Brush With Greatness
Date: April 28, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
Now that you’ve made the switch to eco-friendly makeup (if you still need suggestions, check our beauty category), replace your makeup brushes with ecoTOOLS. Featuring bamboo handles, taklon bristles (a synthetic filament), and ferrule constructed from recycled aluminum cans, the brushes are fantastically cheap. The powder brush is only $7.99, while the eye shadow brush will only set you back $3.99. The line has also joined forces with 1% For the Planet so that one percent of ecoTOOLS’ annual sales will be donated toward eco-initiatives. These are available at many drug stores like Walgreens, Duane Reade, or Ulta, so even if you aren't a regular Whole Foods shopper, you can get tools that are as good for the planet as they are for your skin. They come in recyclable/reusable packaging printed with plant-based ink.
Are your Lips Ecocentric?
Date: April 15, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
The TED swag bag was super stellar this year with lots of eco gifts, but Pangea's Ecocentric Lipcare was the most useful item of them all. On average, each woman packs on around 11 pounds of lipcare a year (think about how much of that ends up being ingested!). Pangea creates the softest lips without the use of petrochemicals, parabens, GMOs or other synthetic or potentially harmful ingredients you wouldn't dream of kissing. Instead these luxurious sticks are chock-full of vitamins, nutrients and essential fatty acids that moisturize lips beautifully, organically and naturally. I'm partial to the Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange, fresh with a touch of sweetness.This Foundation Is So Naked it Will Make You Blush
Date: March 24, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
Discover a new, natural approach to makeup, Nvey Eco. The company implements a strict take on sourcing ingredients to ensure that its products live up to the company's ideals and beliefs. The certified organic makeup line is completely free of parabens, synthetic preservatives, genetically modified materials, talc and petroleum-based ingredients. Nvey Eco also steers clear of testing on animals. For a rosy glow, check out their selection of Eco Powder Blushes. We've got our eye on Earth Red, a color sure to flatter every skin tone. Made with jojoba oil, chamomile and mineral earth colors, the blush also features vitamins C, E and A to protect even the most delicate epidermis.Summer Glow
Date: February 29, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Body Care, Makeup
Natural makeup has come a long way in the past year, but what about self-tanning products, where the concept in itself promotes a chemical reaction? There's no need to give up on the perfect UV-free glow just yet. With Lavera's Faces Summer Glow self-tanner, all you get are active soy extracts that build color gradually. Add to that organic calendula, peach, kiwi, apricot and papaya, and there is a delicious recipe for radiant skin that is free from parabens, petroleum and synthetic ingredients. Also certified to be 100% vegan, the Faces Summer Glow is one low-fat treat that makes us smile.No Plain Jane
Date: January 9, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
Jane Iredale is queen of the vegan makeup companies. From the bristles on her brushes down to every last ingredient in her products, no animals have been harmed. And no oil, talc, chemical dyes or parabens are used so no human will be harmed either. Jane Iredale is not only more environmentally sound, but one of the surest product lines out there, for even the most sensitive of skin types. In fact, it's recommended by plastic surgeons for use directly after a harsh chemical peel or laser resurfacing (though we're not suggesting you get either of those!). At the end of the day, we just love J.I.'s makeup because the line enhances natural beauty... naturally. The correcting foundations are safe enough to sleep in, the blushes brighten the murkiest of complexions and the glistening lip glosses garner rave reviews. Now that natural makeup is this good, why would anyone apply lipstick that contains lead?!?Cure For The Toxic Pedicure
Date: November 14, 2007 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
My four-year-old daughter and I love going for pedicures but the toxic formulations found in most polishes make these mother/daughter outings a rare occasion. Beauty definitely comes at a high price when it comes to nail polish. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene and formaldehyde are three common ingredients that plague traditional offerings. DBP is a plasticizer that has been banned from beauty products in Europe due to its link to birth defects and reproductive/developmental toxicity (that's scary). Hence, pregnant, nursing, and women who may one day wish to have a baby should avoid DBP. Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with vapors that are classified as a probable human carcinogen. And toluene is a solvent that studies have shown a correlation with reproductive risks, such as deformities, and other health related issues. Bite on this: around 45% of teenagers nibble on their nails (how do you think a 4-year-old fares?). Soulstice to the rescue. This collection of lacquers manages to leave all those chemicals behind, yet rivals its toxic counterpart in performance (of course it isn't quite an all natural product, but unless you are willing to go bare, it is the safest solution). For the sake of our readers, Andrea is sporting the "gotham" black shade; it went on smooth and shiny and lasted a few days before beginning to chip (which is amazing for her!). Soulstice also eliminated all superfluous packaging and is committed to manufacturing entirely in the US, to both ensure quality and reduce the embodied energy of their product. And it's cruelty-free and PETA-friendly. I'm thinking, essential stocking stuffer this season for all those well-behaved young ladies (there's got to be a few out there).Must-Have Mineral Make-Up
Date: November 6, 2007 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
I'm hooked on Alima's mineral makeup; luxurious, free from additives and allergens, pure and safe for even the most sensitive skin. They're only the second U.S. beauty care company to earn the "Certified Natural Cosmetics" seal from the BDIH, a German federation that developed comprehensive guidelines for "natural" beauty products. When it comes to the chemicals that are permitted to litter our ingredient lists, unfortunately the U.S. FDA has banned a mere ten while our European counterparts have said no to more than 1,000. Thus, it makes perfect sense that legitimately natural companies should turn to European standards. Beyond that, Alima donates 5% of their profits to organizations that promote the health and wellness of women - a different beneficiary each month. These minerals are also gorgeous; whatever color or sheen you covet, they've got you covered. Buildable and breathable, they're lightweight but actually have staying power. I love the dramatic shades of eyeshadow, like Aubergine and Black Orchid. And committed to reducing their waste, Alima instituted their Jar Return Rewards Program: send back five empty jars, they'll recycle them and you'll receive a free eyeshadow. Sounds like a sweet deal. But to be eligible, you must pack them in completely recyclable materials (no bubble wrap or packing peanuts allowed). After all, we're trying to beautify more than just our faces right?!
