Nailing It: The Best Non-Toxic Polishes of the Season

 

A few months ago a friend of mine sent out a mass email with the sad news that one of our most beloved nail polish shades was now on the toxic no-no list. (R.I.P. Sugar Daddy).

It left me questioning, what are some safer alternatives?  The eco-friendly-non-toxic polish brands that I'd tried in the past just didn't stand up to their evil twins and left my manicures looking like they were done by a preschooler. 

After a little research and testing here are our favorite new wave non-toxic lacquers.  We found that the majority of top nail brands are now avoiding the "Toxic Trio" DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde. However, a growing number of companies have extended their list to FIVE and are removing questionable allergens, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor from ingredients.

Our list below includes polishes without these FIVE ingredients or TPHP. 

For more information check out these helpful articles:

• http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/g9/natural-nail-polishes/?slide=2
• http://wellnessmama.com/17833/non-toxic-nail-polish/
• https://intothegloss.com/2015/04/non-toxic-nail-polish/
• http://www.ewg.org/research/nailed

Stay Stylish,

K&M

Chanel "Dragon" $27 at Nordstrom.com

The BEST red for classic holiday.  It's not too bright or jolly and has a hint of spice that can be enjoyed year round.  Fast drying and long wearing with a high gloss finish. 

Deborah Lippman in "Naked" $18 at Barney's

This shade was the winner of InStyle magazine's award for Best Beauty Buys 2015. Formulated without parabens, sulfates and not tested on animals.  

butter London in 444 available on butterlondon.com $15

Known for high pigmented shades and their trademark bottle, Butter London is dedicated to give you the color without compromise. Walk the line between gold and silver. Shade 444 is perfect for ringing in a new year and pairs well with champagne.  

ZOYA in "Dove" $9 available at zoya.com

ZOYA is an ultra long-wearing, toxin free nail polish and treatment formula. Perfect for monochromatic chic this winter the "Dove" shade is a soft, delicate light neutral gray with an opaque, glossy creme finish. 

Karma Naturals Nail Polish Remover $11.65 on Amazon

Taking it all away: One of the more obviously toxic elements to a manicure is the smell of a pungent remover.  We found this organic remover on Amazon and are converts.  It may be a bit pricey and take longer to remove your color, but it is easy on skin and the lavender scent is an added bonus (available in unscented).

The Mud Mask Guaranteed to Give You Flawless Skin

Looking for flawless skin that glows for the holidays? I thought so. Actually let's be honest, we all want flawless skin that glows any time of year.

You name it, I've tried it. For years Kiehl's mud mask was my saving grace.  Then I was turned on to Aztec Secret Indian healing clay and it literally changed my skincare game. I am not kidding - this stuff is AMAZING. It can be used for facials, bodywraps, foot soaks, and even bug bites. Plus, it's all natural and a giant tub only costs $8 on amazon.com.

I have been religiously using it once a week for the past 6 months and love it so much I recently brought Kimberly a bag full of the powder. (ahem, Kimberly did you try it yet?!). 

(Kimberly: Have I tried it yet? Yes, I love how fizzy it is! My face felt revitalized and smoother. Be sure to moisturize afterward if you have sensitive skin to lock in all that goodness.)

Here's how you use it:
1. Mix equal parts clay with raw organic apple cider vinegar in a non-metal bowl until a paste forms.

2. Apply to skin and let it dry for 5-10 min for delicate skin and 15-20 for normal skin. You will start to feel your skin pulsate. To me I take it as a sign that it's working.

3. Wash off in the shower with warm water. A wet towel helps since it can be hard to get off.

It's that simple! After 2 uses you will see the flawless skin I am raving about!

Thanksgiving Table Decor

I always joke that I can look at a closet full of clothes and instantly create endless outfits, but when it comes to domestic endeavors I am slightly less gifted. I was once tasked with creating a signature cocktail for a Thanksgiving dinner and what ensued was what may be the worst drink ever (who knew bourbon, apple cider and champagne didn't mix?). Kimberly on the other hand is our resident domestic diva. It's always a good day at the Canvas office when she arrives with some of her baked goods.

