Archive for Green Brides

Hempy Holidays!

December 2, 2009 · Filed under Green Brides, New Products, Shopping, Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve been waiting for the EcoTools cosmetic bags to come out FOR-EVER.  As you know, I’m a keen fan of the brand as it is.  The brushes are made from sustainable bamboo, with recycled aluminum ferrules, and non-animal hair (Good for all the animal lovers on your holiday list).  Plus, as makeup tools, they WORK, they’re super inexpensive and easy to find (Target and Walgreens).

AND NOW…Alicia Silverstone (a famously gorgeous and green vegan who also has a book out now called The Kind Diet–she’s not clueless at all), has teamed up with Ecotools to give the brand a little pizazz, as well as some fantastic new cosmetic bags made from HEMP.  I love hemp. It’s a seriously sustainable fabric, and durable, to boot.  Ecotools has several sizes to choose from, (a purse size, a “back of the toilet” size, and an overnight/vacation size), AND they cost a lot less than the fabulously green makeup you’ll be putting in them!

My favorite feature (other than the material) is the inside pockets: The Overnight Bag has 2 large clear REMOVABLE zippy compartments that velcro in and out–great for when you’ve got powder all over and need to run it under the tap, plus one huge clear zippy compartment.  It’s great to be able to see everything you have.  And the back of the toilet bag (let’s be honest, that’s where we all keep it) is actually called “The Train Case”, and has a REMOVABLE zippy compartment built right into the LID!  Nice surprise.  You can keep eyeliners and lip pencils and other items that always seem to escape you when you’re rooting around at 6am.

Finally, EcoTools gets another big fat nod from The Green Makeup Artist because not only are the bags made of hemp, but the lining is made with recycled plastic, the flowers are printed with non-toxic ink, and even the tags are eco friendly…get this–they’re made from stone paper!

Yeah, I didn’t know what stone paper was either–I’m google guilty!  Turns out, it’s 80% calcium carbonate (like limestone), and 20% non-toxic resin.  Stone paper uses no water or chemicals in manufacturing, the product is stronger than paper, smooth, and leaves HALF the carbon footprint that recycled paper does! The last time I got this excited about tree-less paper, it was made from Elephant poop (Seriously, poop paper.  It’s a thing.  Doesn’t smell, and feels nice.  Who doesn’t want a poop paper sketchbook?  Hint, hint.)

Back to the hempsters–My biggest recommendation for you greenies this holiday season is this: if you don’t ALREADY have fabulous makeup brushes (remember, being green isn’t about throwing perfectly fine things away), then buy yourself the new five piece set that EcoTools put out with Alicia Silverstone: It’s got a new brush– “The Finishing Brush” that you’ll recognize as an eco-friendly version of  a famous department store brand brush, an angled eyeshadow brush, a blush brush, and lash/brow groomer. (I usually take the brow brush out and replace the holder with an eyeliner brush, contour or lip brush since my brows are already wimpy and huddled in a corner on my face).  The brush bag zips around, matches all the other bags, and has an inside clear pocket to stuff a few extra brushes into.

Gift giving idea: For your girlfriend/mother/sister who’s NOT green– The EcoTools Limited Edition Brush Set, with a green lipgloss or blush (100% Pure makes really clean ones) tucked inside! A stylish and thoughtful present, which is bound to get them thinking, too….

Here’s the price rundown: 5 piece brush set & bag is $16, Train case is $15, Overnight Bag is $20.

Hempy Holidays!!

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Oh, The Sweet Smell of Success: A natural deordorant that really works!

