Sommelier
Follow Me On Twitter
Follow Me On Bloglovin
At Your Service
I'm Alicia, beauty is my love, sensitive skin & allergies are my specialty. Click: ABOUT for more infoThe Finest Labels
acne allergies beauty birchbox carol's daughter celebrity curly hair dry skin eco friendly eczema essie events face wash fashion fashion week formaldehyde free hair lipstick lotion makeup make up mineral oil free miss jessies nail polish natural natural hair nutrition nyfw oily skin paraben free party perfume psoriasis recommendation rosacea salon sensitive skin sephora series spring straight hair sulfate free sunscreen vegan winter
Tag Archives: formaldehyde free
Product Review: April Birchbox
Hey Rosés,
For April’s Birchbox, our favorite monthly beauty sample subscription service provided products with Mother Earth’s stamp of approval. Eco friendly and non-toxic beauty and lifestyle products to celebrate Earth Week.
Let’s take a look at this compilation of natural ingredients that even includes laundry detergent!
Juice Beauty Oil-free Moisturizer
Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles
This oil-free moisturizer is part of Juice Beauty’s Blemish Clearing Collection that uses naturally derived ingredients to combat uneven skin, blemishes and acne, even for sensitive skin and allergies. I could feel the rich difference of it being loaded with high levels of fruit juice rather than water. The moisture lasted all day without extra touch-ups for my dry skin, and my skin felt flexible without any shine.
Ingredients: Organic juices of pyrus malus (organic apple juice)*, vitis vinifera (organic white grape juice)*, punica granatum (organic pomegranate juice)*, aloe barbadensis (organic aloe leaf juice)*, organic botanical extracts of cucumis sativus (organic cucumber extract)*, taraxacum officinale (organic dandelion leaf extract)*, salvia officinalis (organic sage leaf extract)*, melissa officinalis (lemon balm leaf extract), vegetable glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, panthenol (Vitamin B5), tocopherol (Vitamin E), algae extract, ascorbyl palmitate (Vitamin C), ethylhexyl (octyl) palmitate, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, sodium PCA, hyaluronic acid, xanthan gum, sodium hydroxide, phenethyl alcohol (sage derived), citrus aurantium (sweet orange & petitgrain) and cinnamomum camphora (ho wood) pure essential oils *certified organic by a USDA approved agency
Zoya TRUE Spring Collection Nail Polish in Tru
Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
This metallic light grape red-toned purple is bold enough to wear year-round. The gold shimmer gives color-changing red and orange effects in the light. Zoya is a great non-toxic brand free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, and camphor which can easily irritate skin. With 2 coats and top coat, this color lasted 9 days before serious chipping.
Ingredients: N/A
Wonderstruck Taylor Swift Perfume
Champagne Rating: 3 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
Similar to Taylor Swift, this is a fun, light and girly scent. It has an aura of flowers and fruit, perfect for daytime and weekend flair, but I wouldn’t recommend for evening or date night.
Ingredients: N/A
amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask
Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
I love this deep conditioner! A creamy sensation made with natural ingredients that left my scalp clear and each hair strand fully hydrated. The Moroccan argan olil and obliphica oil nourish strands in this sulfate and paraben free formula. After using this as a deep conditioning treatment I was able to go three days without added water or product, and it kept its moisture without added frizz.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, Cetrimonium chloride, Panthenol, Behentrimonium chloride, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene glycol, Argania spinosa kernel oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Hippophae rhamnoides (Obliphica) oil, Ascorbic acid, Citric acid
Dropps Laundry Detergent
Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
These eco-friendly individual laundry detergent packs are easy to toss in the washer. The ingredients are fabric friendly, excluding the enzymes used in typical detergents that can damage colors and fabrics. They also make dye and scent free for sensitive skin.
Ingredients:
Fresh Scent
Laureth (Plant Derived + Biodegradable Cleaning Agent), Polxoxyethylene Oleyl Ether (Plant Derived + Biodegradable Cleaning Agent), Propylene Carbonate (Progessing Agent), Hexylene Glycol (Processing Agent), Agua (Water)
Scent + Dye Free
Laureth – 7 (Plant Derived + Biodegradable Cleaning Agent), Polyoxyethylene Oleyl Ether (Plant Derived + Biodegradable Cleaning Agent), Ipa (Progessing Agent), Hexylene Glycol (Processing Agent), Agua (Water)
What are your favorite eco-friendly products?
Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia
Posted in Body, Face, Hair, PRODUCT REVIEWS
Tagged acne, allergies, amika, argan oil, birchbox, deep conditioner, dry skin, earth day, earth week, eco friendly, formaldehyde free, frizz, juice beauty, laundry detergent, lotion, moisturizer, moroccan oil, nail polish, natural, obliphica, oil free, oily skin, paraben free, perfume, scent, sensitive skin, sulfate free, taylor swift, toluene free, tru, wonderstruck, zoya
1 Comment
4 Spring Nail Polishes For Easter
Hey Rosés,
Easter is springing this weekend! That means jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, and a new Easter dress! If you’re like me, you struggled giving up something for the 40 days and 40 nights of Lent, alas resurrection weekend is here. What better way to hunt for Easter eggs than with new exciting nail polish. Go beyond pastels and earth tones, try a bubble gum pink or lemon drop yellow.
