Penny's Going Pink!!

Hi all! Hope this post finds you in the best of spirits!

As you all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Penny loves sharing the multitude of beauty bargains that support this cause. It's time to "Fight Like A Girl!" Let's shop with purpose and do our part to help find a cure for breast cancer (and all the cancers out there affecting us all). Here are just a few of the products you should look for this month, and more than a few of the products Penny will be purchasing. :-)

• Bobbi Brown Pretty Pink Ribbon Lip Gloss Collection ($60) – $12 from this purchase will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
• Essie 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness Mini Cube (4 bottles); ($17)
• Sexy Hair Concepts Breast Cancer Awareness Big Sexy Spray & Play Hair Spray, $36, www.JCPenney.com
• Jergen's Original Scent Cherry-Almond Moisturizer, $7, www.Drugstore.com
• Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, $7, www.Target.com 
• John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner, $6 each, www.Ulta.com 



Bobbi Brown
Pretty Pink Ribbon Gloss Collection

• Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo, $41, Walgreens.com; Redken Color Extend Magnetics Conditioner, $22, www.Walgreens.com

• Estee' Lauder Evelyn Lauder Dream Solid Perfume Compact ($49.50) – 100% proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
• EOS Strawberry Sorbet and Fresh Watermelon Lip Balm Duo ($5.99) – 100% proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research.
• Aerie Limited-Edition Bridget Bra ($29.95) aerie.com – 100% proceeds to Bright Pink.
• Clinique Great Skin Great Cause ($38); A limited-edition 6.7 oz bottle of Clinique's #1 moisturizer. Comes with a 4-charm key chain. – $10 from this purchase will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

New Meaning to Natural Nails

 

Hey!

This is a quick-n-dirty post from Penny reminding you all that tomorrow, April 22nd is Earth Day! "Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.^{" - Wikipedia}  


Irene

Kalista


What does all that have to do with Penny you ask? Well, it is only one of my most exciting times of the year...to buy Nail Polish! Ok...did  I lose you again? LOL!

Today kicks of Zoya's 2014 Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange! Zoya, as many of you know, is one of Penny's all-time favorite toxin-free nail polish brands!


I love the colors and wear-ability of their products. The beautiful, wide-array of colors and finishes are free of Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene and Camphor. Check out:  www.zoya.com.


Cole
(Spring 2014)

Here's how it works. For one week only (4/21 -4/28/2014):
" Exchange your old nail color for BIG5FREE** ZOYA Nail Polish and let us properly dispose of your unwanted bottles.  Only $4.50 per bottle OR $5 for PixieDust and special effect toppers. Shipping and handling fees apply." *Offer excludes ALL Summer 2014 Collection shades (Tickled, Bubbly & Summer Magical PixieDust).


Perrie

Polishes regularly sell for $9 a bottle so this is a great deal! Follow their detailed instructions here on their blog: http://blog.zoya.com/  



Basically, once you place your order, they use the honor system in trusting that you will send back as many bottles as you purchased, of your old nail polishes (any brand except Zoya) for disposal. I've done this a few times.

Please be responsible and check online for the proper way to ship your polishes.  I'm pretty sure I have sent mine via the US Postal Service, but they have to be ship by Ground transportation only (since they are liquid and flammable). You know that question they ask you at the Post Office and the airport that most people just lie about to get through? LOL! Well, follow the rules and ship responsibly. Here is a website I found to be helpful.
http://www.chemwise.org/9-Simple-Steps-to-Mail-Nail-Polish.pdf


Dream

Happy Shopping!

Be blessed. Be beautiful.
Penny


Chemical-free Make-up

 

Happy New Year my Beauties!
Penny has been trying to get here for about a month now, but something called a job has gotten in the way. *sigh* I started a different piece for January but need to do more research so I thought I'd share this one instead.
In my usual search for new products and ideas I came across a cool video by someone I already follow on YouTube...SunKissAlba. This beautiful young lady always catches my attention whether she is talking about her curly hair care, sharing make-up tutorials, or offering healthy living tips. In particular I came across a video demonstrating Chemical-free, Organic Make-up.

