ColumnWhether you buy it outright or make your own, tinted moisturizer is your cold weather must-have.

The one makeup product you need to make it through the dry seasons of fall and winter is tinted moisturizer. Skin becomes particularly parched as the air dries it out and indoor heating systems only exacerbate the problem. Hydrated skin makes us look fresh, younger and more vibrant and who doesn’t want that? Having a makeup product that can add needed moisture and even out skin tone is essential for every skin type. Yep, even you oily skin gals, listen up! There’s tips for you too.

One option is to buy a tinted moisturizer or a lightweight hydrating foundation. The other is to make your own with what you have on hand. The advantages of ready-made products are they save a little bit of time and mess while ensuring the ratio of foundation to moisturizer is just right.

A few of my eco favorites include:

Dr. Hauschka Translucent Make-up

Lavera Tinted Moisturizing Cream

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer

Making your own blend can save money while letting you receive the benefits of your favorite cream and getting the exact shade of foundation right, especially if a pre-made line just doesn’t seem to have the right one for you.

What you’ll need to make a custom tinted moisturizer:

A liquid foundation or mineral powder that matches your skin tone.

A hydrating moisturizer for the daytime that works well for your skin type.

You will have to experiment a bit to find the exact ratio that works to achieve the coverage you desire. The best ratio to begin with is a dime size amount of moisturizer and a nickel size dab of foundation.  On the palm of a clean hand mix them together. You’ll see there if you need more foundation or moisturizer, then you can add accordingly. If you are using a lightweight foundation already or want a heavier coverage out of your base, decrease the amount of moisturizer.

Using mineral powder with a face cream to create a tinted moisturizer works especially well for those concerned about shiny, oily skin. The ratio for using mineral powder mixed in with moisturizer in this case is much smaller. A very tiny bit of powder goes a long way with a lightweight cream. The combination will dry quite matte, so keep that in mind before you start mixing up a giant batch. I’ve done it successfully but it took a few tries to get it not looking like a gummy mess. Once I had the ratio down, then I had a shine-free face, that didn’t feel dry and lasted with coverage all day.

Now let’s hear about your experiments and favorite products for tinted moisturizers this season, and leave your comments below.

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: Aimaness  photography

The post High Definition: Tinted Moisturizer for the Dry Months appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnFall makeup trends are all about featuring one part of the face and letting the rest play supporting roles.

Leaves are changing colors all around us, which is a signal to start changing our own makeup too. Fall 2011 brings with it some rather bold statements where one feature gets center stage and the rest of the face acts quietly in the background.

I’ve picked out five of the most wearable makeup trends from the Fall 2011 runway collections that offer something fun for everyone.

Petal Pink Cheeks  (above)

The softest and most natural of this season’s trends is a rounded wash of pink blush on the cheeks.  In order to pull this off, you must make sure any areas of redness in the nose, forehead and chin are already properly concealed, or it could just look like you have a sunburn.  Once you have an even canvas use a big, fluffy brush to sweep on a petal pink shade over the apples of the cheeks rounding the edges towards the eye and a touch into the hollows of the cheekbones.

Mesmerizing Metallics

We women are usually hypnotized by anything sparkly, and thankfully fall 2011 doesn’t disappoint. Metallics are always in, but there was a definite reemergence of silver, which has typically been trumped by gold sparkles in many of the past seasons. Silver is a pretty harsh look for most people to pull off because of its cool grey undertones, so stick with this one for nighttime activities like parties and clubs.

Graphic Eyes

No new purchases necessary for this stand-alone statement.  All you need is thickening mascara, some black eyeliner and a steady hand and to create a heavy, angular stripe that marks this season’s graphic, yet simply elegant punctuation. Thickly coat both upper and lower lashes with black mascara and don’t bother separating them. The drama for this fall trend comes from their spikey look.

Bold Brows 

Bushy brows have been going strong for sometime now in fashion and over plucking is way out. So if you haven’t already, start letting those furry friends grow in. If you are in the growing back stages or naturally have sparse brows, this trend is still achievable with a bit of attention.