For those of you looking to do a little at home crafting in preparation of Thanksgiving, we thought we'd share some of our favorite table decor ideas. And don't worry, they're novice-friendly!

1. Use gourds as to serve small appetizers

2. Walnut halves as individual salt and pepper holders

3. Fall foliage placecards

4. Set up a leftover packaging station

Fall Fabulous: Eye Palettes to Love Now and Later

Is your makeup bag looking a little humble? Autumn/Winter is the perfect season to stock up on a pretty eye palette that can update your look effortlessly and take you to party perfect in no time. Check out our favorites this season and give one a try.

Givenchy-Palette Metallic Reflection $60

Bobbi Brown-Sterling Nights $75

Smashbox Double Exposure Mini Palette $34

The Top 10 Workouts In SF: where to sweat best

Image from runlararun.com

As many of you know I love getting out and being active.  About a year ago I started using Classpass and quickly became...okay, I was instantly addicted... to this way of working out.  For those of you who have (somehow) missed my soapbox pitch on the joys of Classpass (I really should be on their payroll) it's an application that enables you to take classes around the city at a wide range of gyms for a flat monthly fee.  

There are similar companies out there such as fitmob, who ironically just joined forces with Classpass. The main benefit to me is instead of having a static gym membership, I've been able to mix up my routine and try some fun out of the box classes and meet new people.  Here are some of my favorite workout spots and classes in the city.

See you out there!

Kimberly

1.) Grace Cathedral Yoga on the Labyrinth (Nob Hill) - If you are new to yoga or a veteran, Grace is an amazing venue to cultivate your practice. I wouldn't recommend it for first timers (it's helpful to know the basic poses already) but the slow restorivite pace is perfect for a Tuesday night.  Just make sure you arrive by 5:45 to get a spot on the floor. 

2.) Libby's Hip Hop Yoga -last Friday of the Month (Marina) - The counter opposite of an experience at Grace, this class mixes up Vinysa Flow to a hip hop beat. Libby's playlists are always fun and published on her Facebook page.

3.) Moxie (Mission & Nob Hill) -Both Megan and I take classes at Moxie and enjoy the airy studio space and flow based instruction.

4.) Taylor Fit Studio (Marina)- I LOVE taking classes from Taylor at her namesake studio.  Her upbeat encouragement and carefully designed classes build endurance and core strength. She is a stickler for form, so you get the most out of a workout that blends circuit, resistance, yoga, Pilates, cardio and barre. 

5.) Wheel House Cycling with Carl (FIDI) - This cycle house offers a mix of classes, but my favorite is Smart Rhythm with Carl, the owner. The class integrates cycling intervals and weights.

6.) BodyRok Cycling with Caroline! (Marina) - Focused endurance cycling intervals that build core strength.

7.) ODC Hip Hop with Micaya (Mission) - Whether you sway to your own beat or can take the lead from another, Hip Hop class with Micaya is always fun.  The class focuses on choreographed movements to a set song of the week. If you are looking to experiment more, the ODC has an incredible mix of classes ranging from Bollywood to Classical Ballet. Not to mention, the studio space has a zen quality of its own.  Grab coffee and a treat after from a favorite bakery down the street.

8.) The Bar Method-(Marina) If you are interested in trying a Bar class, this is THE place to go. The instructors are supportive and focus on correct posture in poses. I've tried other bar studios and this is the best. 

9.) Presidio- If you are looking for a shorter run that is kinder on your knees, the Presidio offers beautiful views of the city and ocean under a canopy of Eucalyptus.

10.) Golden Gate Park - One of my favorite spots in the city to go for a run. The Panhandle to Ocean loop is great for distance or take a shorter sprint around Stowe Lake.

