review: wen hair care

I’m not one to easily fall into the allure of infomercials, but recently I caved. That’s right, a combination of Chaz Dean’s speech about the wonders of his revolutionary hair care product alongside a clip of a woman with unbelievably shiny and flowy locks got me to bite the bullet and purchase – wait for it – Wen hair care.

With that, it’s time for a review!

The claim is that this 5-in-1 formula (shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, leave-in conditioner) will leave hair moisturized, manageable and looking sheen as ever without the use of harsh chemicals that strip your hair of its natural oil. I love the idea of using a product that was developed using all natural ingredients rather than the unnecessary junk (detergents, sulfates, ect.) that the everyday shampoo and conditioner all too often contain. Being the eco-friendly activist I am, I had no choice but to give it a go, right?! ;) Insufficient justifaction, anyone?

I know what you’re wondering – has my hair magically transformed into that of a Disney princess, ultra voluminous and impeccably shiny (like girl pictured below, for example) since using Wen? Well, no. However, it has become less prone to breakage and feels extremely smooth after each use. But I don’t want to lead you astray and make it seem as though I don’t know how I was living before I was introduced to this product, so let’s get to the downfalls…

Because Wen does not contain sodium laureth sulfate (a foaming agent), there is no lathering to be had and is similiar in consistancy to that of a thick hand cream (coincidentally, the main ingredient is glycerin.) This means you have to use a great deal of product, especially if you have medium to long hair like me, in order to cover the scalp and all ends of the hair. Even the bottle discloses that you will need 10-15 pumps per application (how ironic that the website says much less, by the way.) This leads me to two things to note: 1) you are going to go through the bottle quite fast if you shampoo everyday and will have to repurchase again soon (good selling strategy on their part, I suppose) and 2) in order to coat your hair in that much product, it gets time consuming.

In addition to the tedious application process, it is also suggested on the bottle that you leave the product on your hair for 3-5 minutes+ before rinsing. This task alone tacked on an extra 7 minutes to my shower routine. Therefore I’ve wasted not only time, but a great deal of water as well. Not very green if you ask me!

One last gripe about this product: the 30-day starter kit comes with 5 items (3 of which I did not want nor need – yet another waste): the cleansing conditioner, style cream, texture balm stick, intensive moisture treatment, and a comb. I really only wanted the main item – the cleansing conditioner, and maybe the intensive treatment, but there was no way to control the specific items I received – you simply get what comes in the starter kit. However, it is news to me that Sephora just started selling the Wen line and you can buy a selection of the items separate. For that reason, I would definitely recommend buying it from their website rather than the Wen website.

Alright, so based on all of the information above, I am giving this product 3 out of 5 stars. How about you – have you tried Wen or is this something you’d consider trying?

brush up your skills.

Now that I’ve talked a lot about slowly updating my beauty bag to include various eco-friendly products, why not also mention the same in regards to cosmetic brushes? Here are my top five favorites that are one or more of the following: cruelty-free, made from sustainable and/or recycled materials, won’t break the bank, comes in sustainable packaging. Check it out:

1 – Most affordable + most sustainable: EcoTools. Not only are these brushes easily accessible (find ‘em at Target, Walmart and Walgreens), but they’re also extremely affordable! The various EcoTools’ brushes and kits range from $6.99-$15.99, all of which contain 100% cruelty-free brushes made of synthetic taklon bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules and bamboo handles. In addition, the company packages every product in an eco-conscious way by using reusable pouches, post-consumer recycled plastic and/or recyclable packaging. Also good to know - EcoTools is a member of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses that support environmental initiatives!

2 – Best sample: RAW Natural Beauty via Sircle Samples. If you’re looking to test-drive a few eco-friendly brushes (or other natural beauty products) to see how you like them before draining your wallet, I highly recommend Sircle Samples! Sircle Samples is a fun and easy way to try out samples of various beauty and personal care products custom to your specific beauty needs, preferences, and style. I recently received this trio of sustainable brushes and must say that the flat-top foundation is a real winner!

3 – Best multi-purpose: Sigma Synthetic Precision Kit. The brushes in this kit were created with a unique design made to mimic your fingertips featuring Sigma’s exclusive synthetic Sigmax fibers. I love this kit for its ability to serve a variety of purposes – you can use the brushes for concealing blemishes, stippling product onto sun spots, applying foundation onto those hard-to-reach areas (around the nose, under the eyes), blending out shadow, highlighting the browbone, plus more! For all of the makeup mavens out there, this kit is a must-have for creating a truly flawless face! (You can read my brief review on the Sigma Synthetic Essential Kit that I wrote a while back here.)