Check out these 4 polishes made with non-toxic ingredients (DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde free), perfect for you and your kids this Easter weekend:
Essie in She’s Picture Perfect
Purchase: $8 drugstore.com
Iridescent reflective lilac livens up a spring lavender favorite from the latest collection.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Propyl Acetate, Tosylamide Formaldehyde Resin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ethyl Tosylamide, Camphor, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Diacetone Alcohol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Benzophenone 1, Alumina, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Citric Acid, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Dimethicone, May also contain:, Mica (CI 77891), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77163), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163) (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 77491, CI 77499), Iron Oxides (CI 15850), Red 6 Lake (CI 15880), Red 34 (CI 15880) (CI 77266), Black 2 (CI 77266) (CI 73360), Red 30 (CI 73360) (CI 75170), Guanine (CI 77000), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000) (CI 770007), Ultramarines (CI 77510), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510) (CI 19140), Yellow 5 (CI 42090), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), F.I.L. D44247/2
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Traffic
Purchase: $8 occmakeup.com
Go bold with bright yellow opaque satin.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acrylate Copolymer | May Contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines, Bismuth Oxychloride, FD&C Yellow #5, D&C Red #7, D&C Red #34, Ferric Ferrocyanine, Mica
Ginger + Liz in Boy Toy
Purchase: $12 beautyhabit.com
A robin egg blue that looks as good as your jelly beans taste.
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate; Ethyl Acetate; Nitrocellulose; Acetyl Tributyl Citrate; Phthalic Anhydride/Trimellitic Anydride/Glycols Copolymer; Isopropyl Alcohol; Stearalkonium Hectorite; Adipic Acid/Fumaric Acid/Phthalic Acid/Tricyclodecane Dimethanol Copolymer; Citric Acid; colors; Polytheylene Terepthalate; Calcium Sodium Borosilicate; Titanium Dioxide; Tin Oxides Silica; Aluminum Powder; Iron Oxides; Aluminum Powder; Fragrance
Zoya in Shelby
Purchase: $8
Bring this soft cherry blossom pink from Zoya’s Beach collection to the garden.
Ingredients: butyl acetate, propyl acetate, ethyl acetate, nitrocellulose, isopropyl alcohol, polyester, resin, camphor, steralkonium hectorite, benzo-phenone 1, titanium dioxide. May contain D&C red #6, iron oxide, ferric ammonium, ferrocyanide red #7
What are your favorite Easter looks for spring?
Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia
Posted in Body
Tagged blue, boy toy, dbp free, drugstore.com, easter, eco friendly, essie, formaldehyde free, ginger and liz, lilac, nail polish, non toxic, obsessive compulsive cosmestics, occ, pink, shelby, shes picture perfect, spring, toluene free, yellow, zoya
1 Comment
March Madness: Final Four Beauty Looks
Hey Rosés,
If you’re like me, you’ve spent the month of March MAD! MAD for Mad Men’s triumphant season 5 return, and MAD for the March Madness twists and turns! (Or just plain MAD your guy spent more time with basketball than you – hmph!) The annual NCAA College Basketball tournament starts with 68 teams and narrows down to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and coming up next, the Final Four. Out of these four teams only two will go on to play in the championship game, ultimately winning the “Big Dance” this Monday April 2nd.
“Love & Basketball” movie cover – so not relevant, but I had to pay homage in a basketball post!
Inspired by the upsets (sorry Duke!) and Cinderella stories (go Ohio!) this year, I want to arm you with a Cinderella look (not upset look!) to show your team spirit during the games this weekend. Check out these inspirations from the colors of the Final Four teams…pure MADNESS!!
(or at least enjoy the mancandy in the pics below!)
Kentucky vs. Louisville
Ginger + Liz in Chase Me
Purchase: $12 gingerandliz.com
Get Kentucky Wildcat cerulean blue nails. This formula is free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP.
Dior Addict Lipstick in Rock n Roll
Purchase: $30 bloomingdales.com
Get a Louisville Cardinal red colored vibrant creamy lipstick.
Kansas vs. Ohio State
Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Radium
Purchase: $18 sephora.com
Get royal blue eyes Kansas Jayhawk style from Urban Decay’s new richer formula.
NARS Blush in Exhibit A
Purchase: $28 sephora.com
Cheer every 3-pointer with this matte vivid red Ohio State Buckeye blush.
Who are you rooting for this weekend?
Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia
Posted in Body, Face
Tagged basketball, beauty, blue, blush, cerulean, chase me, dbp free, dior addict, exhibit a, eye shadow, final four, formaldehyde free, ginger + liz, ginger and liz, kansas, lipstick, louisville, makeup, march madness, nail polish, nars, ncaa, ohio state, radium, red blush, red lipstick, rock n roll, royal blue, toluene free, urban decay
Leave a comment
Product Review: March Birchbox
Hey Rosés,
This month Birchbox teamed up with Teen Vogue for a fun, playful and spring formal event-prep box of samples. Teen Vogue’s beauty guru Eva Chen also provided great makeup and hair tips for special occasions and everyday glam. Great sensitive skin and allergy-friendly brands like Tarte and Essie return with bright colors for spring. There were also great alternatives for the sporty girls, and anyone transitioning from processed hair to natural hair.
Take a look at some great finds for your next special event or to add a pop of color:
Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Lucky
Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles
I was looking for a pale pink matte, and this came just in time! The giant crayon glides on smoothly with a texture in between a lip balm and matte lipstick. It has moisturizing vitamins A & E with a hint of color, clicks to refill (no pencil sharpener needed), and so sheer it actually looks nude. Perfect to wear alone or a great primer for lipstick or lip gloss. Be forewarned the strong peppermint oil smell and tingle, but has a sensitive skin-friendly formula: paraben free, sulfate free, mineral oil free.
Ingredients for Lucky: Octyldodecanol, candelilla cera/euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax/cire de candelilla, C12-15 alkyl ethylhexanoate, isopropyl palmitate, cyclopentasiloxane, silica, nylon -12, VP/eicosene copolymer, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax /cera carnauba/cire de carnauba, phenyl trimethicone, disteardimonium hectorite, hydrogenated coco-glycerides, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, caprylic/ capric triglyceride, propylene carbonate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, dimethicone, caprylyl glycol, sorbitan stearate, benzophenone-3, tocopheryl acetate, sodium saccharin, castor oil bis-hydroxypropyl dimethicone esters, retinyl palmitate, salicornia herbacea extract, dimethyl isosorbide, palmitoyl hexapeptide-14, tin oxide, mica. (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), iron oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), red 6 lake & red 7 lake (CI 15850), red 27 lake (CI 45410), red 40 lake (CI 16035), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), yellow 6 lake (CI 15985), blue 1 lake (CI 42090).
Kate Spade New York Perfume in Twirl
Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Twirl is the perfect name for this scent, it’s a mixture of flirty and fun with fruit and floral notes. Light enough to wear during the day for work or brunch, yet stimulating for wear in the evening for cocktails or a date. Each spray makes me want to dance, either with a cupcake or a cutie
Ingredients: alchohol denat, parful/fragrance, water/aqua/eu, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, butylphenyl methylpropional, citral, citronellol, farnesol, geraniol, hexyl, cinnamal, hydroxycitonellal, hyrdoxyisohexyl, 3-cyclohexene carbonxaldhyde, limonene, linalool, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl, methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, orange 4 (ci 15510), yellow 10 (ci 47005)
Kérastase Elixir Ultime
Champagne Rating: 3 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
This nourishing oil can be used as a leave-in conditioner or pre-blowout heat protectant, but I used it as a shine serum on curly hair. It’s thick but not greasy or heavy. It smoothed top-side frizz and added a hint of shine when applied to dry curly hair.
Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Zea Mays / Corn Germ Oil, Argania Spinosa Oil / Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Kissi / Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Pentaclethra Macroloba Oil / Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Coumarine, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum / Fragrance.
Twistband Hair Tie
Champagne Rating: 3 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
This fun evolution of the hair tie causes little breakage and maintains elasticity even when wet after the gym. It did leave a dent on curly hair, perhaps straight hair has better luck. Great for rosés transitioning from perms to natural hair, and athletes who don’t want breakage after a workout.
Ingredients: N/A
Essie LuxeEffects Collection in Set In Stones
Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Wear this glitter nail polish alone for a silver disco ball effect or as a top coat for a blast of bling. The formula is free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP. Great for sensitive skin, and safer with out toxic chemicals. I’ve tried plenty of glittery nail polishes and this is one of the easier ones to get off without having to scrape your nails.
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Silica, N-Butyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate-4, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Benzophenone-1, Polyurethane-11, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate [+/- May Contain / Peut Contenir, Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Ci 15850 / Red 7 Lake, Ci 77000 / Aluminum Powder, Ci 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, Ci 60725 / Violet 2
What is your must have for a formal spring event?
Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia
*All images via Birchbox
*All Items can be purchased on Birchbox for a discount with membership
Posted in Body, Face, Hair, PRODUCT REVIEWS
Tagged allergies, birchbox, curly hair, elixir ultime, essie, eva chen, formaldehyde free, glitter, gym, hair, hair oil, hair tie, kate spade, kerastase, lip tint, lipsurgence, luxeeffects, mineral oil free, nail polish, natural hair, pale pink, paraben free, peppermint oil, perfume, permed hair, sensitive skin, shine serum, straight hair, sulfate free, tarte, teen vogue, transitioning, twirl, twistband, vitamin a, vitamin e, workout
2 Comments
