June 19, 2009 · Filed under Green Brides, New Products, Shopping · Tagged , , , , , ,

armpits tanning, nikita hengbokIt’s 9am.  It’s the end of June, and it’s 65 degrees.  Did I happen to mention this is San Francisco?  It’s not SUPPOSED to be warm in June!  I’m supposed to be wearing a scarf and mittens right now!  Mark Twain once mused, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”

Putting bothersome global warming issues aside for a moment, let’s talk about the real reason I’m taking notice.  Sweat.  Two years ago I made the decision to give up my paraben laden, aluminum based deodorant.  I had used the same brand for about 20 years.  Wow.  That’s product commitment.  It’s also an incredible amount of toxic buildup: a chemical compound  applied daily and directly to the skin, in the area of the lymph nodes– skin that sweats, opening its pores like a welcome party for increased risks of breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  Oh dear.

It was time to shut that party down.  While I had tried natural deodorants in the past, I always placed my good sense of smell above my good sense, and found each natural deodorant lacking in protection.  But my concerns about parabens  grew greater when a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.  So, two years ago, I decided to give it another go.

After 6 months of natural deodorant trials, I could find NOTHING clean that worked consistently for me.  It’s not as though it’s 100 degrees in San Francisco; I don’t sweat heavily, nor is my sweat particularly pungent.  I had tried at least 12 different natural deodorants, and finally, I simply gave up.  I bought a mainstream deodorant containing aluminum and all sorts of harmful ingredients but which DIDN’T have parabens.  It worked.

I’ve gone along, stink-free for a year and a half, occasionally complaining about the deodorant market, but unwilling to go through another trial.  So what that I’d eventually lose my memory and then my mind?  At least I smelled nice.

deodorant, lavanilaBut then it happened.  I got a tip.  “The Healthy Deodorant” by Lavanila, (found at Sephora) is aluminum free, paraben free, and “100% natural”.   But does it work?  I’m here to tell you– indeed it does.

The scent is vanilla lavender, but frankly it smells a bit sporty.  Which is fine.  I’ll pretend to be an athlete.  What I love is the silky/creamy texture of the solid stick, the fact that it’s nice and clean, lasts all day, and WORKS.

Yes, it will leave a small white mark on your black t-shirt.  We’ve handled that before.  It’s fine.  What you need to know:  If you go for a run (why are you running in the heat when you could be strolling?) you will probably want to freshen up before going out to dinner.  It’s strong, but not THAT strong.  It’s strong enough that you don’t have to worry when you’re riding the city bus and it’s packed.  It’s strong enough that you can sit at the beach and smell only salt water in the air.  It’s strong enough for me.

Here’s the list of ingredients-notice there are no petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, sulfates, aluminum or parabens.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Juice, Water), Propanediol (Corn Derived), Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Sodium Stearate (Coconut Derived), Silica, Carrageenan (Seaweed Derived), Stearyl Behenate (Coconut Derived), Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon Peel Oil), Inulin (Artichoke Derived), Saccharomyces Ferment, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide (Sugar Derived), Yeast Beta Glucan, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Valeriana Officinalis Root Extract (Valerian), Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract (Goji Berry), Botanical Fragrance Blend.

Photo courtesy of Flickr’s Nikita Hengbok

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When Winter White Goes Wrong: How to make your neck match your face

January 17, 2009 · Filed under Green Brides, Makeup, New Makeup Lines, Shopping, Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

white-neck-flickrs-juicy-carolinaFunny thing, necks.  We rarely give them much consideration.  When you think about it, your neck is merely a pedestal for the work of art that is your face, isn’t it?   Think again, girls.

Your neck is your face’s date to a ball. While you can arrive stag, wearing a scarlet gown that screams ‘look at me’, your appearance is more awe inspiring when you arrive with a gorgeous man who is wearing a matching scarlet hanky in his tuxedo jacket.  It says to the crowd, ‘Bask in the divine happiness which stands before you.  Admire our unity.’

Which is exactly what your neck should do for your face.  It is the man in the fabulous tux with matching hanky.  It UNIFIES the skin on your face with the skin on your decollete.  It’s not just a patch of go-between skin, your neck.  It is an isthmus of color.

