We introduced you to strobing last year. You know, contouring’s less labor intensive cousin? Well, forget all that. A new beauty trend is here and you are going to love it for summer.

The latest beauty trend is called “stripping” and it is super hot. And not nearly as sleazy at it sounds.

Since a more natural look is on trend this year, and thank golly for that, it isn’t a surprise that the number of products it takes to achieve the look is more minimal too. You’re yearning to bust out the good ol’ bronzer right about now, aren’t you?

We all want to shake off our winter pallor and sport a healthy glow this time of year. But the old ways of bronzer are behind us. Stripping, or “sun stripping”, is a way of using bronzer that makes it look like you’ve actually spent a little quality time under the sun. Who comes in from a fun day outdoors with a uniformly bronzed face? No one. Ever. That’s why all-over face bronzing got kicked to the curb in favor of this new approach.

Best of all it’s fast, easy, and requires only one product. Here’s how.

How to Perform the Stripping Beauty Trend in 4 Easy Steps

1. Choose a bronzer. Here’s the trick with stripping. You want it to look natural, so stay away from bronzers with shimmer and select one that looks good on your skin tone. Also, powder works best for stripping. Alima Pure Bronzer comes in two color choices, light bronze and medium bronze, and is super natural looking. Another option is W3LL People Bio Bronzer, a universally flattering shade that looks like a true glow.

2. Use the right tools. You don’t want your bronzer everywhere. A semi-sturdy brush, like the Alima Pure Flat Top Brush, is perfect for applying the bronzer. You will also want a blush brush, like Alima Pure Blush Brush, for blending.

3. Apply the bronzer. After applying your foundation or tinted moisturizer as usual, apply a strip of bronzer across apples of cheeks and bridge of nose, where sun hits your face when you are outdoors. This is going to look wacky, but stay with us.

4. Blend it out. Now, using the blush brush, blend the strip of bronzer outward slightly and buff to a natural looking glow.

That’s it, peeps. Couldn’t be easier and you will love the just-been-out-in-the-sun look it gives your skin.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of girl with bronzed cheeks via Shutterstock

The post Beauty Trend Alert: Stripping is the New Strobing appeared first on EcoSalon.

There are many paths you can take to honing in on your ideal beauty products. Choosing for your skin tone and eye color is important. Whether skin is oily, dry, or normal is another important factor. But have you ever considered your astrological sign?

Wait, what?

You read it right. Beauty products perfectly suited to each zodiac sign. Hey, if you can choose a career or navigate a relationship based on your sign, a lipstick or eyeshadow is fair game, too, right?

And that makes a lot of sense, if you think about it. Each sign has unique characteristics. Take bold Aries. She would definitely be more likely to sport a fuchsia lipstick than, say, a more reserved Cancer.

Want to know which makeup product is perfect for your sign? Natural makeup brand, Alima Pure, has put together a handy dandy list of beauty products by astrological sign. Take a peek.

Which Beauty Products are Perfect for Your Astrological Sign?

Aries

Alima Pure says: After hectic March with its two eclipses, a little slowness and stillness helps you re-center. With the Sun in Aries, it is a time for articulating life goals and plotting new ways to go after them. A little Highlighter in Whisper on the cheekbones is the perfect dewy spring look for deep contemplation.

EcoSalon says: Aries isn’t afraid of a challenge. Why not take it one step further and add a touch of highlighter eyelids and lips for a super updated, musical festival season look?

Taurus

Alima Pure says: Before the excitement of birthday season, clear out the things that are holding you back, and focus your energy on self-restoration as you prepare for excitement waiting in the wings. Try Satin Matte Eyeshadow in Sage.

EcoSalon says: While you are doing some mental clearing, how about giving your diet a good spring cleaning too?

Gemini

Alima Pure says: Now is the time to find your tribe and enjoy being your strange and amazing self around the people who cherish your eccentricities more than anything else. Plan a new adventure with them that you’ll be able to look back on for years to come—the quirkier the better. Rock a bold smoky eye and explore with Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Tigereye.

EcoSalon says: Sounds like it may be time to stock up on some hot travel tips.

Cancer

Alima Pure says: The tension between Mars and Saturn forms a wedge between you and your lofty goals, perhaps preventing you from springing into action. With a solid plan, nothing is out of reach. But is there something beneath the surface that requires your attention first? Fresh, wearable Satin Matte Blush in Antique Rose adds a healthy pop of color to welcome springtime.

EcoSalon says: Nothing conquers mind clutter and helps you get to the bottom of things like a little meditation.

Leo

Alima Pure says: Tried your hand at the lottery lately, Leo? The sweeping winds of luck push you forward toward things you’ve perhaps shied away from in the past. Though better judgment has previously steered you in a different direction, now is the time to take that risk and reap the abundant rewards that await. Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Smoke is the perfect spring wash of color that shakes things up.

EcoSalon says: Speaking of risky behavior. Find out how Julia Roberts stays so gorgeous and youthful looking the natural way.

Virgo

Alima Pure says: Spring cleaning is a time to let go of that nagging toxic habit you’ve been trying to shed for some time now. The first few weeks of April give you a chance to get to the root of the habit, and to develop a new plan for starting fresh. Follow suit on your eyes with Natural Definition Eye Pencil in Paper as a fresh white base for colorful shadow.

