WEN Hair Care Users Sue Over Hair Loss

Wen Hair Care Products Lawsuit

Chaz Dean and his WEN Hair care line are at the center of a class action lawsuit brought by 200 former users of his products. They claim they suffered substantial hair loss after using the WEN hair care system. While my first instinct is to point my finger and give a few "I told you so's", I feel genuinely sorry for these poor people. They bought into the hype and the celebrity endorsements after being pounded by years of WEN Hair infomercials. I have read hair loss horror stories about WEN for several years and always wondered if the damage was that severe, why no one ever took legal action. Looks like that time has come.

200 Women Sue WEN Hair Care

WEN took down the actual ingredients list from their website a couple years ago. Here is the ingredients listing from one of their products. No wonder people are losing their hair. Not only are there extremely harsh and irritating ingredients listed, people rub this into their scalp, smothering the skin and hair follicles. Suffocating your scalp with anything is going to cause major hair trauma.

Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vegetable Oil (Olus Oil), Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Menthol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hydroxycitronellal.C960

This list comes from the Almost Exactly blog. You should read the discussion people are having regarding hair loss and these products. It's pretty scary stuff. 

Jessica Alba and The Honest Company Sued

This time last month, Jessica Alba and The Honest Company were taking internet heat for their sunscreen which received multiple complaints of protection failures. Now, she and her company are facing a class action lawsuit for misleading consumers by claiming the products are all natural.

Don't worry about Jessica, her company is currently worth $1.7 billion. However, YOU as a consumer need to read and understand the ingredients in the products that you use. Even if you purchase an old stand-by, be sure to check out the label. It will save you some unpleasant surprises.

In court documents obtained by UPI, the plaintiff, Jonathan D. Rubin who is bringing the lawsuit against Honest individually and on behalf of all those similarly situated, accuses the product line of deceptively labeling their products as effective and containing natural ingredients.

Rubin and his lawyers single out the company's line of Honest Hand Soap, Honest Dish Soap, Honest Diapers and Honest Multi - Surface Cleaner as containing unnatural and toxic ingredients such as Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Sodium Polycrylate. Read more.

Your Old Makeup May Contain Staph and Meningitis Bacteria

Image courtesy: The Daily Mail

If there's one thing that will make me start tossing my old makeup into the trash like a mad woman, it's reading about how many products past their expiration dates contain Meningitis bacteria. Death by lip gloss is not the way I want to go.

There is an article in the Daily Mail that discusses not only the dangers of old makeup but of selling old and used makeup. I admit that I swapped makeup on beauty forums many times in the past. Now I'm wondering how I didn't end up with a case of pink eye or space herpes. Even if a makeup has been "sanitized", has that really killed off all the various critters that could be living within? Short answer is nope.

I try to keep my paraben free makeup collection pared down these days. If you use organic or paraben free products, the shelf and open life will be shorter than products with a grenade of preservatives. While reading the DM article, all I could think about are the You Tube people and their giant makeup collections worth thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars of potential Meningitis exposure.

There are some simple ways to help keep your makeup sanitary and you healthy.

• If you have a health issue such as strep throat, cold sores, eye infection, skin flare-ups, etc., throw away the makeup you used during this time. Otherwise, you will likely re-infect yourself from the bacteria transferred to your products.
• Use common sense. If something smells off or changes consistency, toss it.
• Check expiration dates before you buy. You will find new and old stock mixed together on a shelf. Think of it like buying milk, the fresher the better.
• Empty out your purse and take a good look at any products you have in there. Bet you could carbon date some of it.
• Don't buy products in a pot. Think of all the pot lip glosses people are dipping dirty fingers in.
• Buy foundation and skin products in a pump bottle when possible.
• Clean those makeup dingleberries from pump and squeeze containers with an alcohol wipe.
• Clean your smeared up lipstick and lipgloss tubes with an alcohol wipe.
• Sharpen eye and lip pencils before using to remove outer film.
• Keep a black Sharpie with your makeup. Write the opened date in a couple places on the container so there's no guessing about the age.
• On the labels of makeup, shampoo, lotion, etc. you should see a flip cap with a number. That number is how many months the product is still safely usable after opening. Remember: products can still go bad before this date is up. Pay attention to the smell and any changes in color or consistency.

Image courtesy: The Chic Site

Zoya Nail Polish - Earth Day Polish Exchange

Zoya Nail Polish is doing their Earth Day 2015 nail polish exchange. Today through next Tuesday (April 28, 2015), you can get 50% off your nail polish order when you purchase a minimum of 6 bottles. The "exchange" part comes when you send them bottles of your unwanted nail polish. The original intent was to change out polish with bad ingredients for Zoya's Big5Free polish. I sent them all of mine during previous campaigns. My nail polish collection is almost exclusively Zoya and Sinful now.

