EWG's Skin Deep Sunscreens 2011

Finally the sun is showing its face in the Bay Area! Time to stock up on sun screen...

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently released its 5th annual list of best sunscreens for 2011. They rated over 1,700 sunscreens, sun blocks, moisturizers, and lip balms to determine which products offer the best protection from both UVA and UVB rays without including potentially harmful ingredients. Click here to view the EWG's choices for 2011.

And don't forget to check out the Hall of Shame, either, a list of products that the EWG has found to be sub-standard when it comes to UVA and UVB protection and meeting their marketing claims. That's the fun part, right? :P

"I can't quit you!"

Is there a non-green beauty or personal care product you just can't give up?

For me, it's Urban Decay eyeshadow. The ingredient lists look like they're written in an alien language (except for the parabens, which I can actually make out). But the textures are top-notch, the colors are unique, and the brand is so fun and edgy. I know Urban Decay is committed to making their products animal- and vegan-friendly, and I hope that in the future Urban Decay will figure out a way to weed out some of the questionable chemicals in their products and include more natural ingredients. Until then, I'm stuck with my guilty pleasure and looking half-heartedly for the next best thing.

Tarte Celebutante

I can't say that I'd ever want to be a celebrity. I really enjoy the simple life (yeah, the one without Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie). On an average day you're more likely to find me watching Real Housewives or beauty blogging that out at events. But every girl wonders what it's like to hit the red carpet in a beautiful gown...and Tarte Celebutante ($34/1.8oz.) is perfect for moments when you want to be noticed. It's a dry-oil shimmer spray designed to give skin a healthy glow. The product is thin and spreads easily, so it's not greasy at all. I love dabbing some on my collarbones, arms, and gams before a night out. It's way sexier than baby oil!

 Check out that shimmer!

Tarte Celebutante has a noticeable coconut scent that lingers after application, so if you have a sensitive nose you may wish to steer clear. If you're a fan of coconut, slap some on, close your eyes, and dream yourself away to your favorite tropical destination. It's a little expensive for how much you get, but a little goes a long way. I plan to a dupe using some coconut oil and an old box of Guerlain Meteorites...I'll let you know how it goes!

Overall, I love the formulation, performance and scent but the price is a deterrence. So, I give it an A-.

ILKA Fine Limp Hair Shampoo and Conditioner

 

You know I love a deal, and when I came across this cute shampoo at conditioner set at TJ Maxx I thought, "Hey, what the hell?". Little did I know. I'm not sure I've ever been more passionate (passionate!) about any other hair care items.

This shampoo and conditioner are part of the Scottish hair care line ILKA, which was developed by couple Irvine and Louise Rusk of the Rusk hair care line. ILKA offers shampoos and conditioners for three different hair types - Coarse and Thick, Fine and Limp, and Color-treated - and features natural ingredients harvested in the Rusks' native Scotland.

I held off on posting about these because after some initial research, it seemed that ILKA had gone under...or at least gone M.I.A. It's pretty common for discontinued products to end up at TJ Maxx, so I didn't want to trot them out in case someone else fell in love with them, and their love was unrequited. But after a secondary investigation (via http://www.google.co.uk, dear Watson), it seems that ILKA is still on the scene and preparing to break out. They have a website coming soon, and the buzz on the internet is that they're planning to re-launch soon.

My hair is thin, fine and straight, so I picked up the Fine and Limp shampoo and  conditioner. The star ingredient in the shampoo is oil from the Sweet Gale plant, which has traditionally been used in Scottish skin care products and in the brewing of beer. The conditioner features pot ale (residue produced in the distillation of whiskey). The Sweet Gale oil moisturizes, and the pot ale lightens hair by stripping residue leftover from other products. Like Batman and Robin, this pair fights frizz and dullness to leave my hair sleek, shiny, and volumized. A girl really can have it all.

I'm excited to hear more about ILKA and figure out what their line will be priced at. Until then, I'm rationing!

EOS Everyday Hand Lotion

Also a Walmart find...EOS Everyday Hand Lotion ($4/1.5 oz.). I am big fan of EOS products, and was excited to stumble upon more items from the line (I wonder if Walmart carries EOS's shave creams too?). EOS offers two versions of their hand lotion - Nourish and Refresh - but my local Walmart only carried Refresh.  So, that's the one I came home with! Behold...

Refresh is packed with natural oils, shea butter, and Aloe Vera to moisturize and soothe skin. EOS claims that Refresh has a "cucumber" scent, but to me it smells more like a sweet slice of melon (pretty much the same scent as the Honeysuckle Honeydew Smooth Sphere lip balm). According to EOS's website, Nourish is packed with antioxidants and vitamins C & E to protect and rejuvenate skin. No scent is mentioned in the description, so I am assuming that it's either unscented or has a neutral "lotion" scent.

The lotion is thin and soaks in quickly, so there are no worries of greasy lotion hands. It's not a heavy duty moisturizer, but for every day use (the purpose it's marketed for), it's great. The bottle is thin, flat, and soft - perfectly designed to fit in tight spaces like pant pockets. Considering what this product claims to be and do, I give it an A (gold star)!