Beauty - WedZtyle

Clean Beauty – A Healthy Alternative For Brides & Grooms.

by WedZtyle November 6, 2020November 6, 2020

The words ‘clean beauty’ seems to be used frequently amongst cosmetic and skincare brands. Phrases such as ‘natural’, ‘vegan’, vegetarian’, ‘organic’, and ‘animal-free’ are synonymous to clean beauty. From my point of view, clean beauty equates to chemically synthetic-free ingredients which in theory should be better for your overall health, particularly over a long period. It covers cosmetics, skincare, dental, hair, fragrances, the list goes on.

Putting the rise of clean beauty into perspective, a report published by the Statista Research Department in 2019 projected the natural and organic beauty industry to grow to $22bn by 2024. (Clean Beauty Gals, 2019).

Like food, there is a difference between vegetarian and vegan cosmetics. Vegetarian-based products are derived from an animal; an example would be beeswax, produced from bees.

A further example would be red and purple based pigment cosmetics such as eyeshadows that are derived from carmine. Carmine is extracted through beetles and small insects. As the product is derived from an animal source, it is vegetarian. A beauty product that substitutes red dyes with real foods like strawberries and beets would be considered vegan.(aboutvegan.com, 2020).

Over the years, I have gradually moved towards organic, naturally derived skincare products. For me, using skincare products that have been made from olive oil, geranium, rose etc., have seen my skin look and feel better. My skin does not feel as clogged and heavy after putting on various skincare products.

Recently, I have changed my approach towards cosmetic products and now actively source brands that are natural, vegetarian, vegan and animal friendly. The change came about after years of wearing red and purple based eyeshadows and pencils, to end up with itchy eyes and sometimes conjunctivitis. It was frustrating as I was unable to wear these colours. It reached a point of enough is enough. After researching the web, I read about carmine and where it is sourced. It was then that I learnt the difference between vegetarian and vegan cosmetics. The products I was using were vegetarian, so I sourced vegan alternatives. Now I wear red and purple eye-makeup without eye irritations.

More cosmetic brands are offering vegan lines recognising people’s preference for products that are ‘cleaner’, and one can argue better for our health. We have put together a list of brands across various categories to guide our wedztyler’s into purchasing clean beauty products.

INIKA CLEAR NATURAL BEAUTY

The brand offers PETA certified and cruelty-free; all their products are vegan. I use their red and purple shadows and liners which are quite pigmented and long lasting. Diverse range of products ranging from skincare to cosmetics – click on the website for details.

Image: Inikaorganic.com

HOURGLASS

Luxurious brand. One of our favourites here at Wedztyle. Hourglass has recently made the commitment to be 100% vegan by 2020. Until then, be mindful that not every product from the brand is currently free from animal-derived ingredients. (Jowett, 2019)

Image: hourglasscosmetics.com

Cover FX

The entire range is cruelty-free and vegan (except for MintTint FX & MintGlaze FX). (Jowett, 2019).

Image: coverfx.com

Morphe Cosmetics

Morphe now offer a complete 100% vegan range. Check out the range by clicking on the link below. It includes make-up brushes and skincare.

Image: morphe.com

Tarte Cosmetics

Tarte is brand that offers high quality sourced ingredients that are cruelty free. Not all the range of products are vegan. Vegan based products are clearly identified, making it easy to select those products. Check out the range: https://tartecosmetics.com/shop/collections/vegan-friendly/#page=4

Image : tartecosmetics.com

PUREOLOGY PROFESSIONAL COLOR CARE

Offer vegan products. The new range Nanoworks Gold is vegan and sulfate FREE. Great for restoring dry brittle hair.

Image : https://pureology.com.au/

DR. BRONNER’S SPEARMINT SHAVING GEL

For all those men out there, shaving cream that is made with only plant-based ingredients – does not contain aerosol, petrochemicals, detergents or artificial fragrances no soap.

The products offered are produced environmentally, ethically free. A family business that supports fair-trade.

Image: https://www.https://www.drbronner.com.au/drbronner.com.au/

Dr Bonner’s extensive soap alternatives. Most impressive.