Image from popsugar

Our Hunt for the Best Tinted Moisturizer - What We Discovered

Tinted moisturizer is great. Tinted moisturizer with a high SPF is amazing. Tinted moisturized that has a high SPF and wears well is... hard to find. A while back I decided it was time to break-up with my Kiehl's BB cream (which has an SPF of 50) and try something new. What resulted was an overwhelming search for the perfect product. Kimberly recommended Tarte's Amazonian Clay. The beauty blogs said Nars Pure Radiant was the way to go. And RealBeauty.com rated Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer as the best on the market.

So what did I do? I went to Sephora and got samples of them all and spent a few weeks testing them out. Here are my results:

The best by far was in fact Tarte's Amazonian Clay. It goes on easily, quickly absorbs into my skin and provides good coverage without feeling heavy. The only negative is that it only has an SPF of 15.

Nars Broad Spectrum Tinted Moisturizer has a SPF of 30, is lightweight and does a decent job of covering red spots. The negative is that the color isn't a perfect match and my skin feels oily by mid-day.

While everyone raved about Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer, it was my least favorite. The SPF is only 20 and the coverage is minimal. The illuminating is too heavy for wearing in the warm weather and the regular doesn't feel like it's moisturizing enough.

Final verdict - I am sticking with Kiehl's Skin Tone & Beautifying BB Cream. It offers great coverage without being too heavy, absorbs easily and has an SPF 50. Plus it wears all day without getting oily on my skin

What's your go-to tinted moisturizer?

Stay Stylish,
Megan

Raise the Brow: How to Get Perfect Eyebrows

A few weeks ago a client mentioned that her salon now offered eyebrow extensions. Having never heard of such a thing, I did some research. It turns out that yes, people really are turning to eyebrow extensions to get the thick, beautiful brows that have become popular. 

If your not ready to book an appointment just yet, here are 5 simple steps to help you achieve perfect brows at home:

1. Brush Up - Start by combing your hairs up to see where they need to be filled in working your way from the front towards the tail of the brow.

2. Set Guidelines - Your brow should align with your inner tear duct and the arch should be about 11 o'clock from right where the sleep collects in your eye.

3. Fill in Gaps - Before you start with the tweezers, use a brow shadow to fill in any gaps and avoid over-plucking.

4. Add Detail - Using a brow pen, draw in hairs at the front towards the nose and also at the tail. This will add density and make your brows look thicker.

5. Get It - Finish by combing up with a clear brow gel to lock hairs in place.

Eyebrow products we love:
Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows, $15
M.A.C. Brow Set, $16
Benefit Brow Zings Brow Shaping Kit, $30

Time to Dance: Our Fall Fashion Redux Playlist

It's Friday, the sun is shining and we feel like dancing. To get you ready for the weekend, we put together a playlist of the music that we can't stop listening to right now. Put on your headphones, turn the volume up and enjoy!

FALL FASHION REDUX PLAYLIST

Stay Stylish,
K&M

Trend Alert: Purple Ombre Hair is About to be HUGE for Fall/Winter

You heard it here... ombre purple hair is going to be a big trend for Fall/Winter. We first spotted it the other day on a makeup artist at the Benefit Cosmetic's counter. It started black at top and faded into a deep purple hue. .

Colored hair is nothing new thanks to celebrities like Nicole Richie, Kelly Osbourne and Kelly Ripa. Even Megan played with DIY pink ends last summer (it was a bit of a love/hate relationship). And ombre hair is a trend that started a few years ago. But combine the two and WOW! 

Not ready to take the plunge into purple hair? We understand. Why not start with incorporating a few playful ombre pieces into your wardrobe. Here are a few of our favorites:

White House Black Market Pleated Ombre Skirt, $88

rag n bone Odette Ombre Sweater, $220

Express Berry Ombre Loop Scarf, $24.90

And if you do decide to go bold and try colored ombre hair, make sure to work with an experienced colorist and be prepared to stain a few towels (the color will bleed as it washes out). 

Stay Stylish,
K&M