Tea & Topaz

Have you ever thought about what's in the products you use everyday? I certainly didn't, until about a year ago. If you've read any of the posts in my natural beauty series , you know that I've been trying to make my skin care routine more natural and environmentally friendly. Everything from skin care to shampoo to hand soap to dish soap to laundry detergent is made with chemicals that have been linked to both disrupting the endocrine system and causing cancer. The EU has banned or regulated over 1,300 ingredients used in personal care products. Here in North America, we are much more lenient. The FDA has banned only 11 ingredients, while Health Canada's list of banned ingredients is only slightly longer!  (Source)  As well, terms such as "green," "eco-friendly" and "pure" are often meaningless as they aren't regulated and are often only used to market products. For example, the majority of Green Works products receive a grade of F...

I can't believe it's the end of May already. Hopefully the summer weather will be here soon! Here's what I've been loving during May. This month's list is as random as usual. 1. New Balance SuperLight/SuperFresh 895V2 Walking Shoe : I'm definitely not a sneaker kind of girl. It's been years since I last owned a pair, but I bought these New Balance 895V2 sneakers a few weeks ago in preparation for the Shape Up Challenge , and I love them! They are perfect for walking or running. $89.99 at newbalance.com 2. White Noise Lite App : Sometimes I have a lot of trouble falling asleep at night. I stumbled upon this free app in the Apple App Store and I can't believe how quickly it puts me to sleep! There are a selection of soothing sounds to choose from such as crashing waves, thunder and a ticking grandfather clock. Free, available for iPhone and Android 3. Revlon Lip Butter in Sorbet : Lately I've been turning to this bright cool-toned p...

I can't believe it's that time again! To be honest, this list was especially difficult to compile this month. I spent April finishing up a very intensive 8 month + internship postgrad program. Between the exams, reports, projects, presentations, late nights and early mornings, I had very little time to myself to discover new products, so this list mostly includes old favourites that I found myself reaching for this month. 1. Cadbury Mini Eggs :  Mini Eggs are my favourite Easter candy and I don't even want to think of how many I consumed this month (stress eating!). At least I was balancing all that chocolate out with vegan bowls . 2. Live Clean Fresh Face Foaming Daily Cleanser : I picked up this cleanser in my never ending quest to find the best skin care products. I'm glad I did as I really love it. It doesn't contain any harsh ingredients, so it is extremely gentle on the skin. It is for all skin types, and is reasonably priced. $15.49 at S...