Monday, May 22, 2006

Enfleurage and more NYC (Aromatherapy retail/online shop)

Well, we didn't win a free laptop at the Apple Store but we did get several free t-shirts.

Today we went to Enfleurage, an aromatherapy shop on Bleecker Street. Enfleurage has been cited in several aromatherapy books for its high quality essential oils and variety. I had wanted to go for a while, but could never remember that I did whenever I came to the city. It's a small shop (like most NYC shops) but they had so many essential oils that I hadn't tried before! For some plants they had several types of essential oils extracted from different methods like the distilled, pressed, absolute, or CO2 (for example: they had both the expressed and distilled lime). And for some, they had essential oils from several species (like two species of Jasmine) or essential oils grown in different areas (like Rosemary grown in three different places). Sometimes I hate buying essential oils online since you can't smell them, so I finally got to smell many of the more unusual ones before buying. They also have some organic oils; I brought a few and they smell wonderful :). They also sell a small selection of books, herbs, incense, diffusers, candles, and soap (not all items are online).

Friday, May 19, 2006

New Apple Store in NY

Right now I am at the new Apple Store in New York City, located at 767 Fifth Avenue. My sister and Ed came down to N. Va yesterday night, and then we left N. Va at 6 am in the morning, made a stop in Philly, and then got to New York and after a quick break, left for the Apple Store. We arrived about 2:30pm, and there were only about 75-100 people ahead of us in line!! We waited in line until 6 pm (when it started) braving the intense thunderstorms--we got soaked but luckily had umbellas. The store is beautiful--outside it looks like a cube, with the Apple symbol (no written sign), and the store is all underground (downstairs). It is supposed to be Apple's first 24/7 store--pretty kewl! There are a lot of famous people here; we saw Steve Jobs, Kevin Bacon, James Woods, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Berkeley, the cast of Saturday Night Live.

We all got free t-shirts, and also there are drawings every hour for the next 24 hours to win a free laptop. I hope we win something! I also got accessories for my ipod nano.

I am tired, and my jeans are still soaked, but damn it, it's Apple, and I'm with my family and it is totally worth it!!!! :)


More later!!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Mineral Makeup Liquid Foundation and Tinted Moisturizer (Mineral Makeup/Vegan suggestions)

Some days I prefer a liquid foundation or a tinted moisturizer to my mineral makeup (powder) foundation. And other days I like a bit of heavier concealing around my eyes (on those days I look like a night owl), but find that many of the mineral makeup (powder) concealer foundations to be too chalky and heavy for use around my eyes, and the regular formulations to not cover dark circles enough either.

Only a few mineral makeup companies actually make liquid mineral makeup foundation. But it's also real easy to make your own too! I've also included info on if it's vegan, veggie, or not.

I love Monave. They make both a cream foundation and a liquid matte foundation. It is 100% natural. The liquid matte foundation is vegan, the cream foundation is not. They also have a lot of creams in which you can add (powder) mineral makeup to. They do not test on animals. Most of their products are vegan (including many of their lippies). You can buy samples. Full range of foundation colors and mineral makeup.

The Organic Makeup Company in Canada also makes a vegan mineral foundation. Despite being in Canada, the prices are good and shipping is ok. If I am not mistaken they are a completely vegan company. They make 100% natural and organic products. I have not tried them, but they are apparantly a favorite of many ladies on the forums I visit.

Mieessence is a natural and organic company from Australia. As far as I know only their shampoo and some body washes contain 1 synthetic ingredient, but the rest of their products are completely natural. They have liquid mineral foundation but I haven't tried it yet, and compared to the other brands listed here, it is a bit pricey. I have tried their creams and love them though. The liquid foundation is vegan but their concealer contains beeswax but is veggie. Their makeup only comes in a few colors.

Burt's Bees makes a tinted moisturizer that I used to love, but I stopped using it once I discovered what carmine (a colorant from crushed beetles) was a couple years ago. I used to like it because I used this as my facial moisturizer too. Their makeup only comes in a few colors.

How to MIY:

If you like mineral makeup but prefer a tinted moisturizer, liquid foundation, or thick creamy concealer, just add a small amount of mineral makeup to your favorite cream, lotion, or aloe vera. Depending on how much mineral makeup you add, you can create anything from a light tinted moisturizer to a heavier product.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Aloe Facial Cleansing Gel (Natural Skin care)

I realize I haven't posted in a while (sorry; in the middle of end of the semester projects and finals!) so here is a quick post on using aloe as a cleanser. I'll try to post more regularly in the summer!


Though aloe is most often used in toners, lotions, and creams, I also occasionally use aloe as a gentle morning cleanser. It effective cleanses and refreshes the skin, providing moisture without stripping the skin of its natural oils. It's better for skin that doesn't need deep cleaning or makeup removal, hence why I recommend using it in the morning rather than at night. (I recommend washing your skin with soap or a liquid or cream or oil cleanser, depending on your skin type, for your nightly routine).

You can use it as is, or mix it with hydrosol, a small amount of oil or glycerin, and also a few drops of essential oil to make a fantastic aromatherapy cleanser. If your skin is oily, you can also add a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar or witch hazel. Apply with a cotton pad or ball. I love this light cleanser since it is so soothing and infuses my dehydrated skin with moisture! And best of all, it also doubles as a toner, saving me an extra step!