I fear I’m losing you.  Here’s what I want you to do.  When you take your makeup off tonite, stand back and stare in the mirror with your robe open. (Not ALL the way, just the top bit)  Now, look–really LOOK at the difference in the color of the skin on your face, your neck, and your chest.  Sometimes you’ll see three different colors, sometimes just two.  But it is RARE to see only one tone.  There are reasons for this:

1. we use sunscreen on our face but not our neck or chest.  Therefore, our chests carry the effects of sun damage: freckles, sunspots, age spots, and a general darkness, thanks to all those cleavage baring shirts we love.

2. even though we forget sunscreen on our necks, the sun rarely finds its way there.  Therefore, our necks are nearly ALWAYS five shades lighter than our chests.

3. we’ve only recently begun to be vigilant about sunscreen on our faces, and truth be told, we often forget (especially in the winter) to apply it at all.  Therefore, our faces are often THREE or FOUR shades darker than our neck.

So what’s a girl to do?  Are we supposed to match the color on our necks, or the color on our faces?  If you choose a lighter foundation to match your neck, your chest won’t match (unless you apply makeup down the front of your shirt)  If your match the color on your face, your neck won’t match, and you’ll have that old telltale “Foundation Line”, even though you’ve actually taken the time to color match.

The solution? Match your tinted moisturizer or foundation to your face.  Then, use BRONZER to warm up the color on your neck. Simple as that.  Now, I go through bronzer love/hate phases.  Sometimes I like a snow petal look: a porcelain face with rosebud cheeks, skip the sun kissed look.  But if you’ve gone skiing, hiking, snowboarding, or have been just standing around outside admiring the winter, you’ve gotten kissed by the sun and your face is carrying a hint of red, if not an outright tan.  Bronzer (lightly applied) across the forehead, down the nose, on the chin, and at the cheekbones will mediate that redness, and then you’ll sweep it UNDER your chin and down the sides of your neck to close the deal.  And even if you’ve avoided the outdoors for the past few months, you’re likely not a porcelain doll.  You’ve got years of built-in color that’s just dying to be spread around evenly.

If you’re wearing your hair in a ponytail, don’t forget to sweep a little bronzer on the back of your neck as well.

Avoid the line.  A little powder bronzer is all it takes to even out the whole of your complexion.  Remember, you’re more than just a pretty face.  (You’re a pretty neck and chest, too)

Here are a few bronzers I particularly like:

100-percent-bronzer100% Pure Cocoa (that’s right, chocolate) Pigmented Bronzers

physcians-formula-bronzerPhysician’s Formula Organic Wear Bronzers (the pressed versions only, available at Walgreen’s) My favorite is the neutral bronzer with pink bits in it. Never orangey.

Dr.Hauschka Bronzing PowderDr. Hauschka’s Bronzing Powder: super light and silky!

top photo courtesy of flickr’s Juicy Carolina

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How Now, Brown Brow: The Art of Filling

December 5, 2008 · Filed under Green Brides, Makeup, New Products, Shopping · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

groucho-marx-flckr-gotbabyI recently wrote about the extreme importance of careful brow plucking and shaping. Today we’re going to chat (actually, I’m going to lecture) about the two most oft employed methods of brow FILLING, and then I’m going to recommend two green makeup lines that address these methods.  I promise you will NOT look like a comedy act if you follow a few guidelines.

METHOD ONE: Filling in the brow using a brow pencil.
NOT a fan. Why? Because the result looks drawn on, and the brow, rather than looking like hair looks like a WAXY smear (brow pencils are like crayons, and remember, brows are just your regular hair, attractively perching on your face for the purpose of framing and lifting your eyes, in addition to being tools of expression. Eyebrows should look like HAIR. Brow pencils also transfer color too quickly, too thick, and too dark. Give them up.

