The ABC's of Parabens

This controversial issue has been going on for a few years now and I wasn't aware of it until recently. I started noticing product labels saying 'Paraben Free' and I had no idea what a paraben was but I figured it wasn't good if companies were promoting the fact that their products didn't contain any. So I decided to do some research and figure out what exactly a Paraben was. I am not pleased with what I found out.

Basically a Paraben is an inexpensive preservative that cosmetic companies are putting in their products in order for them to have a longer shelf life. There are 5 different kinds of parabens: Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, and Propylparaben. These parabens can be found in literally everything we use on a daily basis including, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, mascara, eyeshadow, foundation, lipsticks, and the list goes on.

The issue concerning parabens is that they have been found in cancerous breast tissue and they have been linked to accelerated aging (wrinkles). The parabens are said to cause estrogen-like activity, promoting breast cancer. Obviously this is not good which is why companies are making products paraben free. However, we still need to be careful because some companies are mixing a few parabens together and naming it something completely different. Phenonip and Germaben II are two that I am aware of.

How do you know if your product contains parabens? Look at the ingredients label and 90% of the time they will be listed near the bottom.

This information is very discouraging because the majority of products contain parabens. Even though we cannot say that parabens do in fact cause cancer, it is still better to be safe than sorry.

L'Oreal Colour Radiance Protecting Detangling Spray Review

This post is a review of a recent product I picked up as well as a comparison to the product it replaced!

I purchased this product because I ran out of what I usually use, the Joico Daily Care Leave-In Conditioner. I really liked the Joico leave-in but it is slightly expensive. When I was in the grocery store I saw the L'Oreal detangling spray for a fraction of the cost of the Joico one and it was almost for the same amount of product, so I decided to pick it up. I love this product. It works the same if not better than Joico and it costs more than 10 dollars less. It is also for colour treated hair so for me that is a bonus! I will definitely be re-purchasing this product!

Other Pros:
- Smells better than Joico
- You can use the L'Oreal on dry hair as well to refresh it in between shampoos

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Review

I am so picky when it comes to nail polish! I used to always purchase high end brands until I came across the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure line. I was looking for a colour similar to Commander in Chic and I couldn't find one so I picked it up. I loved it! I have purchased quite a few more since then and I am really impressed. There is a good range of colours and the brush is angled so its easier to apply the colour to your nail. There is 0.5 fl oz per bottle (same as OPI & China Glaze) and they are between $6.00 and $7.00, depending on where you go.

Here are a few of my favourite colours:

Commander in Chic

Pat on the Black

Thinking of Blue

Back to the Fuchsia