I’m happy to say Tantasia is working for me! And not in an orange-y “I obviously use self-tanner” kind of way. The reason? I learned that Tantasia stimulates the natural melanin in your skin, so the tan you get is your own, now a one color for all self tanner like most. So, my arms, shoulders and chest all look the same way they do when I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors in the summer. I have even used it on my face and there are no streaks and it looks completely natural. Even Nate agreed!

So I’m really happy with it, but I will be honest and admit the only thing I don’t like is the smell. And it’s not the awful smell of every other self tanner I’ve ever used. It’s not nearly as bad as that, but it still does smell a little weird. By morning there is no scent, it’s only when you first put it on.

Still worth using, in my opinion!

*Pictured here, Jane Iredale “Artist Eyes” Eye Palette*

It is so incredibly hard to believe anything you hear about cosmetics and personal hygiene products. For years and years I didn’t have a “favorite” anything - I tried everything looking for something that really worked. I’ve never had a go-to foundation, lip color, blush, shampoo/conditioner, fragrance etc.

That being said I did tend to be drawn to products that I thought less harmful to my skin/hair. That doesn’t mean I picked up everything labeled “for sensitive skin”, just that I looked into vegan makeup and the like.

Knowledge is everything though; this morning I had my very first class for the Jane Iredale makeup line, and I can’t believe the wealth of knowledge I walked away with. Now, I am quite skeptical, and I know it’s all about the sales & the money, no matter how “Eco-friendly” and “ethical” your company claims to be. Companies exist to make a profit, otherwise they would just give the make up away for free.

In any case, I am happy to say that at the very least, Jane Iredale products do not contain talc, parabens, animal fat (every wonder why some products have a fragrance?? Yeah, it’s too cover up the smell of animal fat, which smells similar to rot. YUM), and is designed not just to make you look pretty, but will not inhibit the natural processes of your skin, either. The make-up allows pores to breath, prevents dehydration of the skin and can aid in clearing acne and redness. Most people believe their skin irritation is a problem to be solved by products, but in most cases, your skin is irritated because of prolonged use of products that are bad for your skin in the long run, (as I mentioned previously, if you can’t ingest it, you shouldn’t be putting it on your skin either!) Jane Iredale make-up is food grade - meaning you can in fact eat it without being harmed.

A few points I have learned in recent months that I think are very important to share:

-Just because something is “natural” and “organic” doesn’t mean it’s safe. After all, snake venom is natural and organic, but nobody wants to put that on themselves…

-Most chapsticks contain a type of wax product that makes you feel like your lips are getting moisturized, when in fact you are just blocking OUT the moisture - in the end your lips are even more dry than when you started. So…you just keep re-applying your chapstick. Vicious circle!! My top chapstick recommendation is Burt’s Bees, which does in fact moisturize without ultimately drying out. It’s the best stuff out there. Jane Iredale Lip Drink is a good one as well, but seriously…Burt’s Bees. It’s my favorite.

-Most makeup products contain talc. Talc is bad!!! It does not allow your skin to breath! It makes your complexion papery, it’s weighs down your skin, and it dries you out. Stay away from talc!

And finally, I say this not as a product purchase, but genuinely in the best interest of the women in my life…Jane Iredale products are pricey yes - but ultimately, they improve the condition of your skin, meaning the longer you use the basics (concealer, foundation, etc), the less product you need to use, because your skin shows improvement. This has, as a matter of fact, been the case with my own face in the months since I started using their Pressed Powder in Radiant. Ultimately, everyone wants to look like they are perfectly put together without it being obvious that they are wearing a lot of product. In the months since I began using Jane products, I have had several compliments about my skin. Not my make up…but my skin. “You have really beautiful skin!” I love that my skin looks naturally pretty, not like I’m trying to hide my real face, it’s a testament to the product.

Stay tuned, my next post will be about face cleansing and some types to keep in mind when you are shopping for a good facial cleanser and moisturizer. :)

XO, Meg

Sixty degrees in March!

Attending staff meetings at MK Studio seriously pays off! My wonderful boss gave us each a Jane Iredale Tantasia, and I am going to try mine tonight! This isn’t really dark self-tanner, but gives you that “I just hung out in the bright sun for twenty minutes” glow, and the best part is it doesn’t have that weird smell that most self-tanners do. Plus, tanning beds = bad for your skin, and while I’m still waiting for skindeep.org to post their rating for this particular product, almost all of the Jane Iredale products rate at a 1 on their scale (1 is GOOD, 10 is BAD). It is important to me to find out whether or not this product is harmless to the skin. A client of ours said it best when she told me, “If I can’t eat it, I don’t put it on my body.” Her logic being when you ingest anything, your kidneys act as a filter and get rid of the toxins. But your skin? No filters there, once its on, its absorbed into your body. So stay tuned, I’m going to peek in sneak about and find out if Tantasia is the best self-tanner out there. XO-Meg