4 – Best complete kit: Sigma Mrs. Bunny Essential Kit. When it comes to this particular Sigma brush kit, I always say they didn’t put the word “essential” in the title for nothing! Containing 12 professional makeup brushes, this kit includes every brush you could possibly need to create a complete makeup look. Whatsmore, the bristles are vegan-friendly and ultra-soft (hence the name “bunny” perhaps?! hehe) Bonus - the brushes come in a container that turns into two brush cup holders for organized storage. And just how can you say no to those pretty colors?

5 – Best for travel: Sonia Kashuk “Out of the Woods” collection. This makeup brush collection features handles made from wood, ferrules produced from recycled aluminum, and a sustainable cork bag perfect for holding your brushes and other small beauty items for travel.  (I’m also in love with the Sonia Kashuk limited edition “Straight from Nature” collection which gets the award for most unique design in my book!)

What are your go-to cosmetic brushes?

green your hygiene routine.

I realize that in the past few months I’ve talked heavily about greening your beauty routine (here, here, here, here or here)… but what about all those other items we use on a regular basis?! Today I’m showing you some of my favorite eco-friendly hygiene products! Let’s get to it…

From left to right (sort of)…

• Preserve toothbrush – Made of 100% recycled yogurt cups – just how cool is that? Even cooler is the fact that the packaging doubles as a return envelope; once you’re ready for a new toothbrush, simply put your used one back in the package and send it off to the company for recycling, no postage necessary!
• EcoTools bath pouf - Produced from 100% recycled material, this bath pouf works great for daily cleansing and gentle exfoliation, eco style!
• Organic cotton balls - Whitened with hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine. Find ‘em at your local Whole Foods Market or co-op.
• Tom’s of Maine whitening toothpaste - Get fresh breath and white teeth without the bleaching ingredients of standard toothpastes (plus no animal testing!) Bonus – 10% of the company’s sales go to charitable organizations that support the environment!
• Schick Xtreme3 disposable eco razors – Hair (and landfill waste) be gone! The handles of these eco-chic razors are made from post-consumer plastic that would otherwise be destined for the dump. (Even the packaging is made from 100% recycled paper!)
• Burt’s Bees tomato toner – *A personal fave! This 99.4% natural toner made from tomato, cucumber and parsley extracts helps to clean and tighten pores while leaving behind the subtle aroma of a sweet tomato garden — truly a summer skincare essential!
• Crystal salt stick deodorant – By opting for this affordable option you’re steering clear of the aluminum-based ingredients of typical drugstore deodorants that are linked to an increased risk of cancer.
• St. Ives body wash - Deal alert! For only $2.99, this energizing citrus-scented body wash will leave you smelling sweet using only ingredients made from 100% natural extracts, formulated without parabens and phthalates!
• Moss Envy bamboo/organic cotton blend towels - Dry off with these eco-friendly towels made from the renewable bamboo plant and organic cotton. Whatsmore, they’re hypoallergenic, anti-microbial and fast-drying!
• Goody eco-movement brush – Tame your tresses with this sustainable paddle brush crafted from natural bamboo!
• Acure Organics dry shampoo - Why shampoo daily when you can turn to this fast-acting solution that absorbs oil while leaving behind a pleasant almond scent? Makes for a great go-to item for those pesky “ahh, I’m going to be late!!” mornings.
• Neutrogena Naturals purifying facial cleanser - Wash away dirt and makeup without the use of harsh chemical sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes or phthalates. 

What are some of your favorite eco-friendly hygiene products?

garage sale haul.

Today I am featuring my latest garage sale haul! Late last week I was thankful to have stumbled across this blog post only to find out there was a rummage sale plus a city-wide garage sale taking place not too far from where I live. The majority of the sales were set to start at 9am, so what time do I get there? 8:30. That’s right, people – they don’t say the early bird gets the worm for nothin’! And did I ever get the loot worth of worms. (Side note – I am actually terrified of worms.) Here’s what I scored:

Worthington tank – $0.25; vintage blazer – $0.50; vintage bow-tie blouse – $0.50; Xhiliration top – $1; Merona blouse – $0.50

Gap jeans – $4; Scarf – $0.50; vintage red heels – $3; Allison & Brittney cardigan – $0.50; Steve Madden lace-up heels – $3; Lands End shirt dress w/ waist tie (folded) – $2.50

wallet – $2; tree stump jar – $0.75; porcelain plate – $1; vintage kitchen timer – $0.50; IKEA spice jars – $1; recycled magazine frame (retails for $25) – $1; rustic wood frames – $0.50/each; old window paine (not pictured) - $1

Not too shabby, eh? I’d love to know what treasures you’ve stumbled across garage saling so far this summer!

pass on the plastic.

