I also bought a new coat, which was technically not allowed under the vows, but is very arguably necessary for the aforementioned trip to Japan this winter. It was not an impulse purchase- I considered it for weeks.  Plus, I haven’t bought a new winter coat in almost three years.  It is a) water and wind resistant b) insulated c) 3/4 length  d) classically good looking e) amazingly light weight and packable.  So I have rationalized that one well and don’t feel like it is too far outside the spirit of the vow.

And then there was the pair of completely unnecessary Biviel slingback/peeptoes on sale for $40 (originally like $168) at Amenity Shoes IN MY SIZE!  They were meant to be mine. So yeah, I can’t kid myself.  At least it was a locally owned neighborhood business… This is a lot harder than I thought it would be, even in month one.   I am still committed, but realize I am not very strong when it comes to shoes on sale.  Must stay out of shoe stores- now that my boots are bought, that should be a lot easier.  Clothes have been easy to resist thus far.

• Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-5:30
• Sunday Noon-5:00
• Closed Mondays

The lovely Erica will staff the shop on Sundays, and Emily will be there Tuesday through Saturday. Emily will enjoy having two day “weekends” every week like a normal person for the first time in more than a year.

The internet never sleeps, so naturally online shopping is 24-7, 365 as always.

I have had virtually identical conversations with customers in the boutique on more than one occasion, so rather than repeat myself, check out Steph’s blog entry, Navigating the EWG Skin Deep Database.

In case you are feeling lazy and don’t want to read the link, long story short: you still need to use your critical thinking skills when evaluating a toxicity score on Skin Deep. It is a great tool, but you need to understand how to wield it.

P.S. If anybody tries the Bubble and Bee pit putty deodorant, will you please let me know how you like it?

In celebration, I’m having a clearance sale Fri-Sun.  I’m even staying open until 7pm Friday night to give you first crack at the sale.

L’Oreal Bare Naturale Luminous Lengthening Mascara claims to be made with “86% natural origin ingredients.” First of all, the “natural origin ingredients” wording should be a giant red flag. Itsounds like legal wrangling and truth-stretching to begin with, but then the next obvious question is, “What makes up the other 14%?”

Are the ingredients better than your average mascara on the whole? Yes. Is it a natural product? No. On the plus side, there are no parabens and it is “fiber free.” (whatever that means- though there is highly processed cellulose in it, which I thought was a fiber??? Maybe by the time cellulose becomes “hydroxyethylcellulose” it is no longer technically a fiber) .

On the negative side, after a promising ingredient start of water, wax, acacia gum, and stearic acid, comes “achohol denat”. That’s denatured alcohol, which is drying to skin, hair and mucus membranes. Shortly after follows triethanolamine. Triethanolamine, according to my trusty A Consumer’s Guide to Cosmetic Ingredients, is a well known irritant, and the “most frequent sensitizer among the common emulsifiers used in cosmetics.” The CIR Panel, which is made up of cosmetic industry scientists, says it shouldn’t be used in any product intended for contact with your skin (I guess eyelashes aren’t skin) and should only be used in products that are rinsed off the skin immediately. So far I have something drying and irritating that I am putting on my eyes

What’s next? The next truly questionable ingredient is sodium polymethacrylate, an acrylate. Acrylates are derived from acrylics (synthetic) and are quote “irritants.” Yay! Another irritant. Then there is BHT, aka Butylated Hydroxytolulene, which is made by adding a butyl and carbon group from butane to toluene (also a nasty solvent), and is known to cause allergic reactions and is banned as a food additive in the UK. Now we move on to Polyquaternium-10, an anti-bacterial that is part of a family of compounds that is the number one cause of dermatitis among preservatives. In can also absorb rapidly into the skin or cause other compounds to be absorbed more quickly.

If that isn’t enough, they actually list “bismuth” as a positive ingredient in their little marketing pitch on the back of the package. As previously discussed in this blog, bismuth oxychloride is a heavy metal that is also a common allergen. Sure it’s natural, but if you have sensitive skin, you don’t want it anywhere near you.

Summary: If you are desparate for mascara (out of town wedding and you forgot yours) this is probably your best choice at Target/Walgreens/Walmart. This product contains some nice, safe waxes mixed with mineral pigments & aloe juice (second to last ingredient), and a whole bunch of potentially irritating/allergenic/drying substances, many of which are not very natural.

I have to give L’Oreal props for actually listing the ingredients on their website, though. Now if they would just do something about their animal testing…

The ground rules (theirs, with a couple of mine)

1.   New underwear is OK (ew factor too high for used)

2.  Used clothes and clothes you make yourself are OK (no, high end organic clothes don’t count)

3.  One (1) new pair of boots for fall is allowed

4.  I am planning a trip to Japan, and I am allowed to buy clothes there. (my big exception.  what’s yours?)

Make your own list of exceptions, but then stick to them!!   I’ll keep you updated here, but Traci is also planning to blog about it at http://www.blissfulb.blogspot.com/

As part of our ongoing mission to support small local artisans, the Portland boutique is proud to feature jewelry hand crafted by local designer Amanda Horton. She lives in our NE neighborhood, and makes understated, feminine, and very wearable pieces that are modern but with a vintage sensibility. All under $60! They’ll be available on the web soon.

Kits are available for Oily, Normal, Combo, and Dry skin types.

Skin doesn’t like to be exfoliated and stripped of oils- it will rebel with sebum over production and the original issue will return and will likely be worse. One customer ended up with dry, flaky skin on top of her new breakouts. So take it easy, people. Be nice to your skin. It is not an enemy to be conquered, but a dear friend that needs pampering and understanding.

Also, if you have oily skin, don’t be afraid of moisturizers. Look for products that help balance oil production, and yes, this paradoxically means a product that contains oil. It just needs to be the right kind of easily absorbed oils that will nourish, heal and protect. Look for oil serum blends that are formulated for oily skin or light moisturizers that don’t feel too heavy for you.

How much scrubbing is too much? Generally speaking, you don’t want to use an exfoliating product more than a few times a week. If you have very fragile skin, you might not want to use one at all. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you will probably be better off with a product containing jojoba beads (round and non-scratchy) or one that relies on gentle enzyme action. Sugar scrubs formulated for the face can be great, too. It helps to let the sugar dissolve a little before gently massaging your face. Don’t use pumice, walnuts, apricot shells or other harsh exfoliates on your face- save those for your feet and elbows.