EcoSalon says: While healthy habits are totally a good thing, remember not to take them too far.

Libra

Alima Pure says: As you come to the end of a major personal transformation–about two years’ worth of growth and changes–you’re ready to embrace your individual awesomeness. Curb that tendency to get down on yourself by enlisting the Buddy System. Choose a versatile, and wearable shade for shadow, brows, and even liner with Satin Matte Eyeshadow in Raven.

EcoSalon says: Before adorning those peepers, learn how to shape your brows the right way.

Scorpio

Alima Pure says: After the turbulence of March’s eclipses, it’s time to get back to business and deal with the spring cleaning, paperwork, and routines that may have been bumped from your to-do list. Reward your hard work with a fun spring hue–try Pearluster Eyeshadow in Camel for a wearable bronze smoky eye that adds intensity to the color of your eyes.

EcoSalon says: If your spring cleaning needs a push in that direction, find out how to kondo your closets and more.

Sagittarius

Alima Pure says: Some serious hard work has been paying off, and now it’s time to relax and celebrate. Time with your crew is reinvigorating, and whether you’re single or taken, things are about to get exciting. Leave the eyes with a smooth wash of color as you explore what’s out there with Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Oceana.

EcoSalon says: Give off that ‘70s vibe without looking outdated. Shimmer required.

Capricorn

Alima Pure says: Before you’re ready to fully embrace spring, a little winding down and recovery is in store for you. Make your home a place for recuperation, and celebrate your downtime with an escape into a book that’s been on your list forever, or that show everyone’s been talking about. Keep your look low-maintenance too with moisturizing Lip Tint in Petal.

EcoSalon says: Take in a few classic films with some serious fashion eye candy.

Aquarius

Prepare for the pent-up brilliance and creativity within you to burst free with the new moon. You become more articulate than ever, and your artful persuasion can be the impetus for new projects. You’ll even inspire others to get on board with one of your awesome new ideas. Try a lustrous silvery eyeshadow to match your silver tongue: Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Ava.

EcoSalon says: Give creativity a boost with these inspo-inducing ideas.

Pisces

Repeat after me, Pisces: No. Scrubs. Whether you realize it or not, you’re now beyond the halfway point of a slow, but steady two-year era of self-improvement and growth. Now comes the fun part, where deeper connections with those around you (or perhaps just a certain special one?!) yield the attention and kindness you deserve. Try Luminous Shimmer Eyeliner in Nightfall.

EcoSalon says: Try your hand at the new, colorful take on a smoky eye.

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Horoscope image via Shutterstock

The post Look to the Stars: Beauty Products for Every Astrological Sign appeared first on EcoSalon.

Highlighter has become a staple of any good beauty kit. It is super versatile and can brighten even the sallowest of winter skin. But could you take your highlighter game to a whole new level?

Applying highlighter may seem like a no-brainer. But you wouldn’t slap on any shade of foundation or concealer and expect it to look perfect, right?

Same goes for highlighter. Yes, most are universally flattering to some degree. But choosing the best highlighter shade for your skin tone can make magic happen.

Highlighter is multi-use makeup at its best. Its main trick is bringing life to the complexion, but it is also handy for brightening dark circles, and used as eyeshadow or lip color. Some women like to combine a bit of highlighter with their foundation for added glow, or use the strobing technique.

Let’s take a look at the variety of highlighter shades, plus the best products to provide instant radiance to any skin tone.

How to Choose the Best Highlighter Shade for Your Skin

Fair Skin: If you are in the alabaster to porcelain range, the lightest highlighters are your go to. These beauties add luminous glow without going too ’70s makeup shimmer effect.

Tata Harper Very Illuminating Highlighter

ILIA Polka Dots & Moonbeams

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

Medium Skin: You know those pink toned highlighters you see? Super flattering on medium skin tones. Give one of them a try.

Vapour Stratus Instant Skin Perfector

INIKA Light Reflect Highlighting Crème

Dark Skin: Think bronzer is your only option? No way! Highlighter with a copper or golden hue rocks darker skin tones.

Kjaer Weis Radiance

Alima Pure Highlighter in Dolce

ILIA Cosmic Dancer

All Skin Tones: Wishing for a highlighter that suits all tones and livens up skin like nothing else? RMS Beauty has come out with a brand new highlighter to do just that. Master Mixer offers a rose gold luminosity that looks great on everyone. Use on eyes, cheeks, lips, body…your call.

RMS Beauty Master Mixer

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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The post How to Choose the Best Highlighter Shade for You (Yes, It Matters!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

The sculpted makeup look ala KK’s clan has been as hot as full brows were in the ’80s. Oh yeah, on fleek brows are still hot, but could the whole ultra-defined thing be taking a backseat to a more natural look this season?

Going for a simpler, less time consuming look feels right, especially for spring beauty (it’s here sooner than you think!). Still, most makeup lovers shudder at the thought of pale skin and invisible cheekbones. Even ‘no makeup’ makeup calls for a hint of color. We are not talking bare here, but back to basics. As in, good ol’ blush.

Yep, this (practically primitive) makeup item appeared on runways for the spring shows (Marchesa featured a pretty pink) and is primed for its comeback. And with makeup trends of 2016 calling for a healthier, more natural look, blush couldn’t be more perfect for the job.

