Fiercely dedicated to clean beauty and wellbeing, makeup legend Jane Iredale tells us her beauty secrets and gives advice on how to radiate from the inside out.  

Twenty-two years ago, Jane Iredale founded Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, one of the first-ever clean makeup lines. Since then she has continued to revolutionize the beauty industry by creating skincare products that nurture, not irritate, our skin. After debuting her Naturally Glam line and skincare supplements, I caught up with Jane to discuss the future of beauty, the importance of transparency, and how to properly feed our skin for a glowing complexion.

[This article is edited for length and clarity.]

Donna Sozio: How do you define beauty in the world and in yourself?

Jane Iredale: There’s beauty everywhere you look if you want to see it. For me, the key to finding beauty every day is to appreciate your life and life in general. I can look at a flower and be overwhelmed with a sense of appreciation for its beauty. I know it does my heart good and that must impact my health.

DS: What do you think is behind women’s fascination with makeup?

JI: Women frequently seek options to cover what they consider to be visually frustrating conditions like acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. Regrettably, they often make choices that are not effective and potentially make the problem worse. The most important thing for us has always been that our makeup looks so good on the skin but it doesn’t look like makeup.  It looks like your skin, only better.

DS: How important are skincare supplements and how do they promote beauty from the inside out?

JI: It’s now understood that you can effect just as much change in the skin, if not more, by feeding skin from the inside as well as the outside. This means eating well and supplementing your diet with food that the skin loves. It will reward you in many ways: clearer, smoother skin at any age; reduced breakouts, irritation and sensitivity; the skin will strengthen its protection from UV damage and it will glow with health. We can help this entire process with our complete range of nutritional beauty supplements that support skin health.  The success of Skin Accumax has paved the way for us with our consumer and partner base. They see how dramatic change can be with a supplement that specifically targets skin health. Our research-backed, ethically sourced ingredients which contain a synergistic blend of vitamins and plant nutrients perform at the very core of your skin, where topical creams can’t reach, leaving skin clearer, brighter, smoother and more youthful looking.

DS: What trends in natural beauty are you most excited about today?

JI: Right now there’s a large movement in “beauty from the inside out.” It’s not a trend, per se, but it’s an all-important and innovative advancement for the beauty world. We’re also seeing a rising consumer demand for transparency and understanding of ingredients used in makeup and skincare. This is a good thing, and I believe the mineral makeup category has helped to affect this change. We’ve listed our ingredients on our website from the beginning because we are very proud of our ingredients and the way we formulate. That sort of transparency is now very necessary.

DS: What do you wish conventional beauty companies would learn from clean and green lines?

JI: Mineral makeup is a healthy, skin-friendly alternative to traditional makeup. Not only does it provide superior coverage, but it is also UV protective, non-comedogenic and calms redness. Minerals allow the skin to breathe and function normally – a boon to all skin types but especially for those who are sensitive or suffer from acne or rosacea.

Furthermore, if it’s a good mineral makeup, it’s devoid of ingredients that sensitize the skin and cause problems such as blocking pores.  True mineral makeup should have protective qualities such as sun protection and antioxidants.  It will appear light on the skin but also give excellent coverage.  We do far more testing on our products than is required.  All of our products are tested for comedogenicity, sensitivity, and phototoxicity.  They are also dermatologist and clinically tested.  You can trust them.  But not all mineral makeup is created equal.  It’s important to look at the ingredients and the claims that are made.

DS: What are your summertime go-to products for a healthy sun-kissed look?

JI: Making healthy food choices are essential to achieving a natural glow. So I consider organic products an absolute must – preferably vegetables just picked from my garden. I don’t sunbathe so any sun-kissed look I have come strictly from my PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation and some Peaches & Cream Bronzer. Smooth Affair For Eyes in Gold on top of my cheekbones helps as well. I also place in the middle of my eyelids.  In the summer, I like to fill my lips with pencil and put a gloss on top. I almost always use Tantasia on my legs and arms. It’s highly moisturizing, smells great and is streak-free. I can deal with the pasty look in the winter, but it has to leave for the summer.