Other sites that we recommend that have a comprehensive range of vegan made products across all categories are:

Nourished Life which offers over 7,852 toxin free products

https://www.nourishedlife.com.au

Vegan.com vegan made easy – offers a vast range of products that are vegan derived, including food.

https://www.vegan.com

Google is your friend when searching for organic, natural, vegan based products that are animal cruelty free, palm oil and toxin free. For our wedztyle couples, we are offering alternative products that we believe are better for our health. Explore what is out there!!

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Have you checked out our new Wedding Planning Channel? Link: https://wedztyle.com/wedding-channel/

Need help planning your wedding? Check out our digital wedding planner. Instant download. Instant Planning. Link: https://wedztyle.com/product/wedding-planner-ebook/

References

aboutvegan.com. (2020, November 02). Carmine. Retrieved from About Vegan.com: https://www.vegan.com/carmine/

Clean Beauty Gals. (2019, November 2019). Top 45 Clean Beauty Statistics and Trends. Retrieved from Clean Beauty Gals: https://cleanbeautygals.com/top-45-clean-beauty-statistics-and-trends/

Jowett, V. (2019, October 14). 13 vegan makeup brands you need to know about. Retrieved from Cosmopolitan UK: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/makeup/a45915/vegan-makeup/

Main Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/t7J_yjUv8QI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

The e-Wedding Planner

by WedZtyle January 3, 2020

Planning a wedding without a clear direction can be stressful. Couples either hire a wedding planner which can be pricy (the average fee to hire a wedding planner is approximately 20% of the total budget of the wedding) or wing it. And those who ‘wing’ end up with a mess and blow their budget out.

There has a big shift within the wedding industry with many couples choosing to plan their own weddings and opting not to hire wedding planners. Depending on the size of the wedding and budget, couples planning their own weddings look for inspiration through socials such as Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook wedding groups.

I recently received an email from an accredited online course offering a course on wedding planning. Curiosity took the best of me, and I enquired. Having been in the wedding industry since 1997 (showing my age), primarily designing and decorating wedding cakes, the content I received indicated that not much has changed. However, I did notice that couples were being less traditional and adopting for ‘something different’. I will not shock you with the price asked!!! Wedztyle.com

When designing my wedding cakes, there were so many questions I would ask the couples to understand their vision and ensure that the wedding cake tied into the theme perfectly. Wedding Planning is no different. It is bringing that vision to life and offering the best experience on that special day. And of course, it needs to cost-effective.

Wedztyle.com

Not to take away the value that a wedding planner brings, we have created an e-wedding planner so that couples have a clear and focused guide without the hefty price tag. The wedding planner ebook can be used together with your wedding planner or on its own.

The e-wedding planner provides a methodology on how to plan a wedding. It gives useful tips across all aspects such as vendor selection, destination weddings, wedding dress selection. The list goes on. And of course, it contains budget tables under each section; keeping couples on track. wedztyle.com

Our e-wedding planner is instantly accessible and available for download on all devices such as iPhone, iPad and kindles. Once downloaded, it can be used immediately. It is like having a digital wedding planner at your fingertips. But at your convenience.

Another key advantage of our e-wedding planner is that we like to inform our Wedztyle community of changing trends. All updates made are free of charge. Yes, you heard that correctly. No hidden costs. The price you pay, is all you pay.

Give it a go and download your copy. We welcome all feedback, good and bad. Simply head to our website to purchase your copy at Wedztyle.com

15 Shades of RED

by WedZtyle July 30, 2017

Those who know me will know that when it comes to cosmetics products, it is all about lipsticks. From a young age, I developed a fixation in buying lipsticks in a vast range of colours. The brand was irrelevant. All I cared about was the shade and how I felt when I wore it. I recall the first lipstick that I was given by aunty. It was the perfect brown – not too dark, not too light. It was glossy and it made my lips feel full and pouty. And the obsession began.

In the 90’s, I moved towards matte lipsticks as I found that were pigmented, long lasting although a bit drying depending on the brand. Who could forget Poppy’s infamous opaque lipsticks. Anyone and everyone owned a shade of Poppy lipsticks. One of my favourite shades was Indolence. A nude shade that matched any eye look. And then there was MAC. Their range of lipsticks offered made it my ultimate go-to brand. Whatever lipstick shade I wore, it always matched my mood and look. From day to night, my lips were never without lipstick.

