Fashion Pulse Daily » Sephora.com

Paraben-Free; a Natural Approach to Skin Care

FashionPulseAlana — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:56:08 +0000

There’s been a lot of questions regarding what parabens are, and why they should be avoided, so we decided to pull together some definitions and products to help to shed light on the subject. When’s the last time you looked at the ingredients in your face soap or moisturizer? Maybe it’s time to start paying attention and deciding what you want and don’t want on your body.

What are parabens? A paraben is any of a group of compounds used as preservatives in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and the food industry (dictionary.com).

What products have parabens? Shampoos, moisturizers, lipstick, foundation, concealer, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving and cleansing gels to name a few. Without parabens, bacteria would begin to develop in the product, potentially harming users.

Why should we avoid parabens? Recently, health concerns are popping up as we are being told to steer clear of paraben products. They are being linked to cancer and/or hormonal disruptions. Whether or not they are incredibly harmful remains in question, but for those who wish to err on the side of safety, we’ve found plenty of products that do not contain parabens.

1. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion: A lightweight moisturizer designed to leave a balanced appearance, priced at $24.50.

2. Neutrogena Naturals is a line devoted to pure, natural skincare. Prices range from a $2.99 lip balm to a $7.49 cleanser.

3. Tarte 24.7 Natural Lip Sheer, SPF 15 gives lips a “treat-mint” with vitamin E and a breath freshening burst, all for $16. Available in 5 shades at Ulta.com.

4. bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation, $25, gives flawless coverage without any harmful substances. Made from only pure, crushed minerals, this powder feels like a cream. Check out the entire Bare Escentuals line available at Sephora.com

5. Laura Geller Sugar Free Blush and Brighten Boysenberry, $29.50 The matte finish of this blush provides a warm, natural-looking flush to the skin, while the color palette is just exquisite to look at.

The preservatives may help shelf life, but these paraben-free products are more concerned with real life. If the results are real, why not take a natural approach to skincare? To find a range of products and brands specifically paraben free and/or made mainly of natural ingredients, most beauty e-tailers now offer sections dedicated just to that classification at places like Sephora, ULTA, and Drugstore.com.

-Alana Quagliariello

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Amazing Cosmetics Lives Up to its Name!

fashionpulse — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:58:42 +0000

I was introduced to this line of products at the Maria Pinto show last season (they provided the makeup looks) and the Chicago-based Amazing Cosmetics most certainly did not disappoint! Available online at Sephora.com, I can’t get enough of their incredible concealer, that takes care of the pinkest of pimples and darkest of under eye circles, but I also tested and loved their Suede Collection eye shadow quad in Wheat, which gives one the guidance to create a variety of looks using contour and liner capabilities. Check out the entire line of products, and support a very cool company on the rise!
-Julia DiNardo

Beauty Buzz: Sally Hansen Airbrush Spray Foundation

fashionpulse — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:35:34 +0000

Initially I had my reservations about spray foundation; it could potentially be very messy, and very different than what I’ve been used to with the traditional liquid foundations. My Mom has used the expensive Dior Airflash Spray foundation ($60), but I was equipped with the $13.99 Airbrush Spray Makeup from Sally Hansen. Although the natural inclination would be to just spray it directly onto your face, DON’T DO IT! Unless you’re naked or want to dowse your clothes in spray foundation, I’d recommend spraying it onto your hand, or onto a sponge instead. For more helpful tips, check out this video at Stylist.com coincidentally by Carmindy, Sally Hansen’s consultant and resident beauty expert. Back to the product: I tested it out in “light”, and the major observations I made were: 1) I didn’t really need that much spray to get all-over coverage, and 2) the foundation seemed to blend better into my skin, opposed to sitting on top of it like some other regular foundations tend to do. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this Spray Foundation, which is also paraben free, with olive oil extract, chamomile and Vitamin A.

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Givenchy Mister Mat is the Primer of all Primers!

fashionpulse — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:00:49 +0000

Usually I strive to reduce my “getting ready time” in the morning, as I am not an early bird and tend to always be on the cusp of being on time or within 15 minutes late. Limiting my product use has become quite essential, which recently has led me to combine my moisturizer and foundation with a tinted moisturizer, and skip curling my eyelashes altogether. I’ve tried primers before, and noticed that makeup artists frequently use them, however I never aknowledged the necessity of one, perhaps because I never used a truly exceptional one. I had the opportunity recently to try the new Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation Primer ($30, Sephora), and I’ve got to tell you — it rocked my world! The weightless primer has a gel-like substance, but goes on and melts into the skin almost like a talc. It really evens out your skins surface, and made some red breakout spots around my chin less noticeable. My skin tend to look softer and more seamless than normal, but the real test was when I applied powder to my face: without the primer it seemed to sit more on top of my skin, making it quite evident that my face was on the dry side and I definitely was wearing powder. The Mister Mat Primer can certainly be accredited with a smoother blending of the powder with my face, and now I know that I can never go back to life without primer, especially this one! Now I’ve just got to figure out what to cut out of my morning regimen – I think I can live without those four squirts of perfume!

-Julia DiNardo

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Eyelash Curler and Comb Duo, $5 at Sephora

fashionpulse — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:55:49 +0000

We had to trek to three different Sephora locations until we found this popular little gadget in stock! Our new favorite tool, the Eyelash Curler and Comb Duo is only $5 at Sephora, and features a retractable eyelash brush that pops out of the base. We also use the brush on our eyebrows when they seem a tad unruly, and the eyelash curler itself is gentle, opposed to some scary metal contraptions we’ve seen that have a clamp-like look to them.

Beauty Buzz: Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer $6.49 at Drugstore.com

fashionpulse — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:21:47 +0000

We’ve been aprehensive most of our lives to purchase foundations and concealers anywhere besides the cosmetics counter at a department store or Sephora. After testing out the Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer $6.49, at Drugstore.com we realized that we’ve most definitely been missing out! The creamy concealer doesn’t cake at all, and provides perfect amount of moisture to the skin. There’s a variety of shades to choose from, and thankfully the “fair” was an absolute perfect match for us. This product worked so well that it actually made us kind of embarassed that we spent $30 for one at Sephora…

Beauty Buzz: CARGO Essential Eyeshadow Palette, $32 at Sephora

fashionpulse — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:09:25 +0000

So maybe we are dorks, but we thought that the CARGO Essential Eyeshadow Palette, $32 at Sephora, not only provides fabulous, neutral eye color, BUT tells you where to place each shade! We love that we’ll have makeup-artist worthy makeup with every application, and are just wondering why no one thought of this ingenious labeling sooner!