DS: To you, what does it mean to be fearless?

JI: I suppose it means not allowing fear to hold you back from something that you want to do.  I think everyone feels fear.  he question is whether you allow the fear to get the better of you. Perhaps “fearless” should be defined as the ability to go beyond the feelings of fear.

DS: Rather than a “flawless look” how can we use makeup to bring out our best?

JI: Makeup is about self-expression. Use it to do just that. You will be at your best if you project to the world an image of who you truly are. Of course, that also means getting comfortable with who you truly are. That’s beyond the ability of makeup.

Find Donna on Twitter and Instagram

*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.

Related on EcoSalon.com 

The 6 Miracle Skincare Ingredients Every Goddess Needs
7 Best Non-toxic Moisturizers for Fall
Mineral Water Spray: How You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use it

The post Makeup Pioneer Jane Iredale Dishes on Inner Beauty, Fearlessness, and How She Gets the Glow appeared first on EcoSalon.

I think I’m just like you. The clock is ticking and there are so many loved ones on your list to buy just the right gift for. But it isn’t a question of giving–it is what to give. Am I right? Here are the absolute best holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list–all under $89, to. Each holiday gift idea is sustainable and special in it’s own way. So give a gift of lasting joy, and have a happy holiday.

Stein Stone Notebook by Ogami

Zady, $14

Etched Wood iPhone Cover by Toast 

Made Collection, $35

Set of 3 Gold Cocktail Spreaders

Shop HDB, $20

Anatomical Heart Notecard Set of 10 by Lark Press 

Moorea Seal, $12

Pure Gloss Lip Gloss by Jane Iredale

Jane Iredale, $24

Guerrilla Gardening Slingshot Seed Bomb Kit for Garden Bombing to Grow Colorful Wildflowers by Visualignual 

Etsy, $16

Mini Wallet Black and Tan by Shana Luther

Shana Luther, $45

Essential Body Pack by Kora Organics

Kora Organics, $54.67

Guest Towel by ShopHBD

Shop HBD, $34.00

Garrison Dopp Kit by Winter Sessions

Zady, $85

Shave Bundle by Imperial Barber

Imperial Barber, $34

Want More Holiday Gift Ideas? See Also:

From Cheap to Chic, 10 Holiday Gifts That Respect the Earth

Slack Shopper? Last Minute Gifts You’ll Get in Time

12 Organic and Artisan Gifts for Food Lovers

Gifts That Give Back: 20 We Love

12 Green Gift Ideas For the Eco Hostess

11 Ways to Simplify This Holiday Season (P.S. You’ll Also Drastically Reduce Stress)

The post 11 Absolutely BEST Holiday Gift Ideas For Everyone On The List (Under $89) appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s one of the most important yet intimidating tools in your makeup bag. How best to master the art of foundation?

For many of us, foundation is our siren. We love how we feel when we’re with it, but one false move and we’re suddenly  crashed up on the rocks. A bad foundation application can mean oranges for cheeks and a pancaked jawline that looks drawn in by Google Maps. What’s more, our base can settle in fine lines, highlighted so significantly as to be seen from space. And yet, when best applied, foundation grants us a flawless, irresistible skin tone.

So what are some fun, fast tips for applying foundation? And what are the best products to use?

Felicia Howe, Co-Owner and Stylist, Primrose Organics Salon

I asked an expert. Felicia Howe is the co-owner of Primrose Organics Salon, located in Hollywood, California. She’s worked as a hair and makeup artist for film, weddings, and editorial for more than 16 years, all the while operating as a pioneer in the organic and non-toxic salon movement.

It was Howe’s lengthy time in the beauty industry that first led her to natural products. After noticing the negative health effects of working in traditional beauty, she decided to research the growing trends in organic and non-toxic care. Today, she’s one of the foremost organic colorists in Los Angeles.

Recently, the makeup and hair guru shared with EcoSalon her best foundation tips.

EcoSalon: There seems to be a ton of great organic and non-toxic foundations on the market today. But between the primers, concealers, shimmers and liquids, it can be confusing as to what to use. What are the foundations that you include in your makeup kit?