Feel blush on its own has to be boring? This flushing beauty is more versatile than you may think. Cream, stain, powder, stick. Pink, peach, gold, bronze, plum. All you have to do is find what works for you and you’ll be blooming with spring-worthy glow in no time.

Blush Basics (for Not-So-Basic Blushers)

Cream or Powder? All skin types can pull off either choice, but powder can make drier skin look older, and cream can make oilier skin slippery and shiny. The nice thing about cream blush is the dewy glow it gives to skin. A little goes a long way, so cream can be layered for a soft or more intense look. It can also double as a lip color. Powder is a quicker application and you don’t have to deal with color on your fingertips.

What About Stain? Cheek stains (or tints) offer a more intense color and have staying power. These products work on all skin types, though can make larger pores more visible.

How to Choose the Right Blush Color

This is important. Enhanced natural glow is what we are going for here, not baby doll cheeks or ‘90s bronze streaks.

Fair Skin: Rose gold, like Tata Harper Volumizing Lip and Cheek Tint in Sweet, works well on fair skin with pink undertones to match the tone without bringing out too much pink. For fair skin with yellow undertones, try a peachy pink, like Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi Use Blush in Tender.

Medium Skin: Medium skin tones with yellow undertones look great paired up with a neutral mauve. Try Alima Pure Satin Matte Blush in Geranium. Medium skin with pink undertones need the warmth of apricot, as seen in W3LL People Universalist Multi-Use Colorstick in Satin Blood Orange.

Dark Skin: Olive skin tones look fabulous in a straightforward peach or tangerine. May we suggest Kjaer Weis Cream Blush Compact in Sun Touched. Darker tones can pull off a deeper plum or raisin hue, like Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi Use Stain in Enchant.

As for applying blush? We love this handy tutorial by the gals at Birchbox on how to apply blush by face shape.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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The post Gorgeous Blush Colors That’ll Make You…Blush appeared first on EcoSalon.

You no longer have to sacrifice performance in the name of healthier products. Still, shopping for natural cosmetics can seem daunting. There are so many natural beauty brands around these days. How can you tell which are the best organic makeup brands?

We’ve evaluated many natural cosmetics lines, zeroed in on the cream of the crop, and comprised this guide to help you get started. Everything you need to know about choosing the best organic makeup brands for you.

We skip straight over the greenwashed, pseudo eco, barely natural stuff and get straight to what’s best in organic makeup. Top brands, quality ingredients, and high performance design. We put each brand through our safety criteria so you can be sure everything here is made with natural and organic ingredients, and free from harmful chemicals. We have also noted any pertinent certification and commitments in each brand summary, such as BDIH or NaTRUE certified, cruelty-free, gluten-free, or vegan.

Want a real life opinion on these products? Of course you do! Professional makeup artist, Kelly DeMauro, has tried them and gives her honest evaluation to help you make better buying choices. Like going shopping with a girlfriend who has a whole lot of experience.

Here’s what we look for in a safe cosmetic product:

Safe ingredients – The first step in identifying a safe cosmetic is to take a look at what it’s made of. This means reading the ingredient listing. Cosmetic ingredients go by many names and can be difficult to decipher. Use our handy Dirty 13: Most Harmful Ingredients to Avoid in Cosmetics list to help ID toxins in beauty products. Find an ingredient you are unsure of not on our list? Search The Environmental Working Group Skin Deep database.

Clear ingredient listings – Truly natural cosmetic manufacturers are proud to display the healthy ingredients they use. If a product does not include a clear ingredient listing, assume it is not safe until you can find more information.

Brands we can trust – Cosmetics brands with a clear ingredient and manufacturing commitment are worth following. Brand websites usually include a page on safety criteria. If a conventional product line begins carrying a “green” product or two, best to investigate before purchasing.

High performance – It is not worth buying a safe product if it doesn’t perform well too. All products and brands we recommend behave like conventional products, or better.

Of course, price factors in to buying decisions too. We get that! Which is why we’ve included a handy pricing code for each of the brands in our Best Organic Makeup Guide, ranging from least expensive ($ from $9-35 ), moderately priced ($$ from $12-50)  to higher in price ($$$ from $15-150). Scroll to bottom for a complete pricing breakdown of brands at a glance.

Ready to learn more about the best organic makeup brands? Let’s go!

1. 100% PURE *Antioxidant Rich* $$

Brand Highlights: Fruit dyes give these makeup items their vibrant hues, including products for face, cheeks, lips, eyes, and even a skin luminizer. Antioxidant rich, 100% Pure cosmetics help to protect from environmental damage and premature aging.

Vegan, nano- and cruelty-free, produced using solar power, biodegradable and recycled packaging. Read more about 100% Pure’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: 100% Pure uses real fruit pigments to color its makeup products. Acai berry Eye Liner? Blackberry Mascara? Peach Cheek Tint? Delicious!

Who’s Wearing: Jessica Alba loves the Tinted Moisturizer with SPF.

2. ALIMA PURE *Good for Rosacea/CIS* $$

Brand Highlights: The finest grade minerals are used to create these makeup products. Collection includes mineral powder foundations, concealer, highlighter, bronzer, blusher, and eyeshadow in a wide range of rich colors, plus mascara, eyeliner pencils, and six lipstick hues. To go with the mineral powders, Alima Pure offers the most extensive range of makeup brushes we’ve seen yet. A makeup artist’s, or any gal’s, dream.

