Unique Los Angeles

Safiya Beauty will be at Unique Los Angeles this weekend! Join us and shop over 275 local vendors, showcasing everything from jewelry to stationery to clothing & accessories. We’ll also be unveiling our new items for Summer 2009 – you won’t want to miss this!
 

{Unique Los Angeles}

Saturday, May 2, 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday, May 3, 11 am – 5 pm

Held at the California Market Center penthouse (110 East Ninth Street, LA, CA - Map It)
$5 per ticket (children 10 and under are free), with 50% of ticket sales benefit a local charity 

UNIQUE LOS ANGELES is an exciting two-day shopping event that showcases independent design talent at great prices. The event brings together over 275 of the best designers, artists and merchants. We believe in supporting the community while stimulating the local economy, we thrive on individualism, and we hope to introduce independent design to the masses. There are deals and discoveries a plenty!

Clothing & Accessories • Stationery • Jewelry • Housewares • Artwork • Ceramics 
Gourmet Edibles • Plush Toys • Books • Photography • Screenprints • Plus more! 

Discover downtown! Park ALL DAY in the California Market Center’s underground parking, with entrances on both Los Angeles and Main (special price with Unique LA Validation)

I also did this show back in December and it was incredible! So many fun, creative and talented people. I wanted to buy everything! Hope to see you there this weekend!

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Happy Earth Day!

I just saw this really great Earth Day post on The Etsy Green & Clean Guild Blog (EGCG), which is a really great resource for handmade & natural bath, body and personal care products. Check them out if you’re looking to support indie bath & body makers.  Enjoy!

 

Earth Day Fun Facts:

Did you know that in some elementary schools, after Halloween and Christmas, Earth Day is the third largest celebrated holiday? Or how about that it is now observed in 175 countries and is the largest secular modern day holiday in the world? For more fun facts and to learn how much energy you save when you recycle one aluminum can, read more..

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to watch a TV for three hours – it’s equivalent to half a gallon of gasoline.
• Earth Day is a relatively new holiday and was first celebrated on April 22 in 1970. More than 20 million Americans participated in this first Earth Day celebration
• Earth Day was founded by a senator of Wisconsin and the day is credited for creating the environmentalism movement.
• April 22 is the first official day of Spring in the Northern hemisphere and of Fall in the Southern hemisphere and was chosen to be Earth Day for this reason.
• Never underestimate the importance of recycling: if every newspaper was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year. Unfortunately only 27% of all American newspapers are recycled.
• More than 20,000,000 Hershey’s Kisses are wrapped each day, using 133 square miles of tinfoil. All that foil is recyclable, but not many people realize it.
• Only 11% of the earth’s surface is used to grow food.
• The world’s first national park was started in 1872 at Yellowstone National Park in the US.
• The first major international conference on environmental issues was held in Sweden in 1972 and was sponsored by the United Nations.
• The first wildlife refuge was formed on Pelican Island Florida in 1903.
• The patron Saint of ecologists is St. Francis and the first proclamation of Earth Day was made by the mayor of San Francisco in 1970.
• A highlight of the annual Earth Day ceremony at the United Nations is the ringing of the Peace Bell that was given to the UN by Japan. It is made from coins given by school children to further peace on our planet.

Have a fantastic Earth Day. What are you doing to make a difference? It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small. And don’t forget to carry on the changes you’ve made throughout the year!

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Hot Process Soap

I recently took a great soap-making class at this fantastic little place in Santa Monica, The Urban Craft Center. The Urban Craft Center offers incredible classes in all types of arts & crafts. From sewing to soap-making to jewelry-making. Another great perk, you can rent space and store your supplies in their workshop, which is something I’m thinking of doing since my small little condo is overflowing with Safiya ingredients!

So I signed up for a hot process soap-making class. I’ve done melt & pour soap before and I’ve also done cold process. So I figured that it would be great to learn a new technique. The instructor was really knowledgeable and broke the process down to easy to follow steps. We used olive oil and coconut oil which provide soothing, gentle lathers and I added chamomile & a splash of tangerine essential oils. It was a great class and I would definitely go back to the Urban Craft Center to learn some other crafty techniques.

So of course, once I got home I re-created what I learned. I made 12 chunky, soothing bars of Chamomile & Olive soaps and listed them on my Etsy shop! Go have a looksie.

