There are many advantages to trying out a soy-based nail polish remover, including the fact that it's eco-friendly and won't dry out the nails. Also, since it's acetone- and chemical-free, you won't have to inhale stinky fumes when using it. But the real question is, does it work as well as regular formulas? Check out this video, where we test A Beautiful Life's Soy Polish Remover ($20), to find out.
From A Beautiful Life, makers of the incredible natural nail polish remover that really works and I Heart Unicorns Perfume, comes these cute as can be Honey'do Shampoo and Conditioner ($16 each or $30 for the set).
While they look like something you'd keep in your kitchen, much like FarmHouse Fresh Goods' Sweet Cream Body Milk ($26), these goodies are best left in the shower — and not drizzled atop your Elvis-style peanut butter and banana sandwich. Made with organic honey to promote bounce and shine in the hair, these orange-blossom-scented products are also sulfate- and paraben-free. Will you get your buzz on?
I Heart Unicorns ($52) may not seem like the winningest handle for a perfume, especially given the fact that most fragrances trade on exclusivity or sexiness to sell. If, however, you love sugar and things that smell exactly like a blend of orange Starbursts, Pez candy, and bubble gum, then you may just love this gourmand scent.
Unicorns opens with a burst of orange creamsicle, then moves on to a soft incense and bubble gum blend that smells a lot like Pez. It dries down to a candied sandalwood that reminds me of État Libre d'Orange's delightful Encens et Bubblegum ($80). So if you love the État Libre d'Orange scent but don't want to pay the pretty penny for it, Unicorns is an economical alternative with an almost identical dry down. If you liked the way this stuff smelled, would you consider buying it, or are the name and packaging just too much?
I've been a little wary of texturizing sprays ever since a junior high run-in with a "beach curls" product that left my hair tragically oily and flat just hours before a dance. But now my faith has been restored by A Beautiful Life Pre Game Texturizing Spray ($22), which uses natural ingredients to deliver big, coconut-scented waves and plenty of volume. I have very fine hair with an open wave, so most curl-enhancing products fail on me because they make my hair too heavy. Not this stuff, though; I can imagine it being good for girls with fine hair of any texture, because it separates without weighing down. My only caveat is that it can make your hair too big and frizzy if you over-scrunch — I initially came out looking about as poofed up as a poodle. All in all, though, an extremely effective and eco-concious way to get sweet mermaid hair.
Let's face it: nail polish removers stink of chemicals, and when formulated with harsh, drying ingredients like acetone, toulene, and DBP, they're not exactly earth- or body-friendly, either. Recently, the folks from the Philly-based skin and makeup boutique, A Beautiful Life, sent over a sample of their naturally-based, three-free Soy Polish Remover ($20). See what I thought of the eco-friendly product when you read more.
When self-proclaimed rock n' rollers at heart Jennifer and Anthony Artur opened their Philly boutique, A Beautiful Life, they wanted to provide customers with a unique shopping experience that included high-end skincare and cosmetics.
A licensed esthetician, Jennifer used her extensive knowledge of skin care and her near obsession with quality to create her own line of cosmetics. "We wanted a makeup line that would be rockstar enough for us, yet approachable enough for any woman," she told me. "We carry very exclusive lines and saw an opportunity to create something that would be able to be stand up in that kind of company." The end result is a collection of sophisticated yet edgy colors presented in colorful, tattoo-inspired packaging that has already earned the attention of Jennifer Garner, Alyssa Milano, and Nigella Lawson.
To see what I thought of the products themselves, including one that I am positively smitten with, read more
