Does Your Favorite Lipstick Contain Lead?
Though lead has been banned in paint since 1978 for its toxicity levels, you may be exposing yourself to it when you swipe on your favorite tube of lipstick, according to a recent MSNBC article.
Photo Courtesy of MAC
The FDA released a study on lead levels in drugstore and department store lipsticks alike, and most of the 400 brands tested positive for lead.
Among the top ten lipsticks with the highest lead content, L’Oreal distributes five – the highest containing 7.19 parts per million. This is more than double the amount of lead present in the leading offender in a 2007 study of lipstick lead content.
Currently, the FDA has set specifications for lead in color additives used in cosmetics, but they haven’t set limits on the amount of lead that can be present in cosmetics, according to their website.
The FDA says they do not consider the lead levels they found in their case study to be of a concern. However, the Campaign of Safe Cosmetics believes the FDA should set a limit for how much lead lipstick can contain and study whether there are any dangers or long-term side effects to having the substance applied to human lips, particularly the lips of children and pregnant women.
“Recognizing that there is no safe level of lead exposure, we need to be protecting women and children from all levels of exposure,” Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the campaign, told MSNBC.
To take a stand, the campaign is launching the Kiss Lead Goodbye contest today, February 21st, when women are encouraged to submit video submissions to hear what they have to say to cosmetic giants that put lead in their products.
-Lauren Arute
To Splurge, or Not to Splurge?
It’s only been a couple of days since Christmas. You’ve been frantically running around, scouring the shelves and picking up last minute gifts for your friends and family. Now, it’s time to take that wad of cash you’ve accumulated from those relatives that had no idea what to give you, and use it to treat yourself for surviving the holidays.
But what to spend it on?
If you find yourself repeatedly gravitating toward that Louis Vuitton bag every time you’re within a ten mile radius of the store, or if you feel like your wardrobe is seriously lacking a go-to staple piece that will last longer than a month, maybe it’s time to consider a splurge purchase.
Of course, a splurge to one may just be a normal purchase to another, and there’s no perfect splurge for everyone. For instance, a pair of designer nude heels is a perfect foundation piece to build a variety of outfits off of, but if you can’t see yourself wearing them very often, maybe they’re not the right purchase for you. Here’s a list of possibilities that will hopefully inspire you to find the right splurge for you:
Photo Courtesy of Chanel
Designer Cosmetics
For me, buying foundation in a drugstore was always a nightmare. The bottles were sealed, and when I ended up deciding on one, it’d usually come out looking orange, cakey, a dreadful combination of both, or it would rub off throughout the day.
At a makeup counter, like in Sephora, Clinique, or MAC, among many others, a specialist will help you find the perfect foundation for you, based not only on your skin color, but also your skin type and the amount of coverage you want.
Lipstick and blush can be tricky too, but a makeup counter can help you find the perfect shade before you buy anything.
Photo Courtesy of Madewell
A Good Pair of Jeans
Jeans are a staple item that we all have in our closet. But how heartbreaking is it to have to throw out your favorite pair of jeans because they started to rip for no apparent reason? Avoid the heartbreak and go for a pair that will last. Madewell has a variety of styles, from wide-leg, to boot cut, to skinny, and everything in between. If you struggle with jeans being too long or short on you, try Ann Taylor, who caters to women tall and short alike.
Photo Courtesy of Marni
A Designer Bag
Okay, so maybe this one was kind of predictable. A bag by your favorite designer is a good candidate item to splurge on because it can be used daily, and most are classic and don’t go out of style, such as Chanel’s trademark quilted bags. If a bag is too high over your price range, no need to deprive yourself! Just opt for a wallet instead – it will still get as much use as a bag, and it won’t fall apart from being tossed around or rubbing against your keys.
Photo Courtesy of Misikko
A Salon-Approved Heat Styling Tool
That $20 hairdryer you picked up from Walmart could be the culprit for those recurring split ends. An ionic hairdryer by Misikko will do minimal damage, and comes with an attachment piece at the end to direct the air where you want it and to keep it away from spots that have already been dried.
If you use a flat iron more often than a hairdryer to style your hair, Chi makes flat irons that you’d find in a salon. They also double as a curling iron, and depending on the size of the barrel, can help you achieve perfect soft waves or bouncy tight curls.
Ideally, if you choose to splurge, it should be something you’ve been fantasizing about owning for a while, or something that will be used daily or often enough that it will pay for itself. Never should a splurge be a spontaneous, on-the-spot purchase, unless you have the means to do so. In that case, please help me pay for my college tuition! And buy as many Christian Louboutins as your heart desires.
- Lauren Arute
M.A.C. Alice + Olivia Twitter giveaway
Hey, y’all! We get fun free stuff sometimes, and we feel it’s only fair to spread the wealth around to our dear readers. The latest is some MAC makeup, both from their superbright new collaboration with Alice + Olivia and ’70s throwback line In the Groove.
So all of you who have this newfangled Twitter thing, tweet @PWStyle the name of an Alice, Olivia or Mac (for example: Mac McGarry, host of the DC-area TV quiz show “It’s Academic” on which Emily G may or may not have appeared a few times in the late ’90s) by the end of the day; distribution of spoils will be done Friday on basis of originality.
Rainbow Brite
Courtesy of American Apparel
In addition to racy advertisements, it looks like American Apparel has taken a dip into manicure territory. Since we like shades that sometimes make our manicurists giggle – black, dark purple & dark maroon as of late – we’re fans of this collection.
Sometimes, we like to day dream about the calendars that we will use next year. Crate and Barrel has this cute one that has a book for each month – each in a different color. Perfect for when we have to write little notes to ourselves – either so we can remember to get milk or the starting lyrics for our next #1 single.