100-percent-pure-fruit-pig-eyebrow-color-taupe2METHOD TWO: Filling in the brow with a non-waxy brow gel or paste
With a little care, BEAUTIFUL results! Use an angled brow brush (not the super stiff toothbrushy bristle brow brush, but a finer, softer-yet-still stiff angled brush). Dab your brush in a pot of the paste in a color that is (unless you’re blonde) at least three shades lighter than the darkest part of your hair. If you have warm chestnut tones, chose a light brown that has a hint of warmth to it. (A great light red brown=TAN) If your brown hair has a lot of blonde, choose a neutral light brown (A WHEAT color). Dark brunette? Go for a medium brown– trust me, your existing hair with provide the depth, we’re just trying to provide the “fill” in a way that won’t make you look like Groucho Marx. Start making soft dashes, filling in any sparse areas. I usually begin at the arch, go down to the tail (which usually needs the most help) and then go BACK to the beginning. The place you first begin will have the most amount of color. Many women already have nice, strong beginnings, and just need help with the finish.

100-percent-pure-eyeshadow1METHOD THREE: Filling in the brow with a powder eyeshadow
My favorite method. It’s FOOLPROOF! Such a soft, subtle effect–you will appear as though you came out of the womb with magnificent brows– Use your angled brow brush and tap it into an eye shadow. YES, an EYESHADOW that is several shades lighter than the darkest part of your hair. You will think to yourself: ‘This color is WAY too light to do anything’. Do it anyway. Thank me later. Follow the above application.nvey_eye_palette1

Finishing touches: I always love to brush a little loose face powder across the brows after they’ve been filled in. It lightens and softens them even more. Brows love powder!

For a great brow pot, I love 100% Pure’s Eyebrow Gel. They also offer a great vegan brow brush that gives great results.

For eyeshadows, you can feel free to use your green loose mineral shadows (Larenim has a great selection) but if you (like me) prefer a pressed eyeshadow and want a few great colors all in one palette, I think you’ll love Eco Nvey’s eyeshadow palettes (they have 5 great palettes, or you can buy the shadows individually). You’ll also adore 100% Pure’s Cocoa Pigmented Eyeshadow palette!

Now look at your gorgeous self in the mirror and practice raising one perfect brow.

Photo courtesy of Flickr’s Gotbaby

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Super Face: The Secret Power of Natural Pressed Powder

November 28, 2008 · Filed under Green Brides, Makeup, New Makeup Lines, New Products, Shopping, Skincare, Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

marie-antoinetteFirst, a disclaimer: I’ve spent years discouraging women from using powder on their faces, and I’ve taken a good bit of flack about it from those women who feel incomplete without it.

My point? It is no longer the 18th century, Ladies. We don’t need to be surrounded by a dust cloud of powder to absorb our bodily and facial oils– we bathe! (The aristocrats who inspired over-powdering were the same folks who covered themselves in stick-on moles to cover up pock marks acquired from sexually transmitted diseases…and I seriously doubt stick on moles are coming back any time soon)

Furthermore, while a powdered face may indeed add a polished finish when you’re wearing a ballgown, it does NOT belong on your face when you’re wearing yoga pants, a jogging suit, or jeans and sneakers. It is unacceptable to powder our three dimensional faces into a two dimensional plane. It looks dry, fake, and completely cartoonish. While you’re at it, why don’t you shave off your eyebrows and paint them back on?

Let your skin breathe. Let your face glow.

–That said, I am going to recommend three brands of natural and healthy pressed powder. Why? Because there are some worthy new and natural brands out there, and because a good powder can make you look ethereal, softening your features by refracting a hazy angelic light.  And there’s nothin’ wrong with looking angelic.

One of the main reasons I’ve steered my clients from powder is because so many popular formulas are chock full of gross stuff that ends up settling in fine lines and wrinkles, not to mention clogging pores with extended use. If you’re going to wear powder, it should actually improve your skin.

My meters for great face powder include: Flexibility, Finish, and Fine Line-Proofness.

1. For Flexibility, you want a pressed powder. Lots of mineral makeup lines have clean loose powders: Loose powder is a one time sort of thing, used to “set” your makeup. Women who use powder throughout the day (because they’re frequently oily, or because they’re intent on maintaining a polished look) need to be able to carry in their purses.