Nano-, gluten-, and cruelty-free, enviro-friendly packaging, and BDIH certified. Read more about Alima Pure’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Alima Pure wants you to love their makeup as much as they do. So, they’ve come up with several application tutorials, plus a cool foundation color selection tool.

Best For: These mineral makeup products work well on all skin types, from acne to dry, and even sensitive. They are gentle, breathable, and beneficial to those with rosacea or Cosmetic Intolerance Syndrome (CIS), and are bismuth oxychloride (BOC) free. Added bonus: The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide included in the foundation provide some SPF protection for incidental sun exposure.

3. BENECOS *Super Affordable* $

Brand Highlights: The Maybelline of natural makeup. Ok, here’s what we mean. Benecos is free from toxins, high performance, budget friendly, and everyone loves it. This well rounded line up includes everything you need to stock your makeup kit.

German made, BDIH certified, fair trade, cruelty-free, biodegradable, recycled packaging. Read more about Benecos’ commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Benecos makes a BB Cream that a) is free from harmful ingredients, and b) actually works. It also helps to calm redness and irritation. Win!

Best For: Women or makeup artists who are looking to stock a natural makeup kit sans the sticker shock.

Kelly says…

Benecos Lipstick: Very nice! Definitely hydrates. Application: Use a liner underneath for long lasting color.

Benecos Eyeshadow Quad: Well-milled, almost creamy texture which makes application a breeze. With these four staples it is easy to mix and match from day to night and since the colors are already picked out for you, you don’t have to worry that they won’t go together. Application: Use with primer for longer lasting color.

Benecos Mascara: I liked the application and the natural fullness it gave my lashes, this isn’t a product to use for a dramatic look but as a simple everyday look I think it’s great.

4. DR. HAUSCHKA  *Best Mascara* $$

Brand Highlights: One of the first natural beauty brands, Dr. Rudolf Hauschka started the company in 1935 in Germany as an avant-garde natural medicines line. Dr. Hauschka’s medicinal creations sans alcohol for preservation caught the attention of many anthroposophic doctors of the time. It also caught the attention of the Nazi Party, resulting in the ban of these medicines and imprisonment of Dr. Hauschka.

Dr. Hauschka teamed with esthetician, Elisabeth Sigmund, in 1960 and began creating healthy skincare. Stable cream bases that required no chemical preservation and natural essential oils were the basis for the line. The rebel brand continues to serve up high quality beauty products today. Truly the pioneers of natural beauty.

The brand utilizes only the best quality ingredients, many of which are grown organically and biodynamically in its own gardens. Dr. Hauschka products are certified natural by NATRUE and BDIH. The Dr. Hauschka makeup line includes essentials for face, eyes, and lips. Read more about Dr. Hauschka’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Has to be the mascara. You know how you’ve tried natural mascara after natural mascara only to be let down time and again? All you want is a mascara that offers color, length, and volume, along with no smudging or running. It’s enough to make you run back to the synthetic stuff, right? Wait! If you have yet to try this gem you are in for a treat. This is not only a great mascara, it is the natural mascara.

Who’s Wearing: Used in Hollywood in film and TV, and Broadway. Just check out the long list of places Dr. Hauschka has starred.

5. HAUT COSMETICS *Sample Sizes* $$$

Brand Highlights: Haut may mean skin in German, but to us it means these natural cosmetics are…hot, hot, HOT! Super clean and totally modern with a unique twist. This range covers the beauty gamut with mineral pigments and creams for face, cheek tints and balms, lip gloss and tints, and eye colors and brighteners.

Mascara?, you ask. Nope, Haut Cosmetics takes a different route with lashes. As in faux lashes. It’s true, the most lush and fluttery lashes made from sanitized human hair. For real. Quell your mascara melancholy and get your fabulous fringe on.

Vegan, gluten- and cruelty-free. Read more about Haut Cosmetics’ commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: The step by step guide to creating your own custom color, with options that address your skin issues, wants, and coverage concerns.

Best For: Women looking for customizable makeup products or who have trouble matching foundation.

6. ILIA BEAUTY *Pure Modern* $$

Brand Highlights: You know the saying, it’s what’s on the inside that counts? This goes for beauty products as well as humans. Still, Ilia Beauty products are just as gorgeous on the outside. You certainly won’t be afraid to keep these beauties on your bathroom shelf. Nor will the quality of these high performance makeup items disappoint. A celeb favorite, Ilia lipsticks and products for face have made many a star appearance. Gorgeous modern colors in high performance formulations.

Cruelty-, gluten- and dairy-free. Read more about Ilia Beauty’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Let’s just say, we don’t hate the wide array of glorious lipstick shades and blogger collabs.

Best For: Anyone who likes their eco makeup with a modern edge.

7. KARI GRAN *Minimalist Beauty* $$

Brand Highlights: Small but mighty. This label may not carry a huge selection of makeup items, but a well edited crop of lovely must haves. Customizable mineral makeups and tempting Lip Whips are the staples of Kari Gran.

Wild harvested, non-GMO, cruelty-free. Read more about Kari Gran’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: A new way to customize foundation. You choose your mineral foundation color and mix with a pump of Kari Gran Essential Serum. Lightweight hydration with the light reflecting benefits of mineral powder.

