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Beauty is more about connection than vanity

Sensitivities to Mascara

1/15/2020

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It seems more and more of my clients and friends are developing sensitivities to eye color cosmetics, usually mascara and/or eyeliner. Have I found a mascara that is safe for all to use? No. Mascara has several problematic ingredients: shellac (maybe listed as polymer on label) in one study on contact dermatitis was found to be the key sensitizing ingredient. Another probable correlation exists with nickel allergy and mascara (and curlers). Nickel won't show up on the ingredient list because it results as an impurity in a raw material used to produce another ingredient.  We know the thinner skin on our eyelids allows chemicals to go into the skin at a faster rate making contact dermatitis common around the eyes. This same article states that sweat allows chemicals to penetrate even easier.  All mascaras have some kind of pigment, even the "natural" ones. That is how they darken your lashes so if you are sensitive to those you'll have a harder time. Then there is the possibility of reacting to the preservatives. Preservatives are crucial in a formulation like mascara, and even with them you need to pitch yours every three months.
Take homes:
1.) The more you use a product the higher the chance you will develop a sensitivity to it. This makes sense because you don't hear this as much with younger people. Do you really need to wear mascara every day? Definitely don't exercise/steam or sauna with it. Be sure to remove all of it every night. 
Don't be stubborn and rely on the old "I've always used this and it's always worked for me." Things change and YOU change.
2.) You won't find a mascara to move to just by shopping cleaner brands or reading labels. You'll have an easier time if you are a cosmetic chemist but most of us it will be trial and error--or trial and learn as my Dad says. Especially considering raw materials (the ingredients in the ingredients) can be big unknowns. I have an earlier post about the FDA's role in cosmetics. Use your best sleuthing skills. If you also react to your eyeliner or other product, see if you can find a common ingredient.  Some brands have started carrying sample or travel sizes, so take advantage.
3.) Keep me posted on your trials. We can learn from each other and maybe (just maybe because we are all different) shortcut someone's tedious process. Meanwhile, if you can't go natural, curl those lashes to open up your eyes. If you have no nickel allergy use a metal crimper or try one of the heated models, like this one from blinc.
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Beauty Rituals for Every Body

8/8/2019

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I love the simplicity of summer. Hair loosely fashioned on top of my head. A cute dress. No socks.
Meals are easier; fruit and vegetables abound, my husband’s running the grill and if we have a late dinner it doesn’t feel like bedtime.


I like my beauty routines to be simple as well.
These are my favorite family skincare and first aid staples.
All, except the hair towel, I retail.


  1. A bar of really good artisan soap. This was a hard one at first. Beauty school taught us that bar soap was bad. Generalizations such as that can rarely be true. (I believe that statement itself may have been a generalization) Soap made from plant oils infused with skin loving herbs, such as this one from Infuse Organics was a game changer for me. I love that there is no wasteful packaging. I mostly use on my body but it is kind to the face, as well. For those of you that like to cleanse your face in the shower this is a one and done. However, if you are only cleansing your face in the morning, we need to talk about a pre-cleansing oil or a creamy cleanser you can use (mostly without water) with slow intention and self-massage at night. I really like the ritual of washing away the day before sleep. "The day, however it may have been, is now over and tomorrow will again be imperfect but new."
  2. An ayate exfoliating cloth. If you ever loved a loofah only to see, weeks later, the mold grow, this will bring you back to the joy of shower exfoliating. A loosely hand-woven cloth of agave. Isn’t agave neat? I mean, tequila, a low glycemic index sweetener and a washcloth! You do so much for us agave. It dries between uses if hung up in the shower and also can be laundered with your towels. I can get around 9 months of use from one. I use it with my bar soap all over my body--a bit too abrasive for the face, neck and decollete though. Your body moisturizer will be more effective if you first slough off the dead cells. I find scrub products too messy and potentially hazardous for weekly use. Falls are the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury related deaths. Just ask my husband why we have no throw rugs! https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/older-adult-falls
  3. A microfiber hair wrap. I comb my hair with a wide toothed comb in the shower while the conditioner is on. My hair stylist, bringing a bit of slow beauty to hair care, taught me this. After rinsing and getting out of the shower, I give my hair a gentle squeeze and wrap it up so I can move on to moisturizing my body with my hair out of the way. Meanwhile the wrap is gently drying my hair some. I also use it when I am using a deep conditioning treatment. This newer, wiry grey hair of mine needs soothed and I, for the first time, have become a user of such products. Any recommendations?
  4. Plain jojoba oil. I towel off in a way that looks more like blotting than rubbing. We want to intentionally leave some of that water there. I pour about a teaspoon of the oil in my palm, rub between my hands and apply to one leg. Repeat on the other side and I split a similar puddle size between my arms. Over time you will figure out the puddle size you need for the parts of your body. Use a little more on your chest and get what you can on your back or enlist a helper. (This can make the difference of itchiness or not in the winter for me) The key is to do your moisturizing (oil/lotion/cream) within 3 minutes of toweling off. That’s not much time, so get in the habit of doing it straight away. This is advice from a dermatologist, to keep in the skin the water from showering or bathing. Water and oil, our barrier is made of this. If you aren’t yet over 40, get in the habit now because this all matters more and more as we age and or skin degrades. Jojoba is chemically a liquid wax (now remember kids, chemical is NOT a bad word) and very similar to our own sebum and has a long shelf life to boot. I also use it to remove eye makeup.
  5. Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel. Inflammation from eczema, acne, rosacea is soothed. Razor burn, ingrown hair, tender waxed areas are no match for this antibacterial yet hydrating magic. If using on your face, think of it as your treatment layer if your skin is dry, as you will need an oil or cream on top. All around first aid item for any boo-boos; burns, bites, stings etc. Lovingly gift this to a man in your life that thinks skin care is girly. The simple green bottle, herbal aromas and refreshing gel texture will have him thinking you are a genius for knowing his wants so well. It is the perfect aftershave.
  6. Mantle Skincare (my private label) Lavender Clay Masque. Another first aid family product. I’ve sent so many clients home with a dab of this for spot treating small areas post extraction and also to help draw things out of the skin. It is that drawing and drying that makes it a great choice for ingrown hairs, pimples, stings and bites. Insects not only poke us but they leave behind a little of their own goo that lingers and irritates.
  7. Balm Bar--another stellar Infuse Organics product. How I use it: lip balm (in the treatment room too) and hand balm. I adore the eco push-up tube for quick slathering of my lips. Bonus if you rock climb or play guitar, while softening your skin it will not remove your calluses. Another all around soother--scratches, bites etc. So many wonderful butters, herbs and essential oils. I rub the stick on my dry (clean please) neglected cuticles. It really heals so much. Unlike the above clay, this is invisible on the skin so it can work hard for you in public just as well as in the privacy of your home. Balm Bar is also loved by dudes. In fact, it was the formulator's father insisted she share this product more broadly.
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I am 50 and wear products that sparkle.