Choose a powder or pencil one shade lighter than your current hair color, but make sure to match the tone.  So if your hair is redder, find a color that has a touch of red in it to look as natural as possible. Using a pencil or a small angled brush with a dab of powder, fill in any “naked areas”; keeping the shape smooth and slightly squared at the front, tapering thinner towards the end. Always finish by blending with a brow brush so it doesn’t look too harsh.

Pucker Up Reds

Almost any color of red goes for fall 2011, from Bordeaux to cherry. Red is a statement in and of itself, so keep the rest of the face very neutral. Since I already wrote an article for EcoSalon called Red Lips For All, dedicated to choosing and using the right shade of red, I encourage you to revisit the information there and experiment with those suggestions as your guides.

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.

The post High Definition: Fall’s Boldest Statements appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnWhen it comes to makeup, figure out what the difference is between want and need.

During economic depressions and recessions, the one thing that doesn’t slow in sales very much is lipstick. It’s an easy purchase; a luxury item that is relatively cheap and can brighten your mood quick. If you are spending $8-$28 dollars every time you want to feel better on a shade that is similar to one you already have, maybe it’s time to rethink the purchase pattern.

I mean, have you ever asked yourself, “what am I doing with six of the same shades of lipstick?” In general, women like buying something new, but we fear too much change and often end up with variations on a theme in our makeup bag.

Every time I do a makeup bag review for someone I come across this habit of multiples which tends to be about the same for every woman, no matter what age. In the confusion of her makeup bag there’s a few eye shadows in a variety of browns, some color she’s barely touched like sparkly green, a shimmery white and sparkly gold. Then a few eye pencils in black and brown, maybe one outlandish color she never wears. Several lip glosses and lip colors ranging from pale rose to deep wine with some bronzers and blush to fill out the rest of the bag. All of these products come in various states of wear and tear, with the safest colors being the most worn and others just standing by because they never really looked good but their owner can’t seem to justify throwing them away.

My advice?

First, start by editing your makeup bag, box or cabinet the way you would your wardrobe. Find your classic staples, a few good accessory colors for fun and toss out anything that is ancient or never looked good in the first place.

Second, start asking yourself what you need vs. what you want.

We tend to buy makeup from these two mindsets and often get derailed in the “want” department. Beauty counter associates and marketing ploys are great at doing just that. The beauty industry is built on creating buzz around newness. They want you to get excited and feel the urge to buy.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t start unconsciously gravitating towards pretty packaging every time I enter a Sephora. So there’s nothing bad about this, but having been on the marketing side of cosmetics, I can tell you that it’s a very direct and intentional methodology to get you to buy out of want and perceived need.

The best way to not make double purchases is to go with your makeup to the store and swatch test the colors on your hand to make sure what you are buying is truly different. Then try the new color on your face, wear it around for a couple of hours and if it still sings sweetly to you, then buy it.

I would be remiss as the eco makeup expert if I said, “just go out and buy anything.” Instead, I have hopes that each of you will take the time to find more natural and organic makeup to put on your face. If you need some suggestions and motivation for swapping out your traditional products, watch this short video where I replaced common makeup items with “green” substitutes and gave startling statistics about the amount of chemicals women are exposing themselves to daily.

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: Flickr: Viviana_Love

The post High Definition: Curbing Makeup Repeats appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnSometimes your skin needs a break from the weight of cosmetics.

Inevitably whenever we’ve asked EcoSalon readers what they most want to hear about in this column, someone pipes up with “how we don’t need to wear any.” Ok, ok, I get it. So while this column is focused on makeup, I admit, even though I’m using natural products on my face, I still give my skin breaks from makeup.

Fashion Week in New York is just ended, but it’s the beginning of a month long, intensive series of the most important fashion weeks in the world. Virtually the same group of models, makeup artists, hair stylists and backstage photographers travel to London, Milan and Paris over a grueling four weeks. Right now I’m in Milan recovering from an eight hour plane ride and a six hour time difference and I haven’t put a stitch of makeup on in 48 hours. It feels good.

You think models have a “model” life but by the time New York fashion week is over, they cringe and begin to complain about getting their makeup done and some even hide from us! Taking into consideration we makeup artists coat every part of their skin that is showing once they are dressed, you understand why.  Last year I worked on a model who complained that her eyelashes hurt from all the makeup that was constantly put on and taken off during fashion month.