Howe: My favorite foundation line comes from Jane Iredale. Hands down.

ES: I love Jane Iredale!

Howe: Me too. I have personally used her products for eight years. She offers up a natural look that’s free of dyes, talc, parabens, synthetic preservatives and other very bad things. I just restocked my entire makeup kit around her line.

ES: So what is your process for applying foundation and what are the products involved?

Howe: I always start with an organic moisturizer. In Los Angeles, this is especially important since we live in a dry desert. Then I use Jane Iredale’s Dream Tints. This vegan product is a very light primer that helps reduce fine lines while leaving a nice smooth finish.

For foundation, either pressed or liquid works great. I have found that it’s personal preference, and that either will perform well. Jane Iredale offers a liquid minerals foundation. Next, I apply concealer under eyes and anywhere else as needed.

ES: Speaking of under eyes—how best to avoid emphasizing fine lines and wrinkles when applying foundation?

Howe: That comes when you apply your final product, which is your base. Just make sure you avoid your eye area. This will eliminate creasing and give you the smooth look you want.

ES: Are there any other final tips you’d like to share on achieving that flawless, natural look?

Howe: Yes! Always use blotting papers after using creams and primers before apply your base. This will help you avoid that cakey look. I also finish with a balancing mist from Jane Iredale. This will set your foundation with a soft finish.

Photos courtesy of Felicia Howe and Jane Iredale.

photo credit: Idhren via photopin cc

The post The Foundation of Using Foundation Makeup…Flawlessly appeared first on EcoSalon.

6 iconic lipstick colors, now with a touch of green.

Meet Nancy Wake, the “White Mouse” of World War II. Described as “one of the most effective and cunning British agents working in German-occupied France during World War II,” Wake hid Allied servicemen in her home, parachuted into enemy territory, and knew how to wield a machine gun. Also, she traveled nowhere without her Chanel lipstick.

That’s some iconic color.

Today, sans machine guns, we’re privy to the classic colors of old. Be it nude, coral pink, or classic red, the green beauty industry offers up a bevy of iconic colors. Here are our favorite picks for archetypal lips.

Classic Red by Lavera ($19.00)
Think Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck and other classic stars of the silver screen. Made with certified organic ingredients, Lavera’s “Red Berry Charm” provides a vivid, intense color with almond oil and Shea butter. The company commits to offering up natural cosmetics which are certified natural by BDIH of Germany.

Nude by Ilia ($24.95)
First encouraged by flower power in the 1960s, a natural sheer nude now suits any occasion. Ilia offers up “Nobody’s Baby,” a color made with 85% certified organic ingredients. It’s so silky that you don’t even need a gloss for sheen: in fact, it’s designed to act as a lip balm at first swipe. Free of synthetic preservatives, fillers and petro-chemicals, it also comes in a recycled aluminum case. Ilia is also cruelty-free.

Foxy Brown by Living Nature ($26.00)
1970s screen legend Pam Grier inspires us with this classic warm tone. Today, Living Nature continues the trend with all-natural ingredients. Offering up an iridescent sheer color with “Warm Rocks,” this hydrating lipstick is cruelty-free. Made with natural botanicals of New Zealand, the company provides a comprehensive guide to their ingredients.

Coral Pink by Jane Iredale ($20.00)
Bright, coral pink made a splash in the 1980s when preppy handbooks deemed pink and green the hottest color combination. Jane Iredale takes this festive hue into the 21st century with “Erin,” an iconic coral at home in Newport, Rhode Island or California. This silky, conditioning color is also free of dyes and synthetic preservatives.

Punk Purple by Afterglow ($24.00)
Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, and Pat Benatar made girl rockers cool in the 1980s. Today, we’re paying homage to these power players with a deep purple pucker. Afterglow offers up “Merlot” for some organic lip love. Made with 100% natural ingredients, Afterglow promises that their product is made with no parabens, nanos, bismuth oxychloride, gluten or talc.