Best For: Those who feel a healthy lifestyle and skincare regimen is the basis of their beauty kit.

Kelly says…

Kari Gran Essential Foundation: Very happy with the color, a little really and truly goes a very long way. Application: Use as a cream for easy application.

Kari Gran Mineral Eyeshadow: Suitable for a wide range of skin tones. Application: May be used wet or dry, use primer to avoid creasing.

Kari Gran Concealer: Don’t need to use a great deal of product to achieve results. Color stays true all day. Application: May be applied wet or dry with brush, sponge, or fingers.

Kari Gran Setting Powder: Gives a nice finish. I did not experience a cast at all.

Kari Gran Lip Whips: Sinks into your skin effortlessly and truly hydrates. Definitely a staple.

8. KJAER WEIS *Luxe* $$$

Brand Highlights: Dream formulas in killer packaging. That’s Kjaer Weis in a nutshell. Super creamy makeup in brilliant hues shape this line of products for face, eyes, and lips. Apply with fingertips or a brush for a natural look, only better. Layer for more intensity.

The Intelligent Refill system means you buy the uber cool compact once and replace with refills. Reduces waste and makes trying out new colors more affordable.

Cruelty- and gluten-free. Read more about Kjaer Weis’ commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: The sheer, dreamy colors win all women over. But the signature red Kjaer Weis box with jewel-like compact contents is the Tiffany’s makeup equivalent.

Best For: Those who love sheer, buildable color.

9. LA BELLA FIGURA *Exotic* $$

Brand Highlights: The women of La Bella Figura have taken what they know about skincare and created equally supreme makeup products. LBF creates extracts from herbs they grow themselves. And in community gardens of Chicago, no less. Now that’s dedication to the craft.

The La Bella Figura makeup line includes exotically hued cream blush and lip colors, plus a corrective highlighter, coming soon.

Vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free. Read more about La Bella Figura’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: With the Seed to Skin program, La Bella Figura seeks the “most sustainable, unrefined and potent ingredients” to use in its products.

Best For: Sensitive and congested skin types.

10. LAVERA *Non-Allergenic* $

Brand Highlights: A straight forward cosmetics line that behaves like conventional makeup, only no harmful or harsh ingredients. Lavera offers beauty must haves for the essential makeup kit. Items for face, eyes, and lips, and even a BB Cream.

Lavera was originally created as a solution to reactive skin conditions. All products, including makeup, are super gentle on skin and eyes.

Vegan, NATRUE Certified Natural, cruelty- and gluten-free. Read more about Lavera’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Celebrity makeup artists, models, and actresses love Lavera makeup. Debra Messing, Jerry Hall, and Suzy Amis, to name a few.

Best For: Those with very sensitive or reactive skin, allergies, or women undergoing chemotherapy.

Kelly says…

Lavera Foundation: Matched very well. One of the best matches I’ve had in any cosmetic line. I love that it enhanced my natural skin tone while subtly reducing any redness, and would recommend this to those looking for something similar to a BB cream. Application: Best results with fingers.

11. RMS BEAUTY *Cult Classic* $$$

Brand Highlights: Organic beauty darling, this tried and trusted brand has been seen on many a runway and fashion mag. Created by celeb makeup artist, Rose-Marie Swift, as a means to dealing with the toxic build up in her blood stream from years of using mainstream cosmetics in her work. The result? The clean, high performance cosmetics Swift uses on her clients (and herself!) today.

A coconut cream base gives RMS Beauty cosmetics for face, eyes, and lips a rich glossy texture. Never drying or dulling, these products give brilliant color and a youthful appearance. The range also includes mascara and facial powder.

Gluten-, soy-, nano-, and cruelty-free. Read more about RMS Beauty’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Cult beauty hit RMS Beauty Living Luminizer is the best known highlighter for good reason. Nothing offers instantly glowing, radiant skin quite like it. Use on face, eyes, collarbones, even lips.

Best For: A dream for dry and mature skin, but women of all skin types love these cosmetics. A GOOP favorite.

12. TATA HARPER *Upscale Homegrown* $$$

Brand Highlights: Growing and harvesting ingredients, designing and developing natural products, on site small batch production. Sound too good to be true? This is how Tata Harper cosmetics are made. The idyllic Vermont setting and home grown feel of these beautiful products are tempting. The fact that they are also super luxe and perform like a dream is the crowning glory.

Tata Harper cream based cosmetics for lips and cheeks are suffused with natural pigments. Soften and moisturize the skin while offering sheer, vibrant color.

Vegetarian, EcoCert Certified Natural Cosmetics, gluten- and cruelty-free, recycled and recyclable materials. Read more about Tata Harper’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Tata Harper cosmetics are produced in cow powered facilities. Learn more about how it uses sustainable energy from recycled methane gas.

Who’s Wearing: Gwyneth Paltrow, Christy Turlington, and Julianne Moore are Tata devotees.

Kelly says…

Tata Harper Limited Edition Honey Resurfacing Mask: Loved using this gentle resurfacing mask! Used the mask shortly before bed and found my skin looking plump, hydrated, and fresh the following morning.

13. VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY *Celeb Fave* $$

Brand Highlights: Designers behind this brand are natural cosmetics product formulators and a former Kevyn Aucion Beauty president. To say they know beauty is an understatement. The outcome is Vapour Organic Beauty, an extensive line of pure makeup products.