This season is the spring/summer 2012 runway collections, which translates into a lot of skin showing and therefore a lot of body makeup. Maybe you don’t feel the need to wear full body makeup in your swimwear, but there is makeup for that and women do buy it and it’s not a far cry from needing to wear makeup in a variety of situations where it’s best left undone.

Places it’s actually better for your skin to be sans makeup:

The Gym

Sweat plus makeup equals pimples, clogged pores and possibly irritation. If you are trying to meet that special someone at the gym, remember most people say they prefer seeing a woman look natural. It’s not cute to see makeup start to slide off creating raccoon eyes or cracking the surface of foundation. If you are desperate for something, just use a little concealer under the eyes, a tinted lip balm and curl your lashes.

Long Airplane Rides

Pay close attention to the skin of older flight attendants. It’s almost always very dehydrated looking without a dewy glow.  That’s because being inside a plane for so long is very drying to the skin.  If you plan on sleeping, mascara is just bound to end up in places you didn’t want it and will just make you look worse than had you gone without it.

When traveling, opt for lots of moisturizer and bring some extra to keep reapplying during the flight. A natural skin mist (not toner) can help rehydrate the skin before putting on moisture.

Water Sports

Unless you are a synchronized swimmer, you really don’t need to be in heavy waterproof makeup while you frolic around in the water. Put on a safe sunblock and let your smile be your standout feature.

A Quick Supermarket Run

Getting to know yourself without makeup is important.  Being comfortable going to the grocery store with just a glowy, naked face can be liberating for some and terrifying for others.

If this sounds terrifying to you, I suggest spending less time looking in the mirror. When you do get in front of a mirror, don’t get close up and stare at whatever imperfections you see. Look at yourself square in the eyes and say, “I am beautiful.” If something inside of you starts to yell about that not being true, repeat the phrase for 5 minutes while looking right into your eyes. It’s a very powerful exercise so be ready for it – accepting our own beauty is often harder than most people realize.

Image: CNBC

The post High Definition: A Temporary Breakup From Makeup appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnEcoSalon Beauty Columnist Kristen Arnett gets actress Katie O’Grady ready for her red carpet close-up.

Check out the Rid of Me trailer:

For her red carpet premiere in New York City, Katie wanted someone she could trust and she tracked me down through Katherine Ross, a mutual friend, makeup artist and a woman I considered to be my mentor in Portland, where I began my career.

The Lower East Side apartment Katie and James had rented out for the week was teeming with various friends and cast members with an energy of nervous anticipation and preparation. Katie was bustling around, hair and face freshly washed, while James was lying on the bed in almost a monk like state of what may have been meditation, or him just trying not to throw up.

We cleared off a small desk to lay out the makeup and utilized a window sill to hold the curling iron. I began to reassure Katie about the wonderful quality of natural products I would use on her. Like every woman I’ve encountered before her big moment in the spotlight, she seemed to not care if I used tar as long as she looked good when it was done. Shutting up about the whole thing, I wielded brushes, lashes, a curling iron and a lot of hair spray transforming her into a modern, sexy screen siren ready for her film’s premiere. We wondered if anyone would know she was the same plain-Jane woman from her movie.

Katie O’Grady in the movie, Rid Of Me.

One of the biggest thrills of my job is to see how makeup and hair can completely transform the presence of a woman.  I asked Katie how she felt about its importance in her work and life as an actress and producer.

“Makeup plays a huge role in any actor’s life. For Rid Of Me, it was important to keep my character, Meris, fresh and natural. She is a woman who believes that organic matters, that family matters, and that life is better when things come from the earth. When I shaped her look, it was from the outside in, because physically we look opposite from one another,” says O’Grady.

“It was so much fun to incorporate Meris’ same belief in an all-natural approach with my joy of dressing up for the red carpet, and that certainly included my makeup! We feel our best when we are honest with ourselves, our truth, and what goes in and on our body that is most connected to the earth. Staying grounded is a daily battle; it all begins with a fresh face,” she said.

