More Glow, Please!

Cleveland E. 9th Pier @ Sunrise

I think I'm scaring my Mom. I am a self-proclaimed make-up aficionado who, yesterday, declared that "I think I am going to start trying to be more cognizant of the ingredients in my cosmetics and what I put on my skin..."

Oh boy.

I have always been aware that there is scary stuff in cosmetics. I even read somewhere once that mascara is one of the worst things on the planet you can put near your peepers. However, you are reading the thoughts of a girl who suffered through debilitating acne in high school (from which, I'm pretty sure, my self confidence has never fully recovered). I use products to exude different moods and perceptions, much like I do with clothing. Am I really going to ditch my favorites because they contain scary stuff I can't pronounce? Well, maybe.

Lorain-Carnegie Bridge Guardian
a.k.a. My Boyfriend

I used to fall back on the idea that our skin is a canvas... A barrier between our insides and the outside world. This theory crumbles when one considers medicinal patches such as birth control and nicotine... Obviously something passes through this barrier and is effectively absorbed into the bloodstream. Oh, crap.

There is more science there and probably some arguments for the barrier theory; however, it was enough to get me to start researching kinder skincare and cosmetics. I'll save you all the trouble and just tell you: it is flipping overwhelming. I can't suggest any products yet, because I haven't tried anything. That will be for later posts. What I will say is that a girl who knows nothing about natural beauty products found a diamond in the rough at The Spirit Beauty Lounge website (please Google, some people are weird about linking to their website).

Nothing is better than Ohio grass on
barefeeties.

Spirit's website lets you request nine samples of almost any of her products for $25, which includes a coupon off your next purchase (an assumption that you will buy one of the items). All the products I had read reviews on went on my list. I'm super pumped. Most of these products are only sold in specialty brick and mortar locations, so this practically eliminates the risk of the product collecting dust in my make up drawer. Natural cosmetics are a tad more expensive, which makes sense, so this would give me much heartburn than normal.

Have any of you thought about this? Apparently there are documentaries that scare people silly about it. I haven't drummed up the nerve to watch them yet.

PS- Since I haven't bought anything yet, I had no pictures to go with this post. Therefore, these are random pictures from my life the past couple weeks. You're welcome.

Who needs junk food when you have this?  West Side Market
organic heaven.  Swoon.