Foundation and skin perfectors, lip colors and plumpers, eye color, blushers, bronzers, and highlighters. Everything you need for the well rounded beauty kit.

Cruelty- and nano-free, recycled packaging. Read more about Vapour Organic Beauty’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Vapour offers a sample program of 5 samples for $15. Great way to try before you invest in full sized products.

Who’s Wearing: The list of celebs and bloggers who love Vapour Organic Beauty is long. They’ve even collaborated with health gurus Kimberly Snyder and Gwyneth Paltrow on curated collections.

Kelly says…

Vapour Concealer: Neutralizes darkness without heavy coverage or a finish that is too matte and opaque. I actually look very well rested!

Vapour Multi-Use Stick: Sheer but noticeable color.

14. W3LL PEOPLE *Funky Chic* $

Brand Highlights: Funky name at the forefront with a unique founding crew behind this brand of healthy cosmetics. Designed by an “elite makeup artist, cosmetic dermatologist and treehugging entrepreneur”, W3LL People is minimalist makeup that’s max on style.

The line may be paired down in quantity but over delivers on color and quality. Choose from items for face, lips, cheeks, and eyes.

Cruelty-free. Read more about W3LL People’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Foundation and concealer stick in one. Who doesn’t love a good multi use product? And the powder mineral eye colors are earthy perfection.

Best For: The urban minimalist with mad style.

Kelly says…

W3LL People Foundation: New best friend? Maybe. Evens out everything just enough to look natural and healthy. Stays on all day without much need for touchups.

W3LL People Mineral Blush: Gorgeous natural “lit from within” look. One of my favorite powder blushes I’ve used in ages. I’ve also been using it to matte my lipsticks for extra staying power with a bit of a pink flush.

PRICE RANGE BREAKDOWN OF BRANDS

$ From $9-35: Benecos, Lavera, W3LL People

$$ From $12-50: 100% Pure, Alima Pure, Dr. Hauschka, Ilia Beauty, Kari Gran, La Bella Figura, Vapour Organic Beauty

$$$ From $15-150: Haut Cosmetics, Kjaer Weis, RMS Beauty, Tata Harper

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Top image adapted from Shutterstock

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Simple beauty tips for a balanced budget.

Green beauty has flourished in the past several years, bringing clean ingredients to the masses. And nothing ushers forth an ageless natural beauty like products free of harmful chemicals. But the price of clean beauty can sometimes be more than a green goddess wants to pay. The good news? You can still get age-defying, top-shelf products without composting the innards of your wallet.

Here are ten green beauty products that will brighten your age-less beauty on a budget.

Raw Sugar Scrub by Strawberry Hedgehog ($20.00)
For a youthful glow, toner and moisturizer are your best friends. But a good body scrub is your wise, cool auntie who can talk about the days of Woodstock yet still crack you up on Twitter. The key to skin renewal is to make dead skin the enemy, and this organic Raw Sugar Scrub from vegan experts Strawberry Hedgehog does just that. Made with organic sweet almond and apricot kernel oils, vegan sugar, and pure essential oils, this sweet but simple products offers up an excellent exfoliation.

Not to mention it’s in a mason jar.

Sensitive Care Lotion, Chamomile, by Seventh Generation ($7.99)
Dry, flaky skin is the bane of aging—seriously, it should be wearing a cape and twirling a moustache, it’s so evil. But even the most supple-skinned maiden knows to reach for a daily moisturizer to maintain her dewy hue. Green product giant Seventh Generation offers up this gentle, 95% plant-based product which provides deep moisture with a light application.

Bearberry Oily Skin Balancing & Toning Mist by John Masters Organics ($20.00)
Toner is like the available nice guy we’re supposed to live happily ever after with at the end of the romantic comedy. We ignore toner when, the entire time, the answer is right there in front of our face. One of the best ways to maintain and brighten your complexion, toners can restore your skin’s natural pH levels while protecting your skin against stress and pollutants. This offer from organic skin experts John Masters Organics provides a moisturizing coverage made up of certified organic ingredients.

Apple Brightening Cleanser by MyChelle Dermaceuticals ($13.39)
As we age, our skin can take on a dull tone which only works to add years to our complexion. This product from MyChelle Dermaceuticals promises to gently cleanse away the look of discoloration and sun damage, all the while offering up a fun, fruity scent. It is free of sulfates and gluten and is vegetarian-friendly.

Organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream by 100% Pure ($19.00)
Nothing ages you more than puffy, dark-rimmed eyes that look like they just dragged themselves through the sewer after a night of partying. (Or sitting up with a baby, without the sewer part.) This Coffee Bean Eye Cream from 100% Pure offers up anti-inflammatory, caffeine-rich green tea, great for reducing puffiness and increasing circulation. It is 100% natural, 100% vegan, and gluten-free.

Certified Organic Leave-In Conditioner by Intelligent Nutrients (Travel Size—$12.00)
Dry, brittle tresses do nothing for a youthful visage, so it’s important to keep locks feeling hydrated and healthy. From eco-beauty giant Horst Rechelbacher (founder of Aveda) comes this fantastic conditioner from Intelligent Nutrients. Certified USDA Organic, this conditioner offers the mysterious Intellimune ingredient, described as a “blend of nature’s powerhouse antioxidants.”  It is vegan and gluten-free.