Katie O’Grady shines thanks to Kristen Arnett’s experienced touch.

Since she asked and I’m sure you want to know, here’s a list of some the main products I used for Katie O’Grady’s red carpet look:

Youngblood Mineral Primer

Alima Pure Foundation

100% Pure Blush in Healthy

Youngblood Eyeshadow Quad in Starlet (appropriately  named!)

Image of Katie O’Grady at Tribeca Film Festival: Zimbio

Makeup: Kristen Arnett

The post High Definition: Organic Beauty with Indie Producer/Actress Katie O’Grady appeared first on EcoSalon.

A weekly roundup of EcoSalon’s top stories.

Optimistic cities are filled with better neighbors, community members and friends. We’re packing our virtual bags to go on a tour of the best and maybe we’ll even find you. In the 10 Best American Cities for Optimists, Shelter Editor K. Emily Bond goes beyond asking if the glass is half full to find positively perfect destinations that might be nice to visit or live.

Columnist and Green Beauty Team founder Kristen Arnett recently met up with Eco Sex author Stefanie Iris Weiss for the filming of a French documentary on American sex. In High Definition: Eco Sexy Makeup with Author Stefanie Iris Weiss, read about how Arnett channeled Brigitte Bardot for Weiss and still learned a thing or two about lubricants. Yes, I wrote lubricants.

Turns out, making your own cheese is easier than you can imagine as our food columnist Anna Brones found out in a recent class at Portland’s Culinary Workshop. Brones writes: “My visions of an intimidating chef hovering over my shoulder as I shakily held my thermometer in boiling milk soon disappeared, and by the time Susana had put a glass of wine in my hand and a Fresh Cheese 101 print out in front of me, I realized that I felt surprisingly at home. Cooking with fresh ingredients with glass of wine in hand? If I’m perfectly honest, it’s sort of my ideal Friday night.” Read the whole story, Foodie Underground: Fresh Cheese 101 here.

Have you taken a walk in the woods lately? Skipped a stone at the beach? Sat and listened to the wind blowing through a grassy field? In 6 Ways to Embrace Mother Nature, Senior Editor Andrea Newell gives you six reasons why you should connect with nature. Newell writes: “In the past, the idea of women and nature bonding has often been relegated to new age mysticism and pagan forest rituals, but there are several psychological and healthful reasons why it’s good for women to embrace the outdoors.”

When was the last time you and your partner engaged in some healthy sex? In The Un-Cosmo Guide to Setting the Mood, writer Starre Vartan shares some easy tips that you can really get down sans the silly tips you might see from a certain dull glossy…

The post The Friday 5, Vol. 26 appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnKick away your traditional makeup routine and slip into something more romantic.

Something inside of me wanted to kick away the obvious trends of bronzey skin and neon hues that dominate this summer season, so I rebelled with romanticism.  I’ve been playing make believe in the concrete jungles of New York, as a romantically doe-eyed woman who wears floaty, water-colored dresses and gracefully sits by a lake making a wreath of flowers with lips stained from the juice of wild berries.

You might want to take your own break from traditional makeup routines and try dipping into purple hued lip tints and lipsticks for a vintage, wine stained mouth, softly flushed cheeks, and washed eyes with faded edges.  It’s more versatile and easy to wear than you might imagine.

Berry Beautiful Lips

Here are some splendid, natural lip colors which are the key to our romantic look:

Lavera Lipstick in Berry Violet 03.  This deep purple with just a touch of rosey shimmer looks amazing on everyone, from the milky white to the golden and dark.  The wear is exceptional, the texture divine because it’s not too greasy or too matte; just the right amount of hydration with full pigment power! Daytime or nighttime, this is a delightful shade to don.

Alima Pure Nourishing Lip Balm in Cranberry.  The shade name says it all.  This uber-hydrating, deep hued lip tint plays off the natural pink shades of the mouth, adds in a little purple and the effect is natural yet noticeable.  This is a great shade to set off any eye color. It has peppermint oil in it; an added bonus for those of you minty-fresh lovers.