2. For Finish, you want powder that rests lightly upon the skin. You don’t want the powder to be so fine that it enters the skin. Look for non “nano-particle” lines. Nano particles are often present in makeup lines that require you to buff powder into your skin, rather than letting it rest above the skin, using dimethicone (a natural silicone). Steer clear of bismuth oxychloride, while you’re at it. This popular mineral makeup ingredient is an irritant for many women’s skin, causing itchiness and, in some cases, cystic acne.

3. For Fine-Line Proofness, you want a silky powder. You don’t want your face to look ashy, sparkly, chalky, or dry. When you find a great pressed powder, you should be able to roll the puff lightly across your t-zone to take off shine, or sweep it across your entire face for a smooth finish. Look at your skin 30 minutes after you apply powder. Are your wrinkles more or less noticeable? Does your skin appear softer or does it look dry, caked, or flaky? Touch your face. Does it feel smooth and silky?

Here’s my new favorite pressed powder, by the company that makes my favorite clean liquid eyeliner.
ZUZU LUXE Dual Pressed Powder & Foundation (talk about flexible!) comes in 9 shades, for every skin tone!

zuzu-powder

Use as a pressed powder for touch-ups, or as a foundation with a matte finish. Available in 9 shades for any complexion (see color chart, and and refer to brief descriptions below). 10g compact is $21.95 each.

Ingredients: Mica, Zinc Stearate, Octyl Palmitate, Squalane (vegetable derived), Lecithin, Dimethicone, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Grapeseed Extract

Here are two other great powder choices:

100-percent-powder100 Percent Pure Peach Pigmented Healthy Glow Pressed Powder:

100% natural pressed powder made with rice powder, fruit pigments and light reflective pearl powder to make skin appear luminous. SPF 20 protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays while antioxidants protect against environmental damage. Does not contain preservatives, artificial fragrances, synthetic chemicals or any other toxins. Truly, 100% Pure.

color: White Peach- fair skin tones
Peach Bisque – medium skin tones
Golden Peach – golden, deeper skin tones

Ingredients: Rice Powder, All of the following fruit pigments : White Peach, Golden Peach, Apricot and Papaya, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Lavender Flower Powder, Eucalyptus Leaf Powder, Silk Powder, Fresh Oyster Pearl Powder, Vitamin A (a-palmitate), Vitamin C(ascorbic acid), Pomegranate Seed Oil, Avocado Butter, Rose Powder, White Tea Powder, Grape Seed Powder, Silica (Natural Mineral)
SUNSCREEN ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: 12% Titanium Dioxide and 6% Zinc Oxide

larenim-powderLarenim Mineral Airbrush Pressed Powder:

Comes in many shades. The great thing about Larenim’s product, as well as Zuzu’s is that they can be used as foundations as well as powders! This company uses no bismuth oxychloride, nanoparticles, or any chemical fillers or preservatives.

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Say Cheese: Whitening without frightening

November 21, 2008 · Filed under Anti Aging, Green Brides, Shopping, Uncategorized · Tagged , , , ,

perfect-smile-flickr-karissa5White teeth do a lot of talking. They talk about their owner; they say ‘Hey, she’s healthy, she’s neither a smoker nor a heroin addict, and she practices good hygiene.’ Furthermore they say…..‘She’s happy.’

It may seem as though I’m obsessed with the ability of cosmetic products to make us look happier. Maybe you’d rather look younger. Fine, white teeth will also make you look younger. Our teeth naturally yellow with age, thus whiter teeth take us back to our prime. One of the easiest ways, in fact, to take a couple years off the face is simply to whiten your teeth. Doesn’t matter if your teeth are crooked, if you have a hideous underbite, or are missing a few teeth altogether. Whiten them up, and reap the compliments.

A few of you out there have greyish teeth, rather than yellow stained teeth. This is often due to tetracycline poisoning (from an antibiotic you took as a child or your mother took when she was pregnant with you). Don’t waste your money on tooth whiteners; the staining is from within, and if you’d like a great white smile (a dear friend of mine is very shy about her greyish smile) then chat with a dentist about veneers. It could change your life.