Happy shopping

With over 300 shades rooted in a healthy philosophy, it’s no surprise that we’re committed to helping you green your beauty routine! That’s why each year we give you the opportunity to exchange any old nail polish bottles that you may have laying around your house collecting dust, or that are not BIG5FREE formulas, for brand new toxin-free* Zoya Nail Polish shades. You can rest assured that your unwanted polishes will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Helping the earth is easy… all you have to do to get started is pick out your NEW Zoya colors at www.zoya.com, follow the instructions below and checkout. Let us do the rest!
 

How The Exchange Works...

1. Visit www.zoya.com and add a minimum of 6 bottles of polish (no more than 24 bottles) to your cart. Minimum 12, maximum 48 for professional accounts.
 

2. Apply Code: EARTHLUV and a 50% credit will be added to your exchange order - free shipping included!
 

3. Complete checkout and you're all set! If you need further instructions on sending back your unwanted polish click HERE.

The exchange runs on the honor system, which means you are not obligated to send in your unwanted polish - we assume you're going to do the right thing! Many people donate the polish to a local cause instead, which we fully support. If you choose to send back your polishes, please check with your carrier of choice for shipping guidelines and restrictions for nail polish. For full promotion terms & conditions and instructions on how to send in your polish,click HERE.
 

USE CODE: EARTHLUV
Offer valid 4/21/15 - 4/28/15 (11:59pm EST)

Favorites: Paraben Free Conditioner - GPB Aubrey Organics

I have very long hair (princess!) and have tried most everything on the paraben free and organic hair care market. The GPB conditioner by Aubrey is one thing I find myself purchasing again and again. It is thick and has a pearl like sheen to it. Just a small amount does the trick. Your hair feels a bit coated after you rinse, but you won't need any extra styling products. I use it every day. I recommend it if your current conditioner still leaves you with tangles and frizz.

INGREDIENTS: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, aqua, cetyl alcohol (from coconut), brassicyl isoleucinate esylate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, alcohol denat. (38b, lavender), brassica alcohol, glyceryl caprylate, glycerin, lactobacillus/eriodictyon californicum ferment extract**, phospholipids**, milk protein, salvia officinalis (sage) oil*, ricinus communis oil (rice), citrus grandis (grapefruit) extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil*, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), tocopherol (vitamin E), leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, brassica campestris/aleurites fordi oil copolymer, alcohol, equisetum hiemale (horsetail) extract, fragrance‡‡, gluconolactone, arginine, tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) leaf extract, urtica dioica (nettle) extract*, sodium benzoate.

Circa Beauty - Makeup by Eva Mendes

I am finally excited about a celebrity makeup line! Eva Mendes has launched CIRCA Beauty. A cosmetics line that is a "portfolio of professional quality products traditionally found in the luxury market". The line looks solid and the packaging is quite attractive with a dash of art deco in the design. Very reasonable price points and drugstore availability. The best part? From what I have seen, the entire line is PARABEN FREE!

CIRCA does not advertise itself as paraben free makeup, but I have read the labels and have not found a product that contains parabens. There are questionable ingredients here and there, but overall a big thumbs up from me. Certainly a higher quality product than 98% of what you will currently find on drugstore shelves. The two retailers carrying the line are Drugstore.com and Walgreens.

I have placed an order for CIRCA from Drugstore and will post a haul and first impressions soon.


Selections from the Drugstore.com website:

Absolute Velvet Luxe Lipstick
Price: $10
Color choices: 12

Ingredients:
Isopropyl Palmitate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ozokerite, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Paraffin, Nylon-11, Jojoba Esters, Fragrance, Ethylene Brassylate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide, Red 6, Mica, Iron Oxides, Red 7 Lake, Red 22 Lake, Red 28 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 27 Lake

Absolute Lash Icon
Price: $12
Color choices: 4

Ingredients:
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PVP, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Nylon-12, Stearic Acid, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Steareth-20, Persea Gratissima Oil, Steareth-2, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Potassium Sorbate, Dimethiconol, Hexylene Glycol, May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides

Color Focus Eye Shadow
Price: $12
Color choices: 6

Ingredients:
Talc, Zinc Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silica, May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Carmine, Ultramarines, Bismuth Oxychloride, Chromium Oxide Greens, Aluminum Powder

Color Balance Liquid Foundation
Price: $15
Color choices: 10

Ingredients:
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, C18-21 Alkane, Polyisobutene, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Bis-Vinyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Acrylates Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Beeswax, Ozokerite, Boron Nitride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isododecane, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-18, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Dimyristate, Allantoin, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Mica

Paraben Free Princess 2015

I am so happy to be back online again! I've been gone much too long. I have even been able to secure the ParabenFreePrincess.com domain name! It's a long story, but a couple years ago when this blog was gaining popularity, a squatter purchased the domain name and used it for their spam website. They offered it sell it to me for tens of thousands of dollars. Obviously, that didn't happen. Good things to those who wait. They finally went under and my domain became available again.

Note to all bloggers: Purchase your domain name the moment you decide to start a blog. Buy it for one year. Prevent people from hijacking it and if you decide not to pursue blogging, you can let the domain expire. Don't learn the hard way.