some tips spawned from the perseverance of vanity:

1) Dry Lips:

• Do not use Vaseline, because they are owned by Unilever, which tests on animals, but also because it doesn’t last very long between applications. ROC Dermatologic is another bad choice (Johnson & Johnson tests on animals; not MANY dogs, cats, and primates, they say on their site.) And Blistex is another uh-huh. This includes Glysomed, hand cream lovers. Burt’s Bees is good, but can make food taste like Vicks Vapour Rub.

Update: I cannot support Burt’s Bees because their products, while not tested on animals, contain lanolin, a product derived from sheep’s wool to be used as a moisturizer and water repellent. Burt’s Bees claims that the sheep are not hurt during the shearing process, but the sheep are raised as products and then must be slaughtered when they cease to become an economic gain. Burt’s Bees has this idea in mind that a natural product is better than a synthetic product no matter what, however factory farming is not natural… Boo-urns Burt’s!

Update: J.R. Watkins Apothecary Natural Aloe Lip Balm (23 SPF) works better than ROC or Vaseline, is 3$, and does NOT test on animals.

• The best way to exfoliate stubborn dry lips is to wet them, then gently rub them with a nail buffer. Not a nail file, a buffer, using the soft edge; Side 3, if it comes with four sides. Your lips will be smooth immediately. Just be gentle. Toothbrushes don’t work. Wet cloths don’t work. You need something with a very fine grain to do the job.

2) Winter Induced Acne:

• If your skin is better in hot climates and in the summer, take Vitamin D to help skin stay healthy in the winter. Other good skin vitamins: Vitamin A (larger doses for severe acne), Vitamin B5,  Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E,  Folic Acid.

• Skip the ProActive. The stuff is bunk shit and only works from the outside in, causing dry skin and bleached towels.

• A Vitamin C mask, such as the EmerginC mask (not tested on animals) will revive dull winter face syndrome.

• Witch Hazel can make a great natural toner. Just straight up Witch Hazel, not the stuff with alcohol; the whole point is that it’s a natural toner. Essencia has a Witch Hazel floral water spray, which is just a steamed distillation of the flowers from Provence, France.

• Infared Saunas. These saunas are hotter than the standard ones and heat up the fat under the skin (good for cellulite, too), so they flush the body of toxins via sweat. Toxins in our system (from additives in our food and pollution) can come out through the skin. Just make sure to cleanse the face before and after use so the face can sweat witout blocked pores, and so the toxins do not reabsorb into the skin.

3) Dry Hair

• Winter can leave hair dry and bland. Try Moroccan Oil. Apply only a dime-sized amount to wet hair, too   much can leave the hair feeling greasy. Your hair will feel soft and look shiny, and the oil will provide long-term conditioning to the hair. This product smells unique, almost soda-ish, and of course is not tested on animals.

4) General Winter Blahness:

• a great way to revive the body is a steam bath. Take a bottle of ice water inside to regulate core temperature in order to prolong the sub-tropical experience. Your skin will be moist and renewed and you will sleep like a corporate slave on a Sunday.

• wearing the same few winter coats all season can leave a human in fashion depression. Mix up looks with layering hoodies, changing scarves, and/or being cold ; )

But mostly, remember: you are trapped in Canada. Unless you have dual citizenship or a shitload of money, you have to experience winter. There is no way out. Even if you live in Vancouver, you will still have to endure a few weeks of ridiculously wet, heavy snow that wrecks your unprepared car and makes you feel cheated (you’ve already accepted excess rain in exchange for no snow…) You can’t escape the cold, lovers.

Okay, now BE beautiful!