If, however, like many of us, your dingy smile is due to the accumulative effects of coffee, red wine and blueberry pie, then whitening your teeth is easy as…eating blueberry pie. I get compliments on my teeth quite often, by women. (Men will say, ‘Nice smile’…but women are more specific. They say, ‘You have really white teeth’) They ask what I do. Do I get them professionally whitened?

That’s not my secret. While I think a professional whitening job can immediately improve a woman’s self esteem, it’s expensive (up to $500) and the ingredients are a little iffy for my taste. Speaking of taste–ewwww…. would I ever want to swallow that stuff? I don’t even use toothpaste with flouride! And skip the drugstore whitening kits, they’re full of gross chemicals, too…unless you just have to have results this weekend.

The best thing you could do for your smile and your health is to make a decision to whiten your teeth every single time you brush, using a non toxic method.

Here are a couple of my favorite teeth whitening tricks:

1. Use food grade peroxide to swish and spit with. (It won’t stick to your teeth to whiten them, but if you brush your teeth while it’s in your mouth, you’ll get an oxygenated tingling and foaming action that gently lifts stains).

2. Use baking soda as toothpaste. It’s cheap, it works, it whitens. (It absorbs stains and scrubs them away) Put a drop or two of food grade peppermint or spearmint essential oil in a cute one cup container of baking soda. Tasty! It’s a natural abrasive, and the feeling of clean after you brush (dip a wet toothbrush into the powder) is the cleanest you will ever feel. Very similar to getting a professional cleaning. Do it for two weeks and you’ll notice a whiter smile. Then do it for the rest of your life because it works and it’s natural.

3. If you hate home made stuff, try my favorite powdered packaged toothpaste, Eco Dent Extra Brite (I like powders. Gels and pastes disappear too quickly, and whitening is about getting rid of stains. Peroxide bleaches, but powders SCRUB. This company makes a couple formulas; I like the whitening one, because they added peroxide! You just flip the cap, and sprinkle a modest amount on your wet toothbrush, and brush (If you wet the toothbrush after, you wash away powder). While I’m not a fan of the foaming agent sodium lauryl sulfate (the oceans need less foam, not more), this toothpaste is fluoride free, it whitens, and it’s natural.

eco-dent-toothpasteExtraBrite Tooth Whitener, Fluoride Free helps brighten teeth naturally while providing low abrasive action, natural effervescence and natural cleaners. Premium Oral Care Products. Mint without Fluoride. polishes with Less Abrasion. Baking Soda Toothpowder. Naturally Effervescent. Better than Pastes! Natural Effervescence and Peroxide make it better! Less Abrasive. Helps Prevent Plaque. For a great smile, brush with Extra-Brite twice daily for 2-3 weeks. Then maintain your new smile with Eco-Dent Daily Care. 100% Natural Ingredients.

Suggested Use: Apply small amount to moistened toothbrush. Brush as usual. Not recommended for children under 12.

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Tartanic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Carbonate, Calcium Peroxide, Sea Salt, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Coconut Derived), Hydrated Silica, Natural Flavoring Oils, Guar Gum, and Myrrh Extract.

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I Scream, You Scream: Fabulous Eye Cream

November 14, 2008 · Filed under Anti Aging, Green Brides, New Makeup Lines, Shopping, Skincare · Tagged , , ,

sleepy-face-flckr-miss-s-smithSome mornings I wake up looking like I’ve been abducted by aliens.  My face is puffy, my lips are dry, and my skin is coarse.  Worst of all: Thousands upon thousands of fine lines emanate from the corners of my eyes, and the skin beneath my eyes is a crepey mess.   These are the ugly physical  manifestations of a dehydrated body. Yes, we should all drink more water.  But don’t talk to me about that when I’m staring at the Mohave Desert in the mirror.  Give me solace.

Give me eye cream, immediately.