Baking Soda and Lemon Teeth Whiteners (Less than $5)
Bright pearly whites are a key indication of youth, but who wants to use the harsh, chemical whiteners gracing our drug store shelves? Try lemon juice and baking soda as a simple, home remedy to freshen up your choppers. In a small bowl, mix together the juice of one freshly-squeezed organic lemon with a small amount of baking soda. After using a tissue to wipe excess salvia from your teeth, apply the mixture. Leave it on for one minute before brushing it off with your toothbrush. (Note: Do not exceed the one minute mark. You don’t want the lemon acid to damage your tooth enamel.)

Bronzer by Alima Pure ($20.00)
Sun-kissed skin is seen as the signal of health and youth in our culture. However, some bronzers can make you look more Snooki than siren. This bronzer from Alima Pure offers a light color in multiple shades to produce just the right hint of health. Alima Pure is a preservative-free line with a BDIH natural cosmetics certification, putting it on standard with European brands.

Fingerless Gloves by Coolibar ($19.00)
Did you spend your youth, like most of us, waving your hands in direct sunlight with nary a sun block smudge to be had? These fingerless gloves from Coolibar can help halt the march of time across your hands. With a UPF rating of 50+, they keep your hands sunshine-free and, while driving, offer up a nice grip on the steering wheel. Not to mention, they serve as a great visual reminder to keep the sun block flowing. (Here are our picks for green sun blocks.)

Correcting Concealer by Juice Beauty ($18.00)
Dark spots from sun damage are the enemy of the clear, even skin many of us covet. But mainstream lightening products can contain chemicals such as hydroquinone, which is so toxic that the FDA has proposed banning it. Instead, consider this correcting concealer from Juice Beauty, which offers up coverage with certified organic and natural ingredients.

Image: pedrosimoes7
FTC Compliant 

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ColumnWant to have an iconic summer look beachside? Follow these tips.

Sun-bleached blondes with beach tousled hair, smoldering black eyes and pouty nude lips captured a time in the ’60s when curvy women in bikinis lit up movie screens. Over the decades, Brigitte Bardot and Claudia Schiffer have been inspirational icons for this playfully seductive summer look – one that will never go out of style.
GUESS’s Spring 2011 campaign reignited the part of me that would love to go wild with a box of peroxide, a teasing comb and a kohl pencil. Like most things that inspire me, this is a pretty unrealistic look for anyone who wants to do more than sing songs with choreographed dance moves on the beach. The reality is that much black eyeliner would protect from sun glare, but would be a nightmare as soon as one drop of salty water hit.  If you plan to stay dry and want to have some fun with your makeup recreating yourself as a ’60s beach bombshell, here’s the how-to.

Black out

To start you’ll need a black eye pencil, black liquid eyeliner, black eyeshadow, a tube of black mascara, and an eye contour brush.

Green product suggestions:

Living Nature Eye Pencil in Midnight

Lavera Liquid Eyeliner (vegan)

Alima Pure Satin Matte Eyeliner (to be used as eyeshadow) in Black (vegan)

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Brush #004 (vegan)

Pro tip: Put foundation on after eyeshadow so you can easily clean off any powder that may have dropped onto your face.

1. Line the upper and lower lashes of your eye with the black eye pencil. This doesn’t need to be precise but it does need to be thick and dense.  You may have to go over it a couple of times to get the right intensity.

2. Take your eye contour brush and begin buffing the edges of the lines to diffuse them up into the crease for the upper lid.  For the lower lid, pull the liner with the brush down to about the place where the ends of your lower lashes touch. On most people that’s about ¼ of an inch.

Pro tip: Do not connect the inner corners of the eyes with black and leave the water line free of liner to give a more wide-eyed effect.

3. Use the brush and go more heavily into the crease of the upper lid with black eyeshadow using a windshield wiper motion using very rounded strokes. Leave a fair amount of space between the shadow and the brow bone. Everyone’s eyes are different, so for some it maybe 1/8 of an inch and for others almost 1/2. Concentrate the color on the outer edges of the eyes. Make sure that the edges aren’t pointy, rather soft and arching. Follow with just a touch of shadow underneath the eye following the rounded curve. Keep the application a bit lighter here.

4. Curl your lashes.  A lot.

5. Whip out that black liquid liner and make a thick line across the top lashes. Then paint on a thick, but slightly thinner line underneath.  If you are feeling very deft, make the lines a little bit thicker towards the outer corners of the eye as you go.  Remember not to connect the inner corners with liner because it will shut down the eye and make it look more punk rather than 60’s.

Pro tip: If you mess up your liner use a pointy cotton squab dampened with a touch of water to quickly “erase” your mistake.

6. Layer on the mascara. This look has nothing to do with restraint. If you need to use half a tube on both upper and lower lashes then do it! Clumpy and pointy work here.

A bold brow

Is anyone getting tired of hearing me say that bold brows are the way to go for pretty much every look? This look really needs it and it’s what is most modern. Naturally groomed and less manicured brows add a great frame to the eye and structure to the face. Need a quick tutorial on that, check out this video.

Don’t touch those freckles!

If you are blessed to have a freckly face or even a freckle-less face, don’t cover it with a pile of foundation.  Let your skin show through and only conceal the tiniest bits where necessary.  The key to this look is really keeping things raw, rough and textured.  Use a tinted moisturizer with SPF to help even skin tone, protect and allow the skin texture to still be seen.  Try Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30.

