Shea Love

With the warmer spring weather comes the beginning of weekend market season! This weekend I was wandering through the Upper West Side and happened upon the street market taking over most of Broadway from 98th to 111th. Among the spices, scarves and food vendors I was excited to meet an African man selling raw shea butter. We had a lovely (and informative) conversation about the origin and benefits of this moisturizer ingredient. Shea butter comes from a nut that looks similar to chestnut, from the African shea tree. African people use it for everything from cooking to cosmetics. It melts at body temperature, is easily absorbed and has a faint scent reminiscent of cocoa. It is said that shea butter can relieve skin irritation such as eczema and acne, and can fade scars and stretch marks. It also has some degree of sun protection and can reduce the effects of UV damage on the skin (so long, pigmentation!).

My current fave body lotion,Shea Moisture , has a high percentage of organic raw shea butter. I absolutely love the combination of shea butter with powerful organic ingredients frankincense (known for its toning and anti-aging properties) and myrrh. The fragrance is intoxicating - almost transporting you to a far eastern bazaar. My skin has never been softer.

I first discovered this great moisturizer at my local Duane Reade but have since seen a very similar product (ingredient / scent wise) by the brand Nubian Heritage at Whole Foods - in a slightly smaller bottle, for a few dollars more.

Either way, it's a magical product!

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RAPIDRY to the Rescue!

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There is one product that has really changed my life over the last few months...and by life I mean that in the least dramatic way. More of an enhancement in my nail care regimen really.The product in question was brought home by my roommate Kaitlin (who is a polish addict and changes her color at least twice/week). She had tested it out months before while visiting a friend (a classic Charm School move). Now, this may not be a new brand, or contain a revolutionary ingredient but the OPI RAPIDRY Top Coat is a miracle worker. Forgot to paint your nails just before bed? No problem. You can apply and hit the sheets in mere minutes - and wake up to glossy, crease-less digits! No more interesting textures or dented finishes.

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The World of Wonderwoman (at MAC)

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[caption id="attachment_369" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="The store front window at MAC in Soho"][/caption]For the comic book fans and limited edition junkies alike MAC introduces the Wonder Woman Colour Collection.

Now I can't speak for all MAC locations around the globe, but the New York City Soho store completely transformed into a world of Marvel. With rows of WW comics spanning the decades and action hero transformation chairs for make-overs, the store was a knockout!

[caption id="attachment_370" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="WW comics from 1942 - 2000 on display"][/caption]

The packaging keeps to a very primary palette, while the product line features blue with hits of pink and purple to pack a feminine punch. The WW Reflects Glitter adds an element of true super power in dust form.

Let the transformations begin!

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Peace Keeper Eco-Easy Nail Polish Remover

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As I continue to update my conventional beauty products with more naturally derived alternatives, I recently visited Whole Foods to find a replacement for one of the most highly toxic offenders: nail polish remover. Often loaded with acetone and other nasty chemicals I figured that eliminating it would be a big step in the right direction.

In the beauty section (which I must say is growing every day), I scanned the four or five brands or polish remover on the counter. There were a few brands that had pretty glass bottles or smelled really lovely but cost over $20. Considering that the chemical-filled versions cost no more than $3, I was hoping to find a replacement somewhere in that general price range.

I finally decided on the Peace Keeper Eco-Easy Nail Polish Remover because 1. It was under $10 and 2. It seemed like the most natural of the offering. Made from sugar beets, rosemary and spearmint (literally) I decided it couldn't be too harmful to my body.

The review: Contrary to my skepticism of the three ingredients getting the job done well, this stuff actually works. Granted, you do have to put in a bit of elbow grease to get off the really dark colors, it is surprisingly effective. As for the smell, a friend was over the other night while I was using it and said that the scent reminded her of the dentist. I think that must be the spearmint... Also, I have noticed that if you end up with a lot of it on your fingers for a prolonged period (say, if your fingers are pressing on the remover soaked cotton boll), they get a little prune-y feeling (as though you've been in the bath too long).

Other than that, no complaints. The spearmint oil is quite moisturizing and you can rest easy if you happen to reach for a handful of popcorn without washing your hands after using it.

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Bali Beauty

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On my winter holiday to Bali this past month, I was excited to experience the smells of the island. Known for its rich Hindu culture, daily offerings of burning incense and flower petals scent the air in every corner of the smallest town.

Another fragrant Balinese tradition is the use of essential oils. There were many little shops selling all sizes of fragrance and massage oils. The most charming of them though was Made Pudji, tucked away in a little nook of the Ubud Market. This family run business set up shop in the bustling central market and has been selling their carefully distilled natural oils and high quality spices for over 10 years.

My favorites included the Champaka (floral) and tea tree oils. The tea tree had a much less aggressive odor than those sold at home (and in Australia)--very similar to lavender. All of the oils at Made Pudji are packaged in unassuming glass bottles with black plastic lids, as though they had come direct from the apothecary. Unfortunately, they don't have a website...but if you happen to make a trip to Bali, stop in at the market and load up on their beautiful products.

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Juara Tumeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask

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Unwrapping a Christmas present from my dearest esthetician/nurse friend Cath, I was introduced to an amazing line of skin care: Juara. The company is inspired by and uses Indonesian botanicals; very fitting for my holiday trip to Bali. Catherine has been in love with this brand for months, infatuated by the scents and happy with the results. She was excited to share this beauty find with me.

My gift was the turmeric antioxidant mask, said to “detoxify, brighten and strengthen skin” (on the first application!). Turmeric is one of the most powerful antioxidants and has traditionally been used to heal various skin conditions.

Light ocher in color, the formula glides on with a texture similar to foundation and is almost unnoticeable in low lighting. The scent isn’t anything to write home about, but has a slightly spicy / turmeric-y smell (which is a key ingredient and likely also explains the color). As the mask starts to dry, it becomes a little bit more yellow and tingles (apparently that is the active botanicals taking effect). The box says to leave on for 10-15 minutes – but I’ve left it on for over an hour (when streaming an episode of mad men or posting a blog!). After washing off, my skin has consistently felt clean and appeared to have an even tone and soft texture. It definitely leaves skin moisturized, but not heavy or oily.

I’m excited to discover more products from Juara!

Note: Cath swears by candle nut everything...