Nvey Eco Organic Lipstick  #367. Not feeling quite like diving into the deep-end with color? This is a lighter version that’s a little more on the rose side, but still has the vintage violet necessary to pull this look off.  I adore the texture of this creamy lipstick. The smell is totally neutral and it wears well.

Pro tip: After applying lip color, use a tissue to press against it removing the shiny look of too much product.  Repeat the process one more time (apply and blot), then take your pinky (make sure it’s clea) and wipe off some of it from the very edges of both the upper and lower lip.  This is what will give it a delicate look.

Romantic and Budget Friendly Cheeks

Use the same lip color as a cream blush and give it a secondary purpose!  The goal is to create a flushed cheek tone.  So take your middle finger and dab the product from the lipstick to the apple of the cheek.  Start lightly and build color in a soft, rounded motion.

Pro tip: If you get too much on just take a clean finger and lightly wipe off the color or use a touch of foundation over it to lighten up the tone.

Dreamy Eyes

Just pick one color, warm or cool, and sweep it over your lid, into your eye socket, and diffuse the edges out and around and lightly underneath your lower lashes. There should be no obvious start points of the color.

Pro tip: use a very fluffy eyeshadow brush to apply the color and with a clean brush buff out all of the edges.

To create a warm look, try Divine by Josie Maran.

For a more dramatic, cooler feel dust on some Lilac by Alima Pure.

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: Elle Denmark 2011

The post High Definition: Getting Romantic appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnWhen all that glitters includes your pretty face.

It’s great when a woman feels comfortable enough to walk out of the house without a stitch of makeup on, but there are times when a part of our womanly nature craves putting on something with an eye-catching, glinting sparkle that dances in the light. The right embellishments can make us feel vivacious, empowered, alluring, creative and daring.

If you happen to live somewhere this summer where the sweltering heat is making your skin glimmer with sweat, use it to your advantage and create a sultry look by adding a little extra oomph in all the right places.

Location, Location, Location

The best places to add shimmer to are the planes on your face and body that naturally reflect light:

– Tops of the cheekbone

– Arch of the eyebrow

– Inner corners of the eyes

– Bridge of the nose

– Peaks of the top lip

– Center of the bottom lip

– Collar bone

– Shoulders

Pro Favorites for Glitter, Shimmer and Shine

Use any of these eco products alone or mix them into your favorite lip color, eyeshadow, blush or lotion for a customized glimmer unique to you!

RMS Beauty Living Luminzer and Cream Eyeshadow in Spark

Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Aphrodite

Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust

It’s Your Face, Not Liberace’s Living Room

Restraint: Most women are too heavy handed with their shimmering products and just end up looking like a disco ball.  Women over 25 years of age should be very careful because too much shimmer in the wrong places accentuates aging areas on the face.

No More Fly Aways

If you are working with a powdered product, the glitter tends to fly everywhere and will start landing in places you never wanted it in the first place.  One way to stop this is by using your finger or a more compact brush slightly dampened. For larger areas to cover, like the body, you can easily turn any powder into a cream or liquid by mixing it into a base of lotion, oil, or a balm like Revolution Organics All-Over Body Balm.

Size Matters

The rule for glitter is the chunkier it is, the flashier it will look, and the more finely ground the shimmer particles are the more refined it will appear. You get to decide how much flash your face can handle.

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: Sylvia Krivickova

Makeup: Kristen Arnett

The post High Definition: All That Glitters appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnRed is a commitment color for lips and a strong fashion accessory.

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard, “I want to wear red, but I can never find the right color for me,” I’d have a vacation home on a tropical island somewhere.  Good news! Every single one of you can wear red lipstick. It’s one of the most universally flattering colors and never goes out of fashion.  Whether or not you feel comfortable with fire engine red lips or a sultry cherry colored mouth is another story. Luckily there are innumerable variations on that rouge hue to suit any skin tone and any comfort level and I’ve compiled a list of reds with “green” ingredients.

Now, it wouldn’t be much of a suggestion list if I just looked on the internet for some random red shades of lipstick to suggest.  Instead, I took the time to test out several shades from various natural brands, both on myself and any willing friend with skin darker than mine. The most interesting part of the experiment was walking around almost everyday for the last week and a half with different versions of red slicked across my kisser.