5/23/2014

1 Comment

 
I personally think it is A-OK to use shimmer products on mature skin. The key is to not wear them all over the face at the same time. I am most likely to use them:
  • On the lids of my eyes. If your eyes are round like mine, you will see it even if they are open.
  • As an eyeliner. A pencil or a shadow, applied wet (less fall-out) with a brush.
  • On my cheekbones. A blush/bronzer or illuminizer/highlighter.
  • In lip color. Lip color, even bright ones, look a little softer with some reflection. I am not talking glitter but matte can be dull and emphasize the imperfections and asymmetry of lips, generally being less forgiving of a quick and dirty application. (Is there any other way, most of the time?)
  • When I am feeling sparkly; on the water or shore, at a party or a concert.
These particles reflect light bringing light to our faces and our mood. Just go easy and keep in mind that you will sparkle more in the sun.
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I refuse to sell to your fears.

6/28/2013

6 Comments

 
I don’t like the term anti-aging. I understand the desire to turn back the clock but we need to be graceful and accepting with some aspects of aging. Resist media messages and sales people that use this fear to sell. Many products simply cannot do the things they claim to be able to do! A balanced life that includes whole food nutrition, ample physical activity, and deep connections with family & friends is key to a beauty that reflects health. Intuitively we know this.

How do I decide what I will use in treatments and retail? It takes me a great deal of time. 
For every hour I have spent with my hands on a client I have logged countless more reading, researching and sampling products. My collaboration with my formulator offers me extra confidence, as she also does her homework and has been at this for 16 years.
 
Yes, there are synthetic ingredients that I avoid but the risks of some of them have been overblown--yet another way fear is used to market to women.
“Natural” is the buzzword of the decade and it is important to know that the term isn’t regulated. I chuckle when I see advertising washed in green knowing that it consists of very commonplace ingredients, synthetics included. “Organic” is a term that is regulated, though commonly used without the proper certification. Many ingredients in my own line have met this distinction. Equally important to me is that they perform well, are affordable to many and their ingredient lists are non-manipulated and honest.

Botanicals can reduce inflammation, irritation & hyperpigmentation, improve tone, stimulate collagen, reduce cellular damage and aid in detoxification. They can address all the concerns that come with aging. They work gently for gradual, dependable, beautiful and sustainable results!

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The Finer Points of Blush

9/21/2012

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Once perfect blush shade no longer working for you? 
Time to add a new color or an illuminizer to your kit.

Amy Linville Columbus Make-up Artist
Glomineral Shimmer Bricks $32.50 available at Esthetics by Amy
Colors that used to pop and give us a healthy glow are now getting neutralized or otherwise altered by the brown (hyperpigmentation) and red (couperose/rosacea) tones that many of us are seeing in our skin. Skin that isn't as uniform in color, firm, or reflective as it once was needs nourishing skin care and new ways to enhance with make-up. Today I will talk about blush make-up solutions.

My two favorite options are outlined below. In either case, take time to blend the second product into the first and build the color in translucent layers. Pause between layers and stop when it looks good. The goal is to suggest a natural flush. This takes surprisingly little product.

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    Author

    Amy Linville is an artist and esthetician that believes simple, sustainable and non-rushed daily skincare and beauty rituals are the foundation for finding comfort in your skin and looks, no matter your age.

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