Gold Shimmer by Primitive ($17.50)
Want to add a 1970s glam disco sheen to your lips? Check out “Taj Mahal” from Primitive, a vegan and versatile gold shimmer that’s perfect for layers or to stand alone. Primitive offers up clean and pure ingredients, providing a silky color made with Shea butter and jojoba oils. This lipstick is also cruelty-free.

Image: cerromijares

The post 6 Classic Lip Colors To Channel Your Favorite Female Icon appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnWhere celebrity becomes conscious.

Hollywood is a place where a “natural beauty” can mean a woman who has saline, not silicone, implants. But at the heart of Tinsel Town lies a rich field of fertile earth from which a green beauty industry has sprung. And who is harvesting it?

Recently, I spoke with celebrity makeup artist Christy Coleman, who tells me she was the first top makeup artist to switch to all-natural and eco-conscious cosmetics. Coleman has worked as a makeup artist for 25 years in both New York City and Los Angeles. She weighs in on greenwashing, industry trends, and her celebrity clients who like to keep their cosmetics clean.

What made you decide to go green with your makeup kit?
It’s the legacy of my father who suffered and passed away from Lou Gherig’s Disease – ALS nearly four years ago. I want to honor him, myself and others by doing something to promote the health and well being of our planet and its inhabitants.

How prevalent is the use of green cosmetics in the entertainment industry?
Not prevalent enough. I am one of the few who makes an effort with these kinds of cosmetics on set.

So how then do you define a product as “green?”
Green, natural, organic – These are three words that are smeared on the wall wherever you go these days for marketing purposes. At the end of the day, it is all about the quality of the ingredients and making sure that you are avoiding potentially harmful synthetic chemicals such as preservatives, petrochemicals and hormone disruptors. It took me a solid year to completely wrap my head around ingredients, making sure I recognized what chemicals I would like to avoid regarding to personal care and cosmetics.

Most of us are concerned that our food is healthy, so we should do the same with our personal care and cosmetics. Our skin is our largest organ that absorbs nearly 60 percent of what we put on it. If we wanted to, we should be able to eat our product without any repercussions.

I’ve heard rumors that celebrity makeup artists are extremely resistant to crossing over to green product. True?
It is all about what you are comfortable working with. If you invest the time to find new products that perform as well as you like, it is possible to find products that are green and provide favorable results both on and off set.

I demand names – who are your clients who prefer green makeup? Miranda Kerr, Alicia Silverstone, Emmy Rossum….

What surprises you most about working as a green makeup artist?
The lack of knowledge that most people have about what they are consuming and putting on their bodies. Everyone assumes that because it’s in a bottle and sold everywhere that it is a perfectly safe and natural thing to use day or night.

So what, then, are your best tips for determining if a product is greenwashed?
(Greenwashing is when products claim to be organic and or natural while they still include potentially harmful synthetic chemicals and preservatives.) You have to read what is in the product. So get out your magnifying glass and/or your glasses and take a look. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, be sure to look it up. Become a conscious consumer. It is also tough when there are so many different types of certifying agencies.

Some of the certifying labels I look for are USDA, Natural Products Association (NPA), Eco-Cert, QAI Organic Certification (Quality Assurance International), and the Soil Association just to name a few. A product doesn’t HAVE to have a certifying label to make it into my kit – but the ingredients have got to meet my standards. It is all about what is and isn’t included within the ingredient deck.

And these green products would be….
RMS Beauty, Jane Iredale, Dr. Hauschka, The Organic Pharmacy, 100 Percent Pure, Tata Harper, Primitive, Juice Beauty, Zuzu Luxe, Kora Organics, Rare Elements, Eminence, Weleda, Nvey Eco, Living Nature, Patyka, Couleur Caramel…I have many. These are just a few of my top favorites – my list keeps growing, thank goodness!

Where do you see green makeup five years from now?
Still evolving. Our regulatory systems in the U.S. have a long way to go. But we’ll get there eventually because it will have to be consumer driven. There are a lot of new natural and organic U.S. brands launching every day.