I was intrigued because as I get older and my skin becomes more sensitive, I'm curious about gentler, less toxic products. I have a few friends whom I know would be interested in such products as well. Here is a link to SunKissAlba's video demonstration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RaZfvWDV1U&list=UUhFtIFokGfWATn1Je7Cf6Vg&feature=c4-overview

Although her make-up look might not be for you, the products and where to find them might be helpful:

LeeAnni Eco 3 in 1 Revolotion:  (Skin Prep; toner, serum, moisturizer in one. $29.98)



Alima Pure Foundation

Nourish Organic Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion ($21.99)
http://nourishorganic.com/collections/face/?2

Alima Pure - Balancing Face Primer  ($20)
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation ($25)
Alima Pure Eyeshadow ($10-$12.50)
Alima Pure Satin Matte Blush ($15-$20)
http://www.hipapotheca.com or www.Amazon.com


Herbs Of Grace Foundation ($19.95)Herbs Of Grace Eyeshadow ($8.75)
http://store.livingearthbeauty.com/herbs_of_grace_s/43.htm



Lippy Girl Vegocentric Lipstick

Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara ($29.95)
http://www.drhauschka.com

Eco Tools - Barely There Lash System ($4.95)
www.Amazon.com

LippyGirl Vegocentric Lipsticks ($16.99)
http://www.Amazon.com

Revolution Organics Beauty Balm (3-in-1) Stick ($13.60 on sale)
http://www.hipapotheca.com
 
Body/Facial Skincare:
Balanced Guru Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm ($45)
http://balancedguru.com/pages/ipsy-january

Scotch Naturals Nail Polish

Hair Care:
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Mask ($26)
https://www.briogeohair.com/product/dont-despair-repair/?2
 
Nails:
Scotch Naturals Nail Lacquer ($13)
http://www.hipapotheca.com
- Base Coat
- On the Rocks Top Coat
- Color: Macbeth's Dream
*Must be used with base and top coats for better results. 

These products have not yet been tested by Penny (but I've already ordered a couple of things). I hope the color pay-off and the wear of these products are similar to the chemical-infused products that I currently use and love. Some of these products are a bit pricey but so are other more popular brands. I have not checked to see if these products are sold in any of the local stores. If any of you have seen these in store, or have other chemical-free products you use, please share.

Hope this was helpful.

Be blessed. Be beautiful.
Penny

Penny's LBD (for nails)

Penny here!
Just dropping a quick line to share my latest look...I call it Penny's Little Black Dress (LBD)...for nails. LOL! It is often called a 'black french manicure.'  (See pics below...looks better in person). It is by no means a new trend, just something I had not tried before. I like it! Ok...so Halloween has come and gone but this is quite a sexy little number for the holidays if you ask me. It's a funky twist if you're not afraid of the dark. LOL!

• Achieve the look:  Just polish the whole nail with 2 coats of matte black polish...let dry...then polish across the tip with a shiny clear top coat. I bought the black matte polish online at Amazon.com; its called Body, by SpaRitual ($10).  Because matte polishes are an older trend I had a hard time finding a matte black polish in store, but I would check there first.

I first talked to my manicurist a couple weeks ago about this look and showed her some pics I found on the Internet. She had not done it before but was down to try it. A couple days ago I tried it myself first using french manicure strips from CVS to mark off the tip I would paint clear, but it left a ridge when I pulled off the tape. I was going to try another technique but when I showed my manicurist she said she could do the tip free hand without the tape. I let her try it and it came out great. You can do this with ANY matte polish by the way. I know OPI has my favorite navy (Russian Navy) & deep purple (Lincoln Park After Dark) in a matte formula...I bet those would look cool too!

Wearability issue:

Day 3

Day 1 

I read on the Internet that you shouldn't use oils or lotions when you get your nails done with this look because it affects the matte polish (please ignore my ashy hands and dry cuticles in Day 1 pic...sigh). But it appears that warning isn't just for initial application. The only problem I'm having is that the matte doesn't seem to be staying that grayish dull matte color. I'm on Day 3 of this look and I think oils from hand/body lotion or maybe my hair could be changing the polish. If I wash my hands with soap and dry my nails completely they look a little better. But you have to look close to see the shiny tip. So I may put on a second thin layer of clear on my tip for more contrast. It just seems to me like that matte isn't staying truly matte. I tried cleaning my nails with hand sanitizer to see if the alcohol would reduce the luster but to no avail. This is a little disappointing to me because I have dry skin and will always have to use hand lotions. 

I'm curious to know if a matte top coat acts any differently than matte nail polish. I may try the look one more time with regular polish. I read one blogger who polished her nails with regular polish, then a shiny top coat. Once dried she used nail strips to cover her tip. Then she applied a matte top coat to the rest of the nail. Same look, different technique.

Be blessed. Be beautiful.
Penny

Nail Polish in the News?

Hi All!