In addition to those cool little beauty books you can create, Real Beauty is also on top of makeup questions like ‘What do I do if I want smoky eyes like Kim Kardashian but have light eyes?’ They’re so crafty. They’ve gone ahead and posted a slideshow to create smoky eyes for blue eyed beauties who don’t want to look like they’ve just been beaten up. If you just so happen to have a complexion that looks more like Kim K’s, you’re in luck. Real Beauty has you covered in the smoky eye department as well.
Lastly, blogging for extended periods of time can contribute to creating a large backside, and not a desirable one like aforementioned Kim’s. So, a chair from Gaiam is on our wish list. This chair looks funny but it forces you to engage your core muscles while sitting in it. Since you are most likely reading this post sitting down, perhaps you should consider putting it on your wish list too.
Gotta Get Away
Courtesy of Glamour.com
Happy Hump Day! This morning Marie Claire’s got links to the 25 beauty products that will change your life. While we haven’t tried them all, we can’t argue with the benefits of the Chanel Nude Blush or Mac’s Bronzer just to bring a glow to your face during the drab winter months, the Jergens Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer which helps us look like we had a nice weekend getaway to Cancun even if we sadly haven’t taken out our passports, as well as Olay’s Body Wash with exfoliating ribbons. With such a moisturizing body wash, you can even skip a post-shower moisturizer. Nice. Marie Claire also posted tips on how to care for your skin depending on your climate.
Lilliana Vazquez, who contributes to NBC10 posted some cute and affordable sweaters on her blog – The Cheap Chica’s Guide To Style. Glamour magazine is also looking out for your wallet, with their list of shoes for $50 and under.
Philadelphia Magazine is on the lookout in Rittenhouse Square, spotting some styles that they love as well as a type of yoga we hadn’t seen yet. It’s called Slackline Yoga, and it’s done on a tightrope. Philadelphia Magazine spotted Jennifer Nehila practicing Slackline and did a writeup and shot video. Just as Jennifer mentions, YogaSlackers.com gives more information on the practice as a whole.
Lastly, we’re not sure how the #4 resturant on this ESPN list earned it spot, but we’re cracking up.
Bring It All Back
We’ve known for a while that if you bring FIVE empty cosmetic cases to any MAC counter, you can get a free lipstick. If you bring the containers to a MAC store you can get a free lipstick, eyeshadow or lipgloss. We recently found out that anything that’s not MAC can still be recycled. Origins will find a way to recycle your used cosmetic containers – even if they don’t have numbers 1 and 2 on them. Just bring the used containers to any origins store – they’ve got bins set up, ready for collection.
Courtesy of NBC10
NBC10’s Lilliana Vazquez leads the way to cute chandeliers, lavender oil to help you get some shut eye,wellies for puddle jumping, as well as slippers for freezing floors. Our tootsies have been pretty cold as of late – these slippers just might be what we’re looking for.
Glamour has a write up on beauty products that boys love. We think some of this list looks great for the cold air – Burt’s Bees lip balm, and Kiehl’s lotion? Whoever these boys are, they picked nice stuff.
What To Do This Weekend
Happy Friday! Don’t let the gloomy weather get you down. While the Fall Festival that was being thrown by the Friends of Schuykill River Park has been officially rained out, the AIDS walk/ run will still be happening early on Sunday morning, rain or shine. Styleblogger Bianca will be representing PW Style as the captain of The Philly Blogger Joggers! Visit the run or donate to the team page here.
Celebration at Vintage Connection Heather over at Vintage gave us a shout to let us know that it’s Vintage’s 2nd Anniversary! Head to 9th and Bainbridge (701 s. 9th street): All vintage is 20% off today only beginning at noon.
Built By Wendy at Grasshopper This Friday – Sunday, Built By Wendy’s Fall 2009 collection will be 40% off online and in-store!
MAC Master Class I read on Spoiled Pretty that there is a fun event happenin’ out in the ‘burbs this weekend. For those of you looking to trade the cement jungle in for suburban shopping, Spoiled Pretty writes:
Attention Philly Gals: MAC Master Makeup Class on October 17!On Saturday, October 17th, MAC Bloomingdale’s at the Willow Grove Mall is having a special Studio Talk Seminar. MAC makeup artists will be teaching participants how to achieve four hot trends for fall.
It’s a intermediate to advanced level Makeup Master Class and will be held at Bloomingdale’s in a private location, where there will be refreshments. There will be MAC makeup and tools supplied for you to use, and there will be new tips and techniques for you to learn in a fun and creative atmosphere.
Terranium Book Signing Lacey from Terrain tipped us off about this event. On Saturday, October 17, from 10:30am-3:30pm, there will be a workshop and book signing by Tovah Martin.
Bring your favorite plants into your home year-round with the help of special guest Tovah Martin, author of terrain’s top-selling book The New Terrarium. Whether you are a seasoned grower or a novice gardener, this special workshop will spark your creativity to design a one-of-a-kind inspiring terrarium. Choose from terrain’s wide selection of terrarium plants and from our numerous styles of glass vessels to create your garden. In this workshop, Tovah will share her years of experience growing and maintaining terrariums – introducing you to the whimsical yet practical world of gardens under glass.
Deets: $15 per person; Fee includes lecture and instruction from Tovah, terrarium making supplies (Soil, Charcoal, Moss). More info here.
Fashion in the Fast Lane We asked you earlier this week to clear your calendar for a cause this Sunday. Hope you can make it out to the Simeone Racing Car Museum for Fashion in the Fast Lane.