And finally, can you answer this age-old question for us? Lip gloss or lipstick?
Lipstick – absolutely.

You can find more beauty tips from Christy Coleman here.

This is the latest installment in Katherine Butler’s column, Shade Grown Hollywood, where celebrity becomes conscious. “Shade grown” refers literally to shade grown coffee, a farming method that “incorporates principles of natural ecology to promote natural ecological relationships.” Shade Grown is our sustainable twist on Hollywood.

Image courtesy of Christy Coleman

The post Shade Grown Hollywood: Q&A with Celebrity Eco-Makeup Artist Christy Coleman appeared first on EcoSalon.

EcoSalon’s top beauty picks to keep you organically beautiful.

Last year, we brought you some of our favorite online shops for green beauty. Since then new products arrived, the Environmental Working Group released new findings and Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database got a makeover. Also, we discovered some great new beauty boutiques. Here’s a look at our updated findings, complete with our classic favorites, to help you freshen up your green makeup bag.

Futurenatural
Voted Treehugger’s 2011 Best Beauty Store, Futurenatural offers shoppers to “Live well. Do Good. Look Gorgeous.” According to their mandate, “Our passionate endeavor is to only represent brands that have no petroleum derivatives, no parabens, no synthetic colors or fragrances, dibutyl pthalate, sodium lauryl sulphate, formaldehyde, or any other known harmful ingredients, and absolutely none of the products are tested on animals.” The site also provides an excellent glossary to help its shoppers through the many ingredients and labels on its site.

Lilou Organics
This Canadian boutique offers up fantastic lines such as Revolution Organics, Weleda, Pangea Organics and more. Owner Lisa Schmidt personally tests each product on the site, promising effective, high quality ingredients. They also offer free samples with each order.

Saffron Rouge
All the products sold by Saffron Rouge contain certified organic or certified biodynamic ingredients and claim to be free of questionable, synthetic or potentially toxic ingredients. They designed their own certification program using a black list and a green list. If a product contains anything on the black list, they will not carry it.

The Nature of Beauty
Want clean, green products? Founder Dr. Terri Bly has promised that she has “read every label, researched every ingredient, and maintain regular contact with the manufacturers to ensure their business practices and values are fully aligned with the objectives of her company.” Should you also be in the neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota, you can also check into their spa.

Eco Style Shopper
This site, formerly known as Upurea, is perhaps better for the already savvy eco shopper as it takes an extra few clicks to get to your ingredients information. But if you already know your favorite brands, they offer up a diverse (and large) selection.

Spirit Beauty Lounge
This boutique offers the soothing balm to its readers as “A place where you can shop safe, knowing we’ve done the research for you.” All of their products ship with free sample kits that you can choose to add onto your order.

Beautorium
Beautorium, known for their great sales and promotions, offers up trusted lines such as Juice Beauty and Dr. Hauschka. Most of their products are certified natural, organic and/or vegetarian by the independent third party organizations.

Nature’s Basin
This site promises “natural, organic and mineral based products [which] are formulated with ingredients from natural sources, such as plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables, etc. We select products that do not contain any synthetic chemicals, including parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, fragrances, or dyes.” They also offer an impressive list of eco-certifications for many of their products, including USDA Organic and BDIH (Germany).

Mint and Berry
Perhaps the coolest thing about Mint and Berry is that the shop will not offer any products that rate higher than a 2 on the EWG’s Skin Deep database. This means their products must have earned some of the lowest possible hazardous ratings possible. What’s more, much of their products are quite affordable.

Organic Beauty Now
This site, called the “green and glam beauty center,” provides some of our favorite lines such as Primitive, A Perfume Organic, skinnyskinny, and Vapour. They also offer a separate category for vegan shoppers.

Organic Glow
Organic Glow is specific to Miessence, the Australian company as the first organic beauty product in the world to achieve organic food certification. The site offers body, hair, face, cosmetics and baby products. Further, you can email founder Alison with any questions you might have about organic beauty.

Strawberry Hedgehog
True, this site also only carries one line, but their handmade eco-friendly bath and body works are not to be missed. These 100% vegan soaps and lotions are made with natural, safe ingredients and arrive in recycled, minimal packaging.