First, I had to give up the idea that red was a party color and couldn’t go with casual clothing in the daytime.  Not all reds work for shorts and a tank top, but the more sheer ones can. Second, I needed to wear more foundation to take out the extra pink in my skin tone and use a bit more eye makeup to create a balance in features. Third, I had to be much more attentive about upkeep and applying lipstick with precision rather than the usual smoosh around on my mouth and run.

This is a commitment color, and definitely not low maintenance. So you’ve got to be willing to spend extra time with your makeup application and reapply diligently. If you take that challenge, then you are ready for the perfect red mouth to be your newest fashion statement.

Pro tip: Shape is incredibly important. If you have small, thin lips you’ve really got to emphasize rounding out and lifting up the cupid’s bow of the top lip and bottom center. Otherwise you’ll have two horizontal lines of red across your face, and that’s not cute.

For all the brands I’ve reviewed they range from very natural, pure and organic, to natural with some synthetics. Almost all of them use carmine, an ingredient that for some people is a turn off because it’s made from crushed beetles.  However it’s the only way to get a bright red in lipsticks at this point in time. Also with natural formulations, long-wear isn’t really possible. So don’t expect most of these to last for hours on end without some touch ups.

In alphabetical order here is the red round up:

Ava Anderson has two reds that in the tube look completely different but on the lips their difference is quite subtle. This very hydrating, pepperminty, natural lipstick is carmine free and goes on incredibly sheer, but if you are willing to put a few coats on, it does build up to a rather bright color that looks dewy.  The taste is pretty neutral. The wear isn’t super long, nor does it really stain the lips but they are carmine free.

Beach Rose is a bright and classic looking red which tested well on light, medium and very dark skin tones. (On very dark skin it just showed up more subtly and had to be applied with many layers, but the effect solicited some happy cooing).

Hot Cider appears to be a deep purple just by looking at the lipstick but upon application it turns into a more orangey red that is slightly deeper and less bright than the former color. This is great on someone with pink undertones in their skin.

Ecco Bella has a cool red lip crayon they call Cranberry, which is pretty accurate for the shade it turns.  It’s a pretty and very vibrant color after a few swipes back and forthwith the pencil, which offers great control.  It’s fairly waxy, and does leave a good stain but the wear wasn’t quite as long as I’d hoped given they call it a long wearing product.  The smell and the taste are pleasantly neutral.  This color is great for anyone with dark hair that has cool tones in it and is flattering on a variety of skin tones from fair to dark.

Dr. Haushka makes two reds suited perfectly for those looking for a distinctly cool or warm tone.  Their lipstick is pretty heavily pigmented, moisturizing and has great wearability.  I detected a bit of minty flavor with theirs, but it wasn’t overwhelming.

No. 4 is a rich warm red with orange undertones great for a redhead or someone with pink undertones and caramel colored hair.  No. 6 is the cooler version that borders on a berry red, perfect for blondes and brunettes, especially those with more olive/golden complexions.  Both colors could work on just about anyone.  Because No. 6 is more berry, it’s a bit more audacious as a statement.

Mineral Fusion’s lipstick has lots of pigment and a waxier feeling that gives it great longevity.  Flashy is an orangey red, that is slightly lighter than Dr. Haushka’s No. 4 so it’s a great option for someone looking to do a sophisticated, warm red that isn’t screamingly bright but still holds its own where pigment and wearability are concerned.

Youngblood’s Vixen is the endurance queen. This one has got some synthetics in its mostly natural formulation, and is worth mentioning because it’s a cool red that screams, “I’m here for the party and not leaving ‘till dawn!” Talk about a bold red that just won’t quit.  Even in the world of traditional lip colors I’ve yet to come across something so vibrant that doesn’t need to be touched for hours. This color would work on anyone brave enough to put it on.

Hopefully you’ll be inspired to take on the summer with a mouth as hot as you feel and try out some of these great shades. If you have any reds that have rocked your lips in the natural category, leave a comment below.

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: Davide Todini

Makeup: Kristen Arnett

The post High Definition: Red Lips For All appeared first on EcoSalon.

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.

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