For me, no shade of lipstick made me feel as glamorous, sexy and confident than wearing that perfect red lipstick. It can change your face, your look and your attitude. To this day, this is my preferred colour and as a result, I have accumulated ‘plentiful’ shades red of lipsticks.

Being a brunette with brown eyes and olive skin with golden undertones, I have worn a breadth of reds. I tended to ignore the ‘recommended’ red lipsticks for my hair colour and skin tone. I enjoyed experimenting. From bright reds to dark reds some with blue undertones, some with orange/brown and some with pink. I also played around with different formulas from sheer, gloss, matte semi matte, stains and liquid matte. Over the years, I have developed a ‘few’ favourites. So here are my 15 shades of red:

1. MAC Ruby Woo Known as Retro Matte. Eye catching red lipstick. Intense, striking and beautiful on the lips. Pigmented and long lasting.

red image 1

Image supplied by google – s-media-cache-ak0.pinmg.com

2. MAC RED Satin finish – bright hue of red. The satin finish makes the lips pop. Pigmented and long wearing.

red image 2

Image supplied by google – vg-images.condecdn.net

3. MAC Russian Red Matte – blue based shade of red. Not as vivid as Ruby Woo but still makes as statement on your lips.

Image supplied by google – www.painted-ladies.com

4. Dior 040 – Marilyn Matte lipstick. Long lasting, rich and deep in colour. The lipstick goes on very easily, giving the lips an intense finish. The packaging adds to the sophistication of the lipstick and the brand.

red image 4

Image supplied by google – s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

5. Dior 014- Dolce Vita Matte, long lasting and non-drying. Vibrant red. Bold and daring. The perfect shade of red. Again, the packaging adds to the sophistication of the lipstick and the brand.

red image 5

Image supplied by google – www.polyvore.com

6. YVSL Lipstick –Rouge Pur Couture 01 Matte finish, quite pigmented. Pure red colour. Hydrating and glides on easily. Elegant packaging.

Image supplied by google – www.yslbeautyus.com

7. Bodyography Lipstick – Red China Semi-matte. A true red that makes the lips look divine. A hidden gem!

Image supplied by google – cdn.makeupandbeauty.com

8. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil – Mysterious Red A 2 in 1. A warm red hue that is moisturising and long lasting. This pencil is velvety smooth, making application easy.

Image supplied by google – www.vampyvarish.com

9. Chanel – Rouge Allure A must for every red-loving person. Intense, luminous and incredibly moisturizing. Brilliant packaging. Chanel is engraved within the lipstick. The lipstick barrel comes out when you press the golden base.

Image supplied by google – www.chanel.com

10. Chanel Number 14 Passion Satin matte finish. This shade of red is vibrant and daring. A true red.

Image supplied by google – www.polyvore.com

11. Chanel Number 104 – Passion Deeper red. Intense hue. Lips feels moist and sensuous

Image supplied by google – izzybeautyshoppe.com

12. Kat Von D – Hellbent Rich, deep red. Also known as crimson red. This lipstick makes a statement. Lips look sexy and pouty. Hydrating, long lasting and rich pigment.

Image supplied by google – www.temptalia.com

13. Buxom – Provocateur Full bodied semi matte. A true red that is vibrant and bold. Hydrating, extremely pigmented and lasts all day. The name says it all!! Stila – All Day Liquid Lipstick This lipstick applies wet and dries to a matte finish. Quite moisturising therefore non-drying. True to the name, this lipstick is long lasting. Incredibly pigmented range of colours.

Image supplied by google – www.temptalia.com

14. Fiery Intense full red-blooded colour. Makes the lips look full and sexy.

Image supplied by google – thisthatbeauty.com

15. Beso Pure red. Bold, daring and vivid. Lips looks seductive and sensuous Application is everything when wearing a red lipstick.