John Masters Organics
Another single brand site, you can find a complete line of fantastic skincare products at John Masters Organics. Often made with cold-pressed, non-GMO plant oils, it’s a luxury line well worth the money.

Lavera
Want the high standards of European certifications in your green products? Then take a walk through the Lavera site, which offers up some of the highest rated skin and body products on the market.

Jane Iredale
Finally, if you want high-performing, well-crafted safer makeup, consider the Jane Iredale site. This mineral line of makeup offers makeup that contains no talc or parabens and are cruelty-free.

Image: Dominique Godbout

The post 15 Best Online Boutiques for Eco Beauty appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnThis summer, get carried away with warm ocean breezes, and add a blue hue around the eyes.

It’s easy to incorporate a vibrant color because you still get to use the usual palettes of neutrals for the rest of the face to keep it “safe.” (Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to take the neutral security blanket away from you entirely.) Let’s start by saying the look we are going for isn’t reminiscent of the frosty blue eyeshadow that punctuated the late 70’s.  This is a modern take on a color that can enhance any eye without looking overdone, out-of-date, or tacky.

First in our makeup application we need a golden base to set the stage for softly vibrant blue tones. The goal is to look sun-kissed, but that’s not to say you should forgo sun protection. In fact, there’s lots of way to get that sun-kissed look without ever putting your face in the sun’s eye with fake tan moisturizers and makeup that gives you an immediate tan or builds up over use.

How to create a realistic looking bronze glow:

1. Choose a foundation shade slightly darker than the one you’d pick for the winter or add in a bronzing liquid like Jane Iredale Dream Tint in Warm Bronze.

2. Go for a bronzer to sculpt your face and give it depth. To keep a tropically moist look to the skin, try Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in Bronzed.  With your (clean) finger, place three dots of color into the hollow of your cheekbones and spread them out using two fingers in an oblong motion from the apples of the cheeks out to the hairline near the ear.

Pro tip: Add more realism to your faux bronze by putting a little dab of bronzer on the bridge of the nose (not the tip), along the forehead hairline and just above the temples of the face.

3. Create even more dimension and glow by highlighting the tops of your cheekbones with a few dots of a creamy highlighter like RMS Beauty’s Living Luminzer.

Now, those tropical eyes: A strong, yet natural, brow is very important to add a frame for the eye that doesn’t read as a lot of color and adds definition to the face. Add color using a powder or pencil to thicken your natural shape. Keep brow hairs swept upward to achieve an island goddess vibe.  Check out this video tutorial on exactly how to achieve this look that I made it while working in the Caribbean.

Pro tip: Fill in your brows with a color that is not quite as dark as your hair color. One to two shades lighter is the general rule.

Creating the blue line. Get yourself a blue hue with a touch of sparkle that inspires you like Alima Pure eyeshadow in Aegean.  In this case, I prefer the control of a powder used with a short, thin angled brush. Dampening the brush before you dip into the shadow will give it extra impact, or you can leave it dry for a softer effect. Use the brush to create a tight line along the upper and lower lashes, from corner to corner. Don’t start getting overly creative; just keep the blue tight into the lash line. If you feel like adding a bit of extra definition, take a black pencil and line inside the water line of both the upper and lower lashes.

Pro tip: Hold a folded tissue under your eye to avoid getting shadow all over your face.

Let’s move onto giving contour to the eyes because you don’t want to have them bare with just a blue line (that would be tacky). Use a medium brown eyeshadow in the crease of your eyelid. If your skin is dark toned, you will need to use a darker brown to get the same affect. This wash of color should be blended perfectly with no obvious start and stop points. Using a big, fluffy eyeshadow brush will help with that process.

Finally curl your lashes, swipe on one or two coats of your favorite mascara and pop on a beige-gold lip color.

Now your gorgeous-tropical-self can go takeover the island!

