Choose Beauty Without Cruelty

We're now carrying Beauty Without Cruelty full volume mascara that is free of parabens, PEG, fragrance, and animal ingredients - and not tested on animals! This new mascara separates and defines each lash with long-lasting, smudge-resistant color and is formulated to create the max volume and length.

Also try BWC Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover with herbal extracts and vegetable glycerin to gently remove all types of make-up completely and easily without irritation. It leaves skin clean, soft, and free of oily residue, unlike mineral oil based products.

Getting all serious now, you don’t want parabens or polyethylene glycol (PEG) in your cosmetics because parabens, in their many forms (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben) have been linked to breast cancer. The FDA claims that parabens aren’t dangerous at very low levels, but when you consider that 25,000 different cosmetics and skincare products contain these chemicals, it’s feasible to build up quite an exposure in a lifetime. Likewise, PEG compounds are synthetic chemicals used in cosmetics that many believe increase the risk of a variety of cancers, and they can also contain harmful impurities such as lead and arsenic.

Lovin' My Maruca

Casual, soft, and functional, Maruca Design handbags feature unique prints in distinctive shapes that bounce with color. They're perfect with any contemporary bohemian look. Bag shown is Bahama Coral.

Maruca Design is a small collaborative design effort based in Boulder, Colorado, and all of their jacquard fabrics are woven in the U.S.

Chocolate. . . Not Just for Breakfast Anymore

We've just received more Peanut Butter Pillows and we're all happy now.

A must try - these award-winning Chocolate Inspirations Peanut Butter Pillows taste just like the Butterfingers candy bars you ate as a child. This light, flaky vegan peanut butter confection topped with imported Swiss Vegan Dark Chocolate Couverture is out of this world. One bite and you`ll be hooked. Perfect for a little thank you gift or a treat for yourself!

Thanks for the Kudos!

Thanks to Twin Cities Metro magazine for calling us "An Eco-friendly Boutique We Love" on the cover of their July 2010 issue and for their great story on Ethique Nouveau! We especially like that they highlighted the connection between being Earth-friendly, animal-friendly and human-friendly.

Beauty: It's More Than Skin Deep

Every year cosmetics companies kill millions of animals in product tests. These companies claim they test on animals to establish the safety of their products and ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration, however, does not require animal testing for cosmetics, and alternative testing methods are widely available and lead to more reliable results.

If you'd like to learn how animals are used by the health and beauty industry and how you can shop for cruelty-free products with confidence, join us for Discover Real Beauty, a cosmetics and skin care event on Saturday, July 10, from 2-5pm. We'll be offering samples, makeup tips, and skin care advice from an industry expert. Hope to see you there!

Let's Hear It for the Boys!

At Ethique Nouveau we're continually on the lookout for new products that meet our criteria of being animal friendly, and we get excited about designers who are creating not just “alternatives,” but first-class products that can be appreciated by all.

We introduced the Jaan J. line of non-silk ties to Minnesota in early May and they’ve been a big hit ever since. Jaan J. ties are gorgeous, high quality, and of course, completely cruelty-free. Made from woven micro fibre satin, these ties look and feel like real silk ties, but don’t require killing hundreds of silkworms to make them. Each tie has a high quality interlining, ensuring a full-body tie and beautiful drape. We think Jaan J. will be the answer to your search for classic and timeless ties with a silk-like feel, quality workmanship, and distinguished designs.

P.S. If you now have the classic "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams playing on endless loop in your head like I do, check out the vintage video on YouTube.

So Fresh

A bumper crop of Fresh necklaces has made its way to south Minneapolis. Handmade in the U.S. with sterling silver chains (hypoallergenic too) these graphic pendants come in lots of bright colors and shapes to go with every summer look. Necklace shown is from the Fresh necklace Gogo collection. Stop by and check them out - you'll find at least one you can't live without.