Hard As Nails

  Cheeky Monkey is a fantastic Canadian cosmetics company that specializes in nail lacquers that are not for the demure, faint of heart female.  The line, which is completely free of toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP, offers a wide range of high quality nail colours with hilarious, frank, and provocative monikers.  For example, a few of the shades I'm yearning to try out are: Brazen Hussy, Raunchy Bitch, Thigh Highs, and Damn I'm Hot. 
  Cheeky Monkey Cosmetics encourage strong, confident, hard-working women to embrace their edgy, fun, and naughty side.  Their website is extremely interactive, and they offer unique, delectable drink pairings for each of their shades, tips and tricks, endless information pertaining to their availability across Canada, and even have the option of signing up for a Cheeky Party, where all the girls can get together for mani/pedis, cocktails, and gossip
  Check out the Cheeky Monkey Cosmetics website, you will not be disappointed.



Cinnamon Buns

  If you, like me, have ever tried Cake Beauty's Sweet Cheeks Better Body rub, you've instantly fallen in love with the luxurious texture, intense and long-lasting moisture it provides, the delectable cinnamon scent, and an increased tautness to the areas it has been applied.  It's listed on the website that the key ingredients in this moisture-rich formula are shea butter (very moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory properties too!) and Liftensyl.
  Liftensyl?  What is that?!  I took it upon myself to investigate... and here's what I came up with!  Liftensyl is a polymer derived from soy protein, and has immediate, "flash effect" skin tightening properties.  It's got fantastic anti-aging properties and is widely used in European cosmetics. 
  Along with Liftensyl and shea butter, this deluxe moisturizer also contains caffeine, which helps to stimulate circulation (and thus diminish cellulite) and horse chestnut extract.  Horse, what?!
  Horse chestnut is a plant that is poisonous to most animals.  It contains a saponin-class toxin called Aesculin, which is a glycoside.  When prepared for cosmetic-grade use, horse chestnut can help to increase blood circulation, thin the blood, prevent water retention, and overall, exhibits diuretic-type properties.  Moreover, horse chestnut contains flavinoids, glycosides, and saponins, which collectively have anti-inflammatory and healing properties. 
  I absolutely LOVE this product, and would recommend it to anyone who is in need of a little lift - both psychologically and physically. 



Cake Beauty

Liftensyl information

Horse Chestnut info

Organic, Luxurious, Affordable... and Canadian?!

  Yes!  You read that correctly.  Consonant (www.consonantbody.com) is a fabulous Canadian beauty company that offers a completely organic (we're talking paraben, sulfate, and phthalate free!) product line.


  Just an FYI: phthalates are used in everything from plastics (to make them more flexible and enhance their lifetime), flooring, adhesives and paint pigment.  They're an environmental estrogen that accumulate in our fat cells over time.... Do you really want to be putting this stuff on your body?! NO!


  I recently picked up the Organic Body Lotion and it is absolutely divine.  Skin is silky, hydrated, and happy!
  Moreover, Flare magazine (http://www.flare.com/) recently profiled Consonant's Ultra Firming Organic Eye Cream, touting its skin-firming benefits due to the addition of zinc. Zinc is a necessary participant in collagen production, is involved in cell proliferation (remember the Retinol post?), and is essential for the production of natural antioxidants and helps activate particular metalloproteinaises (protein based enzymes that contain a metal co-factor) in the removal of mutated cells.  Overall - Zinc is wonderful!*


  In Toronto, Consonant products are available at The Bay, and other leading independent retailers/salons.  Check out their website for more info! 

Consonant Organic Body Lotion



*More about zinc and its healing ability at: http://www.bioskinbalm.com/zinc/