I’m not a “Do as I say, not as I do” kind of makeup artist so this Memorial weekend, I felt it was my patriotic and fashionable duty to honor the sailors flooding the island of New York with a makeup homage to the red, white and blue, specifically the blue.  My version was a bit softer and only went on the upper lid. The best thing about makeup is that you can always wipe it off. So get inspired and have fun!

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: Allure Magazine June 2011, photo by Michael Thompson

The post High Definition: Tropical Eyes appeared first on EcoSalon.

Don’t get caught this spring without some new beauty essentials to keep your look fresh.

Mystikol Eye Liner by Jane Iredale ($20.00)
Bright, super-saturated colors are on trend for spring, and we’ve filled our makeup bags with the all-natural best. Not a makeup artist and want expertly-lined eyes? Not a problem, this innovative new eyeliner sports a powdered applicator that even the most unwieldy artist can use with ease. One side offers a powdered eyeliner in rich colors so popular this spring, such as bright lapis lazuli, rich aquamarines, and shimmering onyx. The other side provides a complimentary highlighter for enhancing your peeps. Calibrated for sensitive skin, the Mystikol is gentle solution for sultry eye seekers.

Blue Volume Mascara by Lavera ($20.00)
Bright, eye-popping colors are all the rage this season, and the bright mascara hues offered by Lavera are right on trend. With organic jojoba and wild rose oils, this paraben and heavy-metal-free mascara offers up a hydrating cover for your lashes. Best of all? It’s not left running down your face at the slightest dew drop of humidity. Lavera, which is certified natural by BDIH of Germany, has been ranked highly by experts as a safe natural cosmetic line.

MySteppes Makeup Kit by Jane Iredale ($58.00)
Want a mini-makeup bar that can fit into the palm of your hand? Mineral makeup giant Jane Iredale has introduced her MySteppes Makeup Kit, an all-in-one compact containing two lip glosses, a blush, a bronzer, and a mirror for touch-ups on the go. Available in two shade themes, warm and cool, each kit features hand-picked colors such as Iced Mocha and Crabapple or Cotton Candy and Pomegranate. We love the stackable packaging which makes it an easy addition for on-the-go makeup touches.

Argan Illuminizer by Josie Maran ($28.00)
We’ve always known a healthy glow is the best makeup, and this new product gives it to us in a bottle. Adding an instant luminosity to our face, neck and collarbones, the Argan Illuminizer eliminates dark circles and conditions the skin. The Illuminizer sports universal coverage that compliments any skin tone. Containing some organic ingredients, this product is free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates. (Don’t forget to layer a sunblock underneath for ultimate skin protection.)

Fuchsia Lip Pencil by Zozimos Botanicals ($13.00)
What’s got organic makeup artist Jessa Blades excited for spring? Bright, juicy colors offered up by Zozimos Botanicals. As Jessa told us, “I love the fuchsia lip pencil by Zozimos Botanicals. I fill in my whole lip, smack my lips together to really let it sink in, and then swipe a bit of H. Gillerman flowers lip balm on top and voila! The pop of color mixed with the moisture from the balm makes the perfect combo- without being too glossy.”

Taj Mahal Lipstick by Primitive ($17.50)
We love this luscious lip cover by Primitive, which adds a shine to lips that can withstand the windiest spring storms (See: Applying lip gloss and then immediately having your hair stuck to your mouth). It goes on lips smooth as a lipstick but picks up the light as if you’ve got diamonds dancing across your pucker. Primitive offers up vegan lip care with clean and pure ingredients made in the USA.

The post Our Top Picks for Your Spring Makeup Bag appeared first on EcoSalon.

I like to take spinning classes. At the end of a recent session, my sweaty instructor announced to us that she needed to buy new mascara “because her eyes were burning.” Eager to help and suck up to teacher, I leapt off my bike while recommending green product suggestions off the top of my head. Such is what happens when you write about green beauty professionally – you become a powder keg of unsolicited information ready to blow at the slightest mention of organic beauty.

