Detox Market San Francisco (Photo Heavy)

During a recent venture into San Francisco, I sought out a new addition to the Mission District: The Detox Market.  

The Detox Market's flagship location on Beverly Blvd in West Hollywood has had a cult following since their opening in 2010.  With a goal of seeking out high quality, eco-coscious beauty and food brands, a trip to The Detox Market is bound to introduce you to a handful of brands you may have never heard of before. 

Their mission statement is simple:

"We believe...We believe in pure, natural products that work.  We believe in living simply without sacrificing quality. We believe in conscious consumption. We believe in the passionate people behind each of our products. We believe in feeling good from the products we use"

Their new location at 969 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 is a breath of fresh air among the heavy concentration of thrift stores, indie coffee shops and bookstores in the area.  Using white crates as display counters, the store provides an airy approach to product display, imparting a relaxed and clean feeling to the consumer. 

In a world where a single Nordstrom may carry over 500 brand options in their beauty department alone, the edited product selection at The Detox Market was a welcome surprise.

A definite perk of visiting this location was being introduced to a number of brands which I have either never heard of, or never had the chance to play with in person.  For example:

Each brand was accompanied by a chalkboard providing information about the brand and product line; a perfect accompaniment to The Detox Market's clean and approachable aesthetic.  Key features of the brand's offering, such as cruelty free and organic ingredients, were provided with a handwritten presentation which provided a feeling of personal connection to The Detox Market.



The Detox Market also offers a handful of carefully chosen food products to their customers.

AND one of my all time favorite brands of tea, with a HUGE selection!

The Detox Market is a wonderful gem offered to the City of San Francisco; a city that offers you a little bit of everything.  I am anxious to see what new offerings The Detox Market introduces as their product selection changes and evolves to suit the needs of their San Francisco clientele. 


Final Verdict: I'll be back!

Birchbox Diaries - Anyone Tried Pomega5?

When I received my very first Birchbox this month I let out a little squeal. The concept is awesome, get small samples of high end products to try. Like it? Buy it. Hate it? You are only out 10.00 and with an average of five samples per box, you're destined to at LEAST get your money's worth.

This month was a delayed "hooray...let me explain...

In the box was a sample of these: Pomega5 Revitalizing Concentrate

A transformational experience for the skin and senses, Daily Revitalizing Concentrate captures the essential life force of Omega 5 in its purest and most concentrated form. Each pearl-like ampule contains over 60% of this antioxidant-laden ingredient, along with calendula, rosehip, and jojoba oils to deliver vital nutrients, protect and restore life to lackluster skin. If you ever doubted the existence of miracles, this rejuvenating Omega blend will turn you into a believer.

Transformational experience huh? Those sound like Charlie Sheen words, maybe there's tiger blood in them too! But, seriously, the ingredients seemed alright, lots of yummy for your tummy, er uh skin stuff:

Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Verbena Officinalis (Vervain) Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citral*, Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Benzyl Benzoate*.

On average? I hate capsule packaging. Something about it SCREAMS pretentious to me and I steer far and away from them. But free capsules? Well...

They sat on my vanity for a solid week without even giving them a second look. Then I decided, "well I paid for them, I might as well give them a try so I can throw them away in good faith." o. m. g.

These little capsules contain bits of joy and life in their tiny shell packaging. Seriously!

You twist off the top and squeeze the "concentrate" into your hand. Pat all over you face (after washed and dried of course) and VOILA! Instant moisture and softness that lasts. I was actually shocked (and it takes a lot) to touch my face 20 minutes after my first application and still feel that buttery softness that occurred immediately after rubbing it in.

I'm in love. I have since rushed out to buy a full size container of them, and here's the but...they're over 1.00 per capsule. 1.60 each to be exact. Unless there is unicorn oil or something in these babies, I don't know that I can swallow 1.60 per application. They're not big enough to split over two days either, or even two applications (day/night). So 1.60 per application is what'cha get...

Is their yummy skin-nourishing goodness really so special as to justify cost? Only time will tell. But for now, I have a 30 day supply :)

Here's whats in them and where to find em:

Pomegranate Seed Oil: Cold-pressed from the seeds within the juice-filled arils. Rich in rare Omega 5 essential fatty acid. Potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, promotes cell renewal, stimulates collagen production, protects against sun damage, reduces redness, heals irritations.

Jojoba Oil: Obtained from the crushed bean of the jojoba shrub. Rich in Omega 9. Antioxidant, unclogs pores, conditions, moisturizes, softens, reduces wrinkles and stretch marks, lightens.

Calendula Oil: Rich in Omegas 3 and 6. Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, heals wounds and burns, soothes pain, promotes cellular regeneration, treats acne and irritated skin. Rosehip Oil: Extracted from the seeds of the rose plant. Rich in Omegas 3, 6 and 9 and vitamin A. Antioxidant, improves skin elasticity, rejuvenates, moisturizes, reduces scars, wrinkles and age spots, soothes and softens. Grapefruit Oil: Essential oil distilled from the grapefruit peel. Anti-bacterial, treats oily skin and acne, detoxifies, tones, combats depression, headaches and stress, energizes.

Purchase online at the Pomega5 website. 30 capsules for 48.00

Wet 'n' Wild: Walking on Eggshells

Walking on Eggshells is one of the neutral toned three color palettes recently released from Wet 'n' Wild. After my intense love for the six color palettes which came out a few months ago, my expectations for these gorgeous friends were pretty high.

Walking on Eggshells, No Flash

Walking on Eggshells, Flash

The soft, smooth, texture of these shadows is greatly deceiving. Similar to the soft application that I find from Urban Decay and Dior shadow palettes, this Wet 'n' Wild palette had me fooled into thinking I paid much more than 2.99 (or .99 per shadow).

Pigmentation is solid and the three color combo with highlight, crease and lid make these palettes a shoe-in for the inexperienced makeup enthusiast. This palette, in particular, is versatile since each of these three colors could be a lid color in a rush, used to brighten and lighten while running out the door.

My single complaint? Shimmer, shimmer, shimmer.

Maybe it's because I'm quickly approaching my later 20's, when shimmer emphasizes the bad instead of looking youthful and fun, but I am closing the drawer on many a shimmer obsession.
Walking on Eggshells, with three colors of all high shimmer, reduces the number of people this palette would work for AND also removes the ability for it to be an "all-in-one" product for me.

I adore these colors with a matte highlight on the browbone (MAC Brule or Blanc Type), using the shimmery white "browbone" color on the inner corners of my eyes instead. Texturally, I think the difference between the matte and shimmer creates a more smooth transition also.

Three shimmers, layered together, can easily look muddy when your eye can distinguish the different between the three corresponding, yet different, colors and instead just sees a big ball of shine. Not a deal breaker, but it will require I have a different highlight color available when using this gorgeous girl.

The Nitty Gritty:
Price - at a measly 2.99 these palettes quickly fall into the "too good to be true" category

In Store Availability- Available at most drugstores: Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid

Online Availability - no easy solution here, check ebay. The shadows are cheap enough that I don't imagine many fakes exist. It would cost more than the product to make the fake!

Wear Time- with my Nars eye primer, this palette lasted a full 8 hr work day without fading.

"Winnah!" or "Losah!"- WINNAH. The soft texture, great pigmentation and low price point makes these a no brainer in my book.