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Zoya Nail Polish

I love getting packages in the mail. So I was uber excited when a pretty little package came for me earlier this week. I just knew it was my Zoya nail polishes (eeek!). Zoya collection is not about what’s in the products but rather what is not. The average nail polish is basically nothing more than a refined version of automobile paint. Zoya makes over 300 gorgous, long-lasting nail polishes that are free of toulene, formaldehyde, phthalates and camphor. It’s the best brand that I’ve found that combines rich, trendy colors with a chemical-free formula. 

 

I ordered the La-Di-Da Sampler from their Summer 2009 Collection.  I’m not sure why they call it a ’sampler’ because it comes with 6 full sized bottle of nail polish. The sampler set comes with 6 summer colors: America (red), Dita (fushcia), Renee (hot pink), Ali (bumblegum pink), Paz (neon yellow) and Pippa (yellow). Now I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m definitely a pink girl when it comes to nail polish but there was something about the yellow that made me instantly reach for it.  And I’m glad I did.

It’s ridiculously vibrant! It makes me exceedingly happy.

Everytime I get a glimpse of my toes it makes me smile. I’m excited to try out the other colors as well.  So Zoya is a definite must buy in my opinion. It’s less harsh than the usual nail polish and it comes in fantastic colors that make you instantly happy. What more could you ask for, right?

What color are you wearing right now? What’s your summer color?

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I almost forgot…

It’s Spa Week in Los Angeles this week – April 13th through April 19th! Head to SpaWeek.com to book your indulgent spa treatment for only $50. It’s quite a steal! I took advantage of a microdermabrasion treatment last Fall for Spa Week from Skinpeccable. This time around, I’m thinking about a hot stone massage. Make sure to cash in on this incredible – and relaxing – deal!

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Juice Beauty Review

So you regular readers may remember that I recently started using Lush’s Angel on Bare Skin face cleanser and I absolutely love it. But I was still in need of a great moisturizer for my face. I have always heard great things about Juice Beauty so I headed to my local Sephora to give the line a try. I was impressed with Juice Beauty’s line of products. They are all made with certified organic ingredients and are packed with powerful antioxidants and polyphenols, essential vitamins, vital phytonutrients and age-defying hydroxy acids. 

And of course, like most times I enter any Sephora, I left with much more than I actually anticipated buying. Here’s my Juice Beauty loot:

NUTRIENT MOISTURIZER:

This nutrient-rich organic moisturizer blends certified organic grape juice, vitamin-rich carrot juice and nourishing essential fatty acids to replenish and protect for smooth, healthy skin. I adore this moisturizer! As soon as I tried it on in the store I was in love. It’s ridiculously supple and moist. I feel like I’m treating my face to a small indulgence each time I use it.  I’ve been using it twice a day and my skin has never felt better. It provides great moisture without making my face feel or look greasy. And it’s long-lasting. Applying this to my face literally makes me a wee bit happier – I know, I’m a dork. 

COMPLETE INGREDIENTS:

organic juices of vitis vinifera (white grape) juice, daucus carota sativa (carrot) juice & aloe barbadensis leaf juice, organic botanical extracts of calendula officinalis flower, matricaria chamomilla flower, tilia europea (linden) leaf & rose canina (rosehip) fruit, glycerin, organic plant oils of butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) & simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed, organic essential fatty acids of oenothera biennis (evening primrose), linum usitatissimum (linseed) seed & borago officinali (borage) seed, organic honey, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, organic algae extract, squalane, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (vitamin C), panthenol (vitamin B5), hyaluronic acid, hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, glyceryl stearate, potassium sorbate, phospholipids, beta carotene, palmitic acid, stearic acid, cetearyl glucoside, xanthan gum, sodium hydroxide, benzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, litsea cubeba (may chang), cananga odorata (ylang ylang), boswellia carterii (frankincense) & commiphora myrrha pure essential oils.

SPF 30 MINERAL SHEER MOISTURIZER:

I originally was just going to use the Nutrient Moisturizer at nighttime so I also purchased the Mineral Sheer Moisturizer with SPF for daytime use. This sheer moisturizer combines chemical-free full-spectrum SPF 30 sun protection with certified organic white grape and pomegranate juices, vitamin antioxidants and essential nutrients to replenish and protect for optimum anti-aging benefits. Unfortunately, when I applied this moisturizer it made my face look ashen and white. No matter what I did I could not rub it in fully. So this will have to go back to the store. 