A good eye cream can make you feel better instantly. It IMMEDIATELY quenches your skin.  I find if I can just lay my hands on good eye cream on a bad morning, that the day begins to look up within five minutes. The crepey-ness is gone, the thousands of new crow’s feet retreat, leaving me with the one set of laugh lines I’ve earned.

100percent-eye-creamMy eye skin plumps up, the sagging skin firms, and the whole shebang is taken care of with just a little cream! My current favorite eye cream is 100% Pure’s Acai Eye Cream. It’s clean, it’s green. It works.  100PercentPure.com makes two great eye creams: One formula relies primarily on coffee, to rev up the eye, and the other uses the antioxidant (and anti aging) power of concentrated acai (a groovy south american fruit) to restore youth.

My advice?  Don’t wait for an alien abduction.  I’m a HUGE fan of eye cream; use it DAY AND NIGHT (it’s rich and thick and essential and also preps your skin for that concealer I know you’re wearing!) and I try as many different ones as I can.  You’ll know a good eye cream by its power to make you feel better as soon as you massage it in. Take that, aliens!

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100 Percent Pure Blush

June 11, 2008 · Filed under Green Brides, New Products, Shopping · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

I adore a sheer, bright blush on my clients’ cheeks. The kind of blush that makes them look like they’re in love. The kind of blush that flushes their cheeks when someone tells them that they’re beautiful. The kind of blush that makes them look like they’re BLUSHING!! Universally, women look good in either a bright pink blush or a bright apricot blush. Very few women look like they’re blushing when they wear a dusty rose rouge. (Who naturally blushes in a brown tone?)

Being a blush fanatic, I’m on the constant prowl for a natural- looking blush that’s also NATURAL!!! My favorite find is a recent one, by a company here in the Bay Area called 100 Percent Pure. As a green makeup artist, I am well satisfied by the ingredients (most of them are edible, and they don’t add a single thing you won’t love) and I also like the way the product rolls up (unlike other cheek stains which push up). Last but not least, my clients LOVE the colors. The grapefruit blush is a favorite for a sheer pink, and the peach is great on redheads or green eyed girls. I can’t wait to stock my kit with more of them! A nice bonus–the blushes are great on lips, too. Did I mention that wine is one of the ingredients? Here’s what the company has to say about the derivation of the pigments in both the blushes as well as their glosses:


the first and only cosmetics made from antioxidant rich fruit
and vegetable pigments. While other color cosmetics are made
with either FD & C Colors (synthetic dyes) or minerals, only
100% Pure color cosmetics are made with fruit + vegetable
pigments (patent pending)! All the antioxidants and vitamins in fruits are in the actual color, so you will be applying all the healthy nutrients of the fruits directly on your skin!

And take a look at the gloss ingredients!

100% Natural lip glosses made with 83% Vitamin E from organic rice bran and beautiful colors from fruit pigments. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-aging antioxidant that drenches your lips with moisture and deeply softens.

Ingredients: Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), contains all or some of the following fruit pigments: Pomegranate, Wine, Cherry, Cranberry, Blackberry, Raspberry, Peach, Cocoa Bean and Plum, Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Grapeseed Oil, Honey, Shea Butter, Honey Beeswax, Natural Fruit Flavor, Chili Pepper


You can check out this company at 100percentpure.com

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Vow to Love Your Makeup

April 11, 2008 · Filed under Green Brides, Uncategorized

10 Ways to Say “I Do” to Greener Cosmetics by Aimee Valentine

1. Become Aware
If you are one of the hundreds of brides who will plan a sustainable wedding this year, you have undoubtedly researched green catering companies, chatted with eco-event planners, found a “green” dress (perhaps even hemp!), and will probably use local flowers. Surprisingly, though, many green brides don’t consider what they’ll be wearing on their face the day they march down the eco-aisle. Whether or not you typically wear makeup, chances are you’ll want to be fully fabulous on your wedding day. Now is the time to mull over your makeup options and become aware of the growing availability of green makeup.