{ 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 }

Today’s topic = reusable bags! There are countless reasons for why you should pass on the plastic and opt for reusable bags. Check out these interesting plastic  bag facts:

• Every year, hundreds of thousands of marine mammals die from eating discarded plastic bags they mistake for food
• Only 1% of plastic bags are recycled in the United States
• The petroleum used to produce 14 plastic bags can drive a car one mile
• Plastic bags make up more than 10% of washed-up debris polluting the United States coastline
• A single plastic bag takes an average of 450 years to biodegrade

In a nutshell, plastic bags are rarely recycled, they’re made from petroleum oil and they pose a great deal of harm to our environment. With that being said, simply pick up a few reusable bags (often sold at the checkout area of stores for close to $0.99) and leave them in your car so they’re always on hand. If you have a more compact reusable bag (like #2 shown above), you can stash it in your purse. Bonus – many co-ops and grocery stores will give you small discount for bringing your own bag. Save the environment while saving a little money… what’s not to love?!

wake up your makeup!

Outfit details: Banana Republic blazer – $1.49 @ Goodwill in West St Paul; Necklace – $6.80 @ Forever21; LOFT tank – $2.49 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul; H&M purse – $10 @ Everyday People in St. Paul; Mossimo boyfriend capris – $2.49 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in St. Paul; MIA wedges – gift from fiance via DSW. *Eyeshadow – Sigma Beauty

Who says color has to be confined to your clothing? Certainly not me! Bright and bold shades are all the rage for summer, so why not take it a step further and incorporate some of that colossal color into your eye makeup as well? Doing this with eye liner or eyeshadow (or both!) is a fun and easy way to switch up your typical makeup routine and make eyes take center stage in the process. (Read this blog post to find out what shades best complement your eye color for the ultimate results.) My personal faves? Turquoise, violet and navy blue. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try… you just might be pleasantly surprised surprEYESd! (Yes, that would be my weak attempt at humor for the day.)

Until next time…

thrift haul.

Last week I mentioned the thrift stores that were offering sales for Memorial Day. I also mentioned I would more than likely be following up with a blog post haul featuring the items I snagged… and HAUL did I ever!  Matter of fact, this is probably one of my largest thrift store hauls of all time! So without further ado, check out the fabulous finds I scored for a mere fraction of the retail price (and make sure to look at my grand total at the bottom):

workout gear:Nike pants – $2.99 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul; Lucy tank (orig. $48 price tag still attached) – $6.99 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; Reebok capris – $4.99 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; Adidas tank – $1.99 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul (*Sub-total: $16.96)

blouses:from left to right: Ann Taylor blouse – $2.99 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in St. Paul; LOFT tank – $2.99 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul; Mossimo tank – $2.49 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul; Anne Klein tank – $3.49 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul (*Sub-total: $11.87)

cardigans:(all from Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center) Mossimo – $3.99; Merona – $2.99; Kensie – $3.99 (*Sub-total: $10.97)

bottoms:Banana Republic skirt – $3.99 @ Valu Thrift Store in St. Paul; Mossimo boyfriend capris – $2.49 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in St. Paul; Gap jeans – $2.99 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in St. Paul; Womyn dress pants – $6.99 @  Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center (*Sub-total: $16.46)

other:
Teva athletic mary janes - $6.49 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul; four wooden hangers – $0.70 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul; four woven placemats – $0.99/each @ Goodwill in West St. Paul; tall & modern metal candle holder – $1.99 @ Goodwill in West St. Paul; small iron candle holder – $0.95 @ Valu Thrift Store in St. Paul; blue & white vintage scarf – $1.99 @ Unique Thrift Store in St. Paul; vintage floral scarf – $0.99 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in St. Paul (*Sub-total: $18.06)

*GRAND TOTAL = $74.32(to put this in perspective, the Teva shoes alone retail for $80 brand new!) Talk about sweet sustainable savings!

Did you take advantage of any Memorial Day sales?