My teacher’s burning eyes got me thinking. Yes, we want to keep our cosmetics as pure as possible simply because they go on our skin which absorbs them straight into our systems. But does mascara have a special place on top of the pyramid of clean? Like our lips, our eyes make like a waterslide for chemicals to enter our bodies. Common sense and the Center for Disease Control all warn that the quickest way to catch a cold is to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Traditional mascaras seem like they contain more chemicals that you might need to paint your car. Just check out the ingredients of this mascara from Revlon. Its composition is linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies, and more. Other mascaras contain parabens, (linked to reproductive issues,) phthalates, (problems with liver, kidney, reproduction,) Petrolatum (cancer,) Diazolidinyl urea (cancer), and more.

Then there is Latisse. Every time I see actress Claire Danes flashing her lashes on TV while shilling for this product, I want to reach through the screen and ask her if Angela Chase would approve. Latisse is a drug by pharmaceutical giant Allergan that promotes growth of eyelashes. Recently, the FDA sent a warning to Allergan that they were minimizing the dangerous risks associated with this product. Just some of these side effects include “changing eye color to brown, infection in the cornea, inflamed red eyes, darkened skin on eyelids, and the growth of hair in areas of the body other than the lash area.”

Consequently, if elves were stealing my makeup bag and let me keep one thing out of it, (it could happen,) I would grab my mascara. My eyelashes are slightly anemic and need cosmetic support to stand out. I want to keep this support as pure as possible.

So how best to keep your mascara clean? Way back in 2009, otherwise known as a world without Lady Gaga, we looked at what the organic industry was offering up as green mascara. Since then, we’ve discovered another brand that pack a cosmetic punch without an overload of chemicals.

Lately, I’ve become enamored with Jane Iredale’s Longest Lash ($32.00). First, this product gets a low hazard rating from Skin Deep. Second, it really gives a great, natural look. Rather than immediately coating your eyelashes in a slick, clumpy coating, it rather looks like you’re not even wearing mascara – just that your lashes are suddenly enhanced. It’s also available in natural shades like “dark blonde” and fun hues like “ripe plum.”

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We’re on the cusp of fall turning to winter. For this year, we’re hunkering down in sweaters and knee-high boots while nursing a fervent desire to see Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. (Congratulations, you crazy kids!). And since this is also a time of cooler temperatures, it means we’re starting to pile on moisturizer to fend of chapped lips.

So best how to keep our lips hydrated? And what if we want to throw some color into the mix? We did a bit of research and dug up some fan favorites for fall. Some lip colors we’ve reviewed personally, while others are word of mouth. Take a gander and let us know which ones you’ve tried and loved.

Jane Iredale’s Lip Fixation

On a green friend’s suggestion, I picked up Jane Iredale’s Lip Fixation. Almost immediately, I became fixated with the Fixation. It has a lip stain on one end and a lip gloss on the other. It leaves your lips nicely colored for a long period of time while looking very natural. It rates a 1 from Skin Deep, almost the Environmental Working Group’s highest rating, so it is safe for your choppers. I love this lipstick so much that I wore it all night at my wedding.

Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick

This next brand comes recommended by organic makeup artist Jessa Blades. Jessa recently vaulted Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick as a fantastic choice for a long-lasting natural lipstick. Made with 70 percent certified organic ingredients, the lipstick has no petroleum-based adhesives.

RMS Beauty Lip Shine

In terms of hydrating beauty, this lip shine from RMS Beauty is a good bet. Made with nutrient-rich oils high on fatty acids, RMS Beauty offers light colors and very natural hues. The lines comes from New York City makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift, who uses organic, raw, and natural ingredients.

Organic Lip Lustre by Nvey Eco

This lipstick offers up a rich color and is very hydrating – plus there are many great colors to choose from in the line. You can use it alone or as a gloss over a lipstick. I have had a chance to try it and found it goes on like a lip balm. Skin Deep gives it a low hazard rating.

Tarte’s Vitamin-Infused Lipstick

Available at your local Sephora, this product is free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and other synthetic ingredients. Some colleagues inform me that it gets high marks for its sheer tint and long-lasting color. But it does get a moderate hazard score from Skin Deep, so use according to your own comfort level.

Image: daniellehelm

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