Major League

Although I’ve had mixed feelings about this day for a few years now, I’m always happy once it’s here. Looking back, I’ve always felt that I haven’t lived life at its fullest, which brought about thoughts of “I’m too old”. However, this year seems different. In some places, it is the age of majority – though not where I live –and this year, for the first time, I feel more like an adult than ever before. For a change, I’m not looking at what has been, but rather at what will be, and I’m excited for the future; I think that things are finally starting to happen, and I am eager to find out where they will lead me. This year, unlike previous years, I feel ready to take on life’s challenges and hope that 21 will be the best one yet!

Photograph via deviantart

Pretty Polly

Green beauty doesn’t always offer as much variety as traditional, chemical-filled products. Nail polish is one such example. With ingredients like formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and toluene, not many beauty products are as toxic as nail polish. It is, after all, paint.

However, more and more companies seem to take these 3 most harmful ingredients out of their formulas. One such brand is Zoya Nail Polish. With over 300 colours available and more coming out every year in the form of 4 seasonal collections, the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing a favorite. Add to that the long lasting formula that, in my personal experience, held more than a week with almost no chips, all while skipping the base and top coats.

These 3 colors have me excited for summer: Malia is a bright and cheerful version of one of my favorite colours, Lulu is the perfect soft peach shade when I’m in the mood for something subtle, and Yummy is a bright blue that reminds me of the clear, sunny, summer sky.

The one downside of this product is the fact that online orders can only be delivered to addresses in the continental USA, which seems very unfair for us Canadian residents and the rest of the world. But with such a winning combination of lovely shades and long lasting power, all at an accessible price (7$ for a bottle), I think a visit to see family in the States is completely justified in order to get a hold of a few of these bottles.

The Bible

Green beauty is not easy to navigate. With so many skincare products that promise a perfect complexion and makeup in hundreds of beautifully tempting shades, it is very easy to ignore their harmful effects on both our own health and that of the environment. Complicated ingredient lists, marketing tricks and accessible prices make it even easier for us consumers to overlook the all-natural branch of this industry. However, we do this at the expense of our well-being and of the world we live in.

Julie Gabriel is very much aware of these facts and in her book, The Green Beauty Guide, she clearly explains why green beauty is the way to go – with lots of scientific documentation that is very well put together and shocking enough to make us think twice about our choices. With the numerous warnings, tips, safe choices and recipes that she provides, she ensures a smoother sailing. Her book is truly a go-to resource for all of us who decide not to fall prey to the cosmetic giants anymore and take charge of what goes onto our skin.

In Full Bloom

Yesterday was the first day of summer and I decided that this would be the perfect time to open a new blog, in which I will document my quest to live a green(er) lifestyle without having to make radical changes – with companies offering more and more green alternatives every day, now more than ever I truly think that it is possible. In the past couple years, I have been more and more interested in the environment and the things that we can do to lessen our negative impact on it. I hope to be able to share this passion with other people and learn as much as I can along the way. Welcome to The Summer of June!

Photograph via deviantart