2. Look for “Organic”
In your eager search to locate sustainable foundations, lipsticks and eyeshadows, you will often encounter the word “natural”. Natural is a nice word which easily imparts feelings of goodness to the naive cosmetic consumer. Unfortunately, there is not a rigorous standard for “natural” makeup: it can include (and often does) synthetic ingredients, harmful dyes, and even petrochemicals. Develop the habit of reading labels– you may be surprised by what some cosmetic lines sell as “natural”. If you want to save time in the cosmetic aisle, look for brands that are certified “Organic” to begin with. While these brands can still contain controversially harmful ingredients (parabens, etc.), they are easier to weed through (because there are less of them).

3. Carry a “Dangerous Ingredients” list in your wallet
I’ve worked in the cosmetics industry for nearly ten years, and I still can’t keep my dangerous ingredients straight! The ingredients label on the side of your foundation or mascara often reads like a foreign language. It’s easy to fall for a good looking, yummy smelling lipgloss and disregard the non-informative babble printed on the back of it, but before you buy it STOP and glance at the label. Chances are, if you don’t understand what it’s made of, you don’t want it. Smarter and healthier cosmetic companies are parenthesizing the common name for an ingredient after the scientific names (this is especially helpful with essential oils). You will never find a label, though, that reads “toluene (used in gasoline)”. This is where your little list will come in handy. Here’s a link to a list of cosmetic ingredients which also includes the nicknames used for common toxic ingredients. Naturalnews.com/016898.html
Don’t worry, you don’t have to study the list–just print it out and refer to it when you’re shopping.

4. Choose “No Animal Testing” Lines
Just because a brand touts “this product was not tested on animals” doesn’t mean that the company itself doesn’t do animal testing. I learned this the hard way, when I grilled cosmetic vendors on the phone to the point that they began stammering that they didn’t really know what their company’s testing policies were. Also, keep in mind that smaller animal friendly lines are often owned by larger, animal testing lines. Where you draw the line is up to you.

5. Recycled Packaging
Look for brands with the recycled symbol on it. Easy as pie!

6. Look for Local Lines
Depending on where you live, this isn’t always possible, but here in Northern California, local green beauty companies abound. It’s always more sustainable to choose locally made products over those that are flown or shipped or trucked in.

7. Try a Few Brands
Natural Makeup has gotten a bad rap in the past for being too sheer, smelling “unusually”, fading too quickly, or (ironically) not looking “natural” enough. You’ve got to get your face and your fingers dirty and try a few brands before you give up. See what works with your skin and coloring. Make sure you like the scent and texture of the skincare. Finally, wait to see which products bring you the most compliments. (You may not be line loyal, but you’ll certainly be product loyal!) Once your find your favorite green makeup, you’ll be glad you put in the hard work, and even happier when your friends start making changes, too.

8. Hire a Green Makeup Artist for your Wedding
So you’re in love? Do you love the planet as much as your fiancé? If so, you’re probably planning a green wedding from A to Z. Just don’t forget that what you wear on your face the day you say “I do” says just as much about your philosophy as what flowers you’re carrying! Look for makeup artists who use green makeup in their work, and you’ll be one step closer to making your vows their greenest.

9. Replace as You Replenish
You don’t have to buy all your green makeup in one go and toss your traditional stuff into your local landfill (although that’s exactly where some of it belongs). Instead of splurging and wasting, shop now for the replacements for products you use most often. When you run out of your old makeup, you’ll already have your eye on something better. In other words, don’t sweat the greenstuff!


10. Spread the Green!
When your friends compliment your new glow, and ask what you’ve been doing differently, don’t smile coyly and say “Gee, I just rolled out of bed.” TELL them about the new products you’re using (even the ones you didn’t like) and let them catch the green bug. And if you really like them—consider giving eco-makeup for bridesmaids gifts!

Green makeup artist Aimee Valentine specializes in eco makeup for Bay Area Sustainable Brides. Visit her at greenmakeupartist.com

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