Light lips

To balance such a heavy eye, a very nude lip is the way to go.  There’s nothing overly skilled about this part.  Just slap on some lip color and you are set! Ecco Bella makes a great natural, vegan lip color called Almond that should do the trick.

Alright beach babes, get out their and show ‘em how glamorous your summer style can be!

Editor’s note: Got a celebrity look you’d like to copy or a trend you’d like to see incorporating healthy, non-toxic makeup? Send your questions to High Definition columnist Kristen Arnett at beauty@ecosalon.com

New York City based Kristen Arnett is an internationally renowned makeup artist and founder of the Green Beauty Team, styling high profile celebrities and runway models as well as a sought after beauty expert, educator and teacher for other makeup artists.

Image: Ellen Von Unwerth for GUESS Inc.

The post High Definition: Beach Bombshell appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnTaking natural makeup to dizzying heights.

This is Kristen Arnett’s first column in her new weekly foray into detoxing our makeup bags and giving us healthier cosmetic options. Expect to be wooed by everything from runway makeup trends to celebrity makeovers.  Arnett is an internationally renowned makeup artist and founder of the Green Beauty Team, styling high profile celebrities and runway models as well as being a sought after beauty expert, educator and teacher for other makeup artists.

When Jennifer Lopez arrived at the Met Gala this year, she was showing off not only a stunning Gucci dress, but a sophisticated, sexy makeup look which rightfully grabbed plenty of attention.  That night I was tucked away with a team of makeup artists in one of the many rooms at the Met working on other ladies, but had I known that upstairs J Lo, with her show-stopping face was walking the red carpet, I may have just run past the guards to get a close-up peek.  Since a photo is about as close as you and I are going to get, let’s break her red carpet look down so you can mimic at your own free will.

1. First, slick back your hair into a tight chignon.  Makeup like this must stand on its own without competition.

2. Next, to create a warm, glowing complexion, choose a foundation that isn’t overly matte in texture.  I suggest using something like Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation.  Be a perfectionist and cover up all the darkness and discoloration you can on your skin, because red lips accentuate red and purple tones on other areas of the face.

3. Get a bronzer and a big fluffy powder brush to give yourself some defined cheek bones. Avoid glittery bronzers; no extra sparkle is needed on the face for this look. I love the matte bronzers from Alima Pure. Their shade in Trinidad is perfect for this makeup.

Pro tip: tap your brush to remove excess powder to avoid getting an uneven streak.  Start in the hollow of the cheekbone from the side of the face and work inward towards the apple of the cheek.

4. On to the eyes. Take the same bronzer from the cheeks, but using a smaller eyeshadow brush, sweep the color into your eye socket.  Keeping the color more concentrated towards the outer two-thirds of the eye and softly diffusing towards the nose.  With a smaller brush still, drag a little bit under the lower lash line.
On the lids, use a light, shimmery eyeshadow, working from the center towards the tear ducts.

Jenny From The Block doesn’t ever leave her house without four pounds of false eyelashes on.  For those of you aren’t comfortable venturing into the realm of false lashes and glue because they’re too difficult to wrangle or you want to stay away from anything toxic, layer on lash primer and use mascara to boost what you’ve naturally got.
Concentrate your lash thickness towards the outer two-thirds of the eye. Don’t forget those lashes on the bottom. They need some love too.

5. With liner, draw a black line along the top lashes that starts very thin in the inner corner of the eye and widens out towards the far edge without giving yourself wings.

6. Fill in your brows so they have a thicker shape and a strong arch.
Pro tip: To make brows look soft, yet strong choose a color that is two shades lighter than your hair color (unless you are a blond). Pretend you are drawing on individual hairs, and finish by blending with a spooly brush.

Finally, we’re on to the most crucial part of the whole look: lips.

These head turners are no small feat and shape is crucial. Start with a deep red liner to outline the whole mouth. Use the above photo for direction, see how her mouth is very almond shaped and the peaks at the bow of the mouth are connected with a semi-circle in the middle? It’s defined, yet soft. Don’t be afraid to take the liner up over your natural line a bit.  It may feel like a bit much at first, but this level of drama and sexiness demands it.

Fill in the lips with the liner, concentrating on the outer corners of the mouth and working inward, and leaving the center area of the bottom lip almost untouched. Then with a super glossy, red lip shine just about two shades lighter, go over the lips starting at the center of the mouth to add color in and working outward.

Pro tip: apply the gloss to blend the lip color works best with a large lip brush.  Avoid getting too much gloss into the corners of the mouth or you’ll have a runny mess.

As the final touch, glisten up those arms and legs! Try Youngblood’s Mineral Illuminating Body Tint for a gorgeous, golden glow to last all night.

Editor’s note: Got a celebrity look you’d like to copy or a trend you’d like to see incorporating healthy, non-toxic makeup? Send your questions to High Definition columnist Kristen Arnett at beauty@ecosalon.com

New York City based Kristen Arnett is an internationally renowned makeup artist and founder of the Green Beauty Team, styling high profile celebrities and runway models as well as a sought after beauty expert, educator and teacher for other makeup artists.

Image: BinsideTV

The post High Definition: Red Carpet Redo With J Lo appeared first on EcoSalon.