Nathan Menashe, the designer of Freedom of Choice (FOC) Jeans knows how important it is to “go green.” With a pair of my own dark denim FOC jeans, and an appreciation of their colored denim look (but with never enough guts — nor the shape — to pull them off!) , I am so excited to learn how Menashe has incoporated eco-friendly awareness to fashion.

From a company that creates more than just denim bottoms (think jackets and skirts as also part of the FOC collection), and the type of styles that easily allow you to transition from a jean day at work to an evening out with the girls, you gotta love their “Earth Friendly Jean.”

This new bootcut denim pant avoids the use of toxins or synthetic fertilizers. The Earth Friendly Jean uses organic cotton and a non-chemical wash process, which protects the integrity of the jean fibers. Basically, these jeans are expected to have a long life span. From what I understand, organic cotton is more expensive and makes the wash process slower and a bit more time-consuming. Yet according to Menashe, protecting the environment and human health by incorporating this earth friendly process is extremely important.

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 We have chosen our winner in the UnSeen Secrets product giveaway! 

Congrats to Melissa, who told us that she wants The Breast Petals ™ and Cleavage Control Clip ™ because:

“My breasts sag and seem too far apart, so anything I can do or try that is painless to make them look better/enhance them is great.”

That’s what these (non-surgical) breast enhancement goodies do best, Melissa, so we hope they work out for you!

Stay on the lookout for more Beauty Chat giveaway contests in the near future. Coming soon, some items to help you ring in the new year with a clean, fresh-breath kiss!

Muah!

And of course, a warm thank you to all who participated.

-Brook

Have you taken a sec to enter Beauty Chat’s latest giveaway of UnSeen Secrets Cleavage Control Clips ™ and The Breast Petals ™? There’s a little time left, but if you still need some reasons why you would want these “uplifting” items, here goes:

 All of the products from UnSeen Secrets are “dedicated to simplifying the lives of women,” but the Cleavage Control Clip has to be my favorite. First off, the clip is – you guessed it – so simple! By loosening your bra straps just a little, then attaching this tiny (and oh-so-discreet) device to both straps in between the shoulders, it provides you an amazing lift that you control yourself.

To adjust, just tighten or loosen your straps a little more. You’re in charge of how much “oomph” takes place up top! How cool is that? Oh, and because they come in a pack of three, you’ll have a black, white, and clear clip to match your bra.

Now, on to The Breast Petals, an enhancement accessory made of pure silicone gel. While I can’t say that I’ve tried these out for myself, I can tell you this: If you’ve tried the “chicken cutlet” breast pads normally found in boutiques, only to be disappointed by their obvious appearance from the outside, you may want to try these out.

Because The Breast Petals are smaller than most breast pads, in addition to having thinner edges, they’re practically indetectable. They put their own spin on the old “less is more” concept. And, because of their gentle, skin-friendly adhesive properties, they can be worn under a bathing suit, or even without a bra – for up to 100 uses!

Even if breast enhancement accessories aren’t for you, remember: either of these would make a great holiday gift (a stocking “stuffer,” if you will). To enter, just go to our giveaway announcement on the right, and let me know why you want a little lift up top (first name only is fine!). We’ll select the winner this Friday, December 21st.

There’s still good news for those who aren’t selected: Currently, UnSeen Secrets offers all Beauty Chat readers 25% off any order of their handy products! Just go to the “comments” section on their Web site, or e-mail info@unseensecrets.com – don’t forget to mention Beauty Chat – and receive your discount.  

~ Brook

Photo Credits: Courtesy of UnSeen Secrets
 

My self-professed love for H&M has become much stronger after they announced that they are having a friends and family sale, and making it open to the public!

All you have to do is register for a 25% off coupon that you can print out and take in to any of their U.S. stores Friday, December 7 through Sunday, December 9. And that 25% coupon is good for your entire purchase, not just one item!

Don’t forget: the Roberto Cavalli collection is currently available at various locations. Hello?! Reduced savings on already budget-friendly designer clothing? It doesn’t get much better than this!

Please do some shopping for me. Unfortunately (and not so unfortunately), I will be vacationing in Riviera Maya, Mexico and Atlanta, Georgia during the sale. 

I guess sandy beaches and historical monuments are good runners-up to this incredible H&M discount…but only barely! ;) 

~ Leeann                    

Photo Credits: www.myspace.com/hm and www.iberostar.com

Televised and print media often paint the ideal of women shaving creams as the answer to ooh la la soft and glossy legs.

Granted, such brands as Gillete Satin Care or Skintimate is a shower must-have in order keep those cacti-textured hairs from sprouting on noticeable areas of the body. What about, however, that ultra-sensitive part of our body that requires grooming for many of us modern-day women?

Of course your local nail shop lady is more than happy to perform the often tear-jerking task of “wax on, wax off” down there. Although pain comes with the territory of a bikini wax (men, bring to mind Steve Carell’s improv-waxing session in The 40-yr old Virgin), the baby-smooth result is definitely worth the “pain is beauty” proverb.

Is it, however, worth the biweekly average price of up to $50 (at more upscale beauty salons, up to $100), not including tip? For the budget fashionista, this may definitely burn a hole in the pocket of your Freedom of Choice jeans that you relentlessly scoured for at a discounted price.

Coming from an avid fashion disciple who must discipline herself to a limited number of card swipeage, spending $100 per month on grooming a rather inconspicuous area of my body seems a little draining. Whereas I would ideally love to say to heck with it all, and pay the posh price of laser hair removal to permanently rid myself of body hair, unfortunately I am not afforded that luxury. So comes forth the task of searching for inexpensive, yet quality products that are gentle for the skin, yet strong enough to reduce a bristly quality. 

While the following shaving creams specially target that intimate part of your body, they can also be used for other areas as well (bear in mind, some of these products are forthrightly named, but their titles have no bearing on the quality of the formula enclosed): Intimate Moments, Intimo Romance Total Body Shave Cream, Smooth Intimate Shave Cream, and Coochy Body Shave Cream. Although these products may be hard to find in your nearby drugstore, they have worked wonders for many women; so putting your Nancy Drew skills to the test might be worth it for these softly-formulated goodies, not to mention their inexpensive price range ($7.95-$17.99 depending on the ounces and where you buy it). Definitely, a luxury body care steal, wouldn’t you agree?

One well-known online resource where you can find the above shaving products is Amazon. Also, you might want to search for their respective Web sites, where you can also read up on great tips on how to perform an easy and effective shave. So, my glam gals on a budget – don’t be afraid to explore these grooming options, and save a pretty penny for those fall-inspired ankle boots for your oh-so-pretty feet.

Happy shaving!

~ Mellori

Photo Credits: www.allposters.com