Many of you know Penny is fast becoming a nail polish nerd. LOL!  I am proud to say that I've managed to keep my collection to 50 or less...so far. What can I say...I just like what I like. Part of the reason for my obsession with nail polish is this great nail blog I subscribe to called All Lacquered Up. http://www.alllacqueredup.com/  I find lots of great new polishes and colors through this blog (check out her gallery). So I found it interesting that this blogger was chosen to debate "nail polish" of all things in The Opinion Pages of  The New York Times. (See link)

Why Did Wild Nail Polish Go Mainstream?
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/06/30/why-did-wild-nail-polish-go-mainstream-10

The 'comments' are just as interesting (if not more so) as the topics being discussed by the seven debaters. If you get a chance I suggest reading some of the other articles by those in this debate. No matter how you feel about nail polish COLORS these days, there is no denying that it's the newest IT accessory.  Not only have colors changed over the years, but nail art, textures and techniques are now all the rage. While Penny is still somewhat conservative after all these years (no crackle, no gems, no designs, etc)...I began to go out on a limb about a year ago with some of the trendy colors in varying shades of grays, blues, purples and greens.

My brand du jour is Zoya! http://www.zoya.com/   It's a great long wear, polish with over 300 colors to choose from. It is also a 4-Free polish (free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor). The only down side is that these polishes are not widely available. They are only sold at spas and salons. You can plug in your zip code on their website to see where the polishes are sold near you, or call: (800) 659-6909, Customer Service. Yes...Penny called. LOL! I am fortunate enough to be able to purchase my polishes at Hair Cosmopolitan (& Salon) in White Flint Mall, Rockville, MD, not far from my job. I also order online. Right now Penny is trying to refrain from pre-ordering several of the new fall colors. LOL!

I still use OPI and Essie polishes as well. They have great collections and are also long wearing. OPI  and Essie offer 3-free polishes too. The other polishes I want to try in the future are Butter London, SpaRitual and NARS. I like Chanel's colors but choose not to pay $23 for a bottle of polish when there are so many budget-friendly brands to choose from. My only splurge has been a couple of Rescue Beauty Lounge (RBL) polishes ($18 ea) when there was a discount promo. ;-)

My favorite top coat is Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat (CVS, ULTA; $9.95)...great shine and durability. My polish looks 10x better, and lasts longer. I found that the nail salons don't always use a quality top coat, which defeats the purpose of a good manicure if you ask me. (Don't be fooled by what the bottle says). I take my polish and top coat with me to just about every salon visit. If I had natural nails (I wear acrylics or silk wraps) I would probably try Seche Vite's nail strengthener as well.

NOTE: Free polishes are polishes developed without key toxic chemicals that we should be aware of in our polishes. See this link for a more detailed explanation:

http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2007/05/big-3-chemicals-that-is.html

Check out this link for an extensive list of 3-free and 4-free polishes: http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2009/04/celebrate-earth-day-check-your.html

Be blessed. Be beautiful.
Penny

Nail News! Earth Day Sale!

Hi all:
Penny wanted to share news of one of my favorite sales that occurs this time of year in honor of Earth Day. [See Penny's post from June 3, 2010].

Zoya is once again celebrating Earth Day with their Nail Polish Exchange program which offers us a chance to recycle all of our old nail polish or just colors we don't like any more...used or unused, any (non-Zoya) brand. Then you can replace them all with Zoya's beautiful polishes for just $4 each. I have several Zoya polishes and I love them all. Here's all you need to do!

1. Go to http://www.zoya.com/ and pick out the polishes you would like and add them to your cart. You must select at least 6 bottles and no more than 24 bottles of polish.
2. Apply the code: EARTHZOYA
3. Your order value will be adjusted to reflect the promotion  

4. SUBMIT your order!

Choose from over 300 formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) free, long-lasting, award winning, healthy colors to replace your old color! Zoya will properly dispose of your old polish.

http://www.zoya.com/content/38/category/Nail_Polish_Exchange.html

Now is a perfect time to replenish your polish supply! Find new colors for the spring and summer...or even purchase hard find fall colors. If you don't have six (6) bottles of your own, share the sale with a friend and split the goodies. Check this out soon because this sale only runs from April 20 - 27, 2011 (11:59 PM/EST). (read full story...)

Nail Neophyte

It's almost Halloween...so what are you afraid of? Is it ghosts and goblins? Or is it the newest trend in nail polish? LOL! With the help of Penny Contributor Nancy-the-Nail Narcissist, Penny has conquered her fear of the unknown, and is excited to share more deep, rich colors on her hands and feet this season...purples, browns, wines, reds, navy and even charcoal have all been sampled! Penny was known for only wearing pastels or neutral nails (French manicure, American manicure, etc), but in contrast, would put any color on her toes (since it was easy to conceal). But now in the spirit of beauty experimentation, Penny has plunged into the sexy, edgy land of dark polish. Penny is currently sporting a manicure by called "Sole Mate" by Essie (shown here)...this rich dark purple, could appear wine with brownish undertones as well. (Read the whole story)