Image supplied by google – demandware.edgesuite.net

There are many tips online where you can be guided on how to apply on a red lipstick. I make sure that my lips are well moisturised. I then use a lip liner where I define my lip shape and lightly fill in my lips. I do this to ensure that I get a nice even finish. I then apply the lipstick directly from the bullet. What I do is dab the colour into my lips until I get the dimension of red I desire. For those who are uncomfortable in wearing a red lipstick, don’t be. Own it. With so many shades of red, it is a colour that can easily transition from day to night. Don’t be afraid to play around with various colours, formulas and brands. Find what makes you go ‘wow’ when you put it on your lips. Create your own 15 shades of red!

The Quest for “Straighter” Hair

by WedZtyle March 15, 2017

I have thick curly frizzy hair. For those who have similar hair to me, you will know how difficult it is to maintain. For years, I tried effortlessly to tame my hair, even taking an iron to it. It would take me an hour to straighten my hair yet it never looked smooth, always frizzy. And humid weather was my worst enemy.

Back in 2002, I was elated to learn that a product existed to permanently straighten hair. Known as Japanese Straightening, aka Thermal Ionic Hair Straightening. The product thermally restructures the hair from curly to permanently straight. The thermal ionic system actually flattens the hair cuticle layer to produce permanently straight hair. The hair remains straight until it is cut off.

conair-one-n-only-thermal-ionic-permanent-hair-straightener-202 — Thermal Ionic

Amazing results, my hair was dead straight with no frizz. I remember when I first got it done, I was ecstatic. My hair behaved as if I was born with straight hair. However, I could not curl it or add any body to it. The curl was gone. As my hair grew, the roots were curly even though the length of my hair was straight. This meant that I had to continuously straighten the roots which I did once a year.

The draw back with this treatment is that it is a very lengthy process, even when you get the regrowth done. As the hairdresser has to meticulously iron an inch of hair at a time, it can take anywhere between 4 to 6 hours and the cost ranges from $450 to $650. Although, I liked my hair straight, I wanted body in it. I also got tired of spending 4.5 hours in the salon only to straighten 4 inches of hair along with the inconvenience of not being able to tie or pin it up or wash it for 72 hours. And the not to mention the cost of getting this procedure done.

smooth-hair — Thermal Ionic Before and After Treatment

It was time for a change. Being a creature of habit, it took me awhile to grasp the concept of a Brazilian Keratin Straightening Treatment. Basically, it is a semi-permanent hair straightening method where they infuse liquid keratin and a preservative solution into the hair with a hair iron. It considerably relaxes the curl and eliminates frizz. Over a period of 3-6 months, the hair goes back to its original way.

I took the plunge a few months back. The hairdresser used Alfaparf Lisse design express formula. I was very skeptical of the results. It used a mousse type application and the processes was different to what I was used to. With the Thermal ionic, after thermally reconstructing the hair using an iron, a neutralizer is added to permanently lock the hair in a pin straight look. With the Brazilian treatment, once the product is ironed into your hair, it is done. It takes less time and a quarter of the cost.

alfaparf_milano_lisse_kit[1] — Alfaparf Lisse Keratin Therapy

With much apprehension, I washed my hair and hoped for the best. It was a different outcome to the thermal ionic straightening process. My hair was not dead straight but my curl definitely relaxed and the frizz disappeared. My hair had a nice shine through and it felt soft and conditioned. The advantages for me is that with the Brazilian treatment, my hair has body in it. And there is no curly regrowth, easy to straighten and no frizz.

The disadvantage for me is that because it is not straight I actually now have to take to the hair dryer and iron to straighten my hair. Whereas with the other treatment, no iron was required until the regrowth appeared.

LisseDesign_model — Alfaparf Lisse – Before and After Treatment

The jury is still out on this one for me. Not sure which method of straightening treatment I prefer as the outcomes are completely different. For now, I will continue with the Brazilian Keratin Treatment as I like that I can add body and movement to my hair yet still be able to easily manage my curls.

In conclusion, for those who are skeptical like I was or considering this, my advice will be choose the treatment type that best suits your needs. Choosing the right hairdresser will also determine the result you get so don’t be afraid to ask questions.