COMPLETE INGREDIENTS:

Active Ingredient: titanium dioxide 10%
Inactive Ingredients: juice of pyrus malus (apple) juice,* vitis vinifera (white grape) juice,* punica granatum (pomegranate) juice* & aloe barbadensis leaf juice,* cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract,* camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract,* glycerin, glyceryl stearate, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), sodium PCA, hyaluronic acid, phospholipids, panthenol (vitamin B5), allantoin, cera alba (beeswax),* magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (vitamin C), benzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, citrus aurantium (petitgrain), cinnamomum camphora (ho wood) & citrus reticulata (mandarin) pure essential oils.
*certified organic by a USDA approved agency

BLEMISH CLEARING SERUM:

I have blemish-prone skin and the blemish clearing serum sounded like something that would be beneficial for me. It’s a powerful hydroxy-acid complex of certified organic apple, lemon and raw cane sugar blended with vitamin antioxidants and coenzyme Q10 to help clear blemishes and even out skin tone and texture. I’ve been using this under my moisturizer and have enjoyed the results. 

COMPLETE INGREDIENTS:

juices of pyrus malus (apple) juice,* citrus medica limonum (lemon) juice* & aloe barbadensis leaf juice,* saccharum officinarum,* salix alba (willow bark) extract, glycerin, botanical extracts of taraxacum officinale (dandelion) leaf,* melissa officinalis (lemon balm) leaf,* salvia officinalis (sage) leaf* & camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf,* algae extract,* ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (vitamin C), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), panthenol (vitamin B5), allantoin, phospholipids, sodium hydroxide, sclerotium gum, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, xanthan gum, lavandula angustifolia & commiphora myrrha pure essential oils. * certified organic by a USDA approved agency

So now my facial routine is Angels on Bare Skin cleanser, Tea Tree Oil Toner, Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum and finally Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer. My face has really been responding well to all of the products. Plus I’m proud to announce that I’ve “naturaled up” my face cleansing routine – woot! 

Have any of you tried Juice Beauty? What did you think of it? What’s your facial cleansing routine?

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Sakroots Gives Back!

More big companies are pulling out all of their green stops in honor of Earth Day. In celebration of Earth Day, The Sak’s eco-extension, Sakroots, is hosting a Celebrity bag auction supporting The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign and for each dollar contributed, one tree will be planted. The conservancy has already protected over 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide. That’s a lot of trees!

Here are the details:

When: 
April 8 – April 22

What:
A celebrity autographed Sakroots Pax Eco Weekender made of a jute/cotton blend canvas and 100% natural cotton handles.  It features The Sak’s signature peace print symbolizing the brands’ “happy & free” philosophy with artwork created by Paris-born graffiti artist.      

 

Who Signed: 
Robin Wright Penn, Rosie Perez, Blair Underwood, Justine Bateman, Jessica Alba, Alec Baldwin, Sandra Oh and Mena Suvari

Why:        
To celebrate Earth Day and help restore Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest!

Where:
Click HERE  for locations

As a BONUS, checkout The Sak’s sister bag line, Elliott Lucca. They are having a massive warehouse sale until Monday 4/13. All their sale items are an additional 50% off! Discount Code: ELWS40609  

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Return to Origins Recycling Program

So I’m back from my fabulous birthday vacation! Thank you all for your lovely birthday wishes – I sincerely appreciated it! And I know that many of you took advantage of the birthday sale. I hope you all enjoyed your luxurious body butters and luscious shower scrubs.

I can’t believe it’s April already. But one of the great things about April is that the whole world pays more attention to the Earth for Earth Day. And although it seems like a lot of hype for everyone to suddenly be green for one month. I think that if we even change one aspect of our lives because of Earth Day, then it is for the better.

One beauty company is doing its part – Origins has rolled out its Return to Origins Recycling Program. Starting March 29, 2009, bring your empty cosmetic tubes, bottles and jars, etc. – regardless of brand – to your nearest Origins retail store or department store counter nationwide. All returned packaging will be sent back to a central location where products will be recycled or used for energy recovery.

In an industry first, Origins will accept packaging from any cosmetic company regardless of the manufacturer. They believe that the more they collect from consumers, the more they can keep cosmetic packaging out of landfills. And they hope this program will encourage other companies into following their example.

To thank you for joining Origins in their commitment to the environment, they’ll treat you to a FREE sample of your choice of one of Origins high-performance skincare products.

To learn more about the program check out origins.com. 

I think this is an incredible step in the right direction. Everyday packaging accounts for approximately 1/3 of all landfill waste. Imagine the dent we could put in that landfill waste if we all started recycling our beauty packages! 

What do you think about this? Will you be carting your empties down to an Origin store near you?

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