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.

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

Time to break out the color. Summer brings that lighter feel and desire to brighten up your look. And what’s new in summer makeup will blow your sock off.

Neutrals go through phases. Black is always a neutral, white is a warmer weather neutral, even brown and navy have their place in the realm of neutrals. But for summer, neutral is upping its game. With neons!

Yes, electric pinks, punchy purples, and high-voltage oranges are all making a perfectly dazzling appearance in summer makeup looks this year. Bright? For sure. Wearable? You bet!

These are not ‘80s neon. You know, those ridiculously loud lip, eye, and hair tints that looked just as crazy on skin as in the bottle? The new neons are vivid color that goes on in a sheer, wearable way. Truly, anyone can wear these shades.

Even high end makeup brand, Nars, has a neon collab with designer Christopher Kane just out. Gorgeous shades, but we can do better. Natural makeup brands have beautifully brilliant hues as well. And no harmful ingredients getting in the way.

The secret behind these sheer pops of color? Healthy plant oils and butters mixed with mineral pigments combine to offer color that is both concentrated and transparent. Mineral pigments are ideal for giving deep color in degrees of intensity.

Lips, cheeks, eyes, and nails are all taking on a hot hit of color. Here are some favorites to get you started with tips on how to use.

Summer Makeup Neon Product Picks

For Lips // Go bold with RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Royal, a bright violet, or Sublime, a bubblegum pink. Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Sweetness is a sizzling orange in the compact, but goes on a flattering sheer. For fun color with a shiny finish try a Benecos Twist Up Shiny Lip Color in three shades.

For Cheeks // Vapour Organic Beauty Trick Stick Highlighter in Luster delivers translucent, natural radiance. Looks sugary pink in the tube, but gives skin an inner-glow quality that rivals a roll in the hay or glass of rosé. Use on brow bones, collar bones, and shoulders too.

For Eyes // Haut Cosmetics Raw Mineral Pigments can be used on eyes or cheeks. They have a wide array of fabulously rich hues to choose from. But this summer? Tourmaline all the way! Looking for something just a bit less intense? Take that smoky eye to a new level with Benecos Natural Eyeliner in Bright Blue.

For Nails // Top your sizzling new look with 5-free polish on fingers and toes. Opt for Kure Bazaar Nail Lacquer Coquette (brilliant coral) or Fabulous (bubbly pink).

When wearing neons, no matter how subtle they may be, less is more. As in, wear no more than one neon at any given time. Choose a bright lip paired with nude makeup or syrupy-pink cheek with natural lip. These neons put the fun in makeup in a natural way.

Check out and shop your faves here:

Related on EcoSalon

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Image of neon girls via Shutterstock

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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.

ColumnQuick tips on how to make bronzer work for you this summer.

I got a letter last week from a High Definition reader, Jessica P. Jessica writes:

“Dear Kristen, I’ve been loving your articles with all the cool makeup how-to’s.  You’ve written about bronzers a few times and I still feel like I don’t really know what I’m doing. I have a medium skin color and some of the bronzers I’ve used seem like they don’t show up at all, others are too orangey and streaky.  Is it best to use a matte, cream or powder.  I’m confused. Please help!”

Jessica, this is definitely not the first time I’ve heard confused over choosing bronzer. Let’s start with texture. Cream bronzer melts into the skin, appearing to give you a glow from within, and can easily be applied with either fingers or a brush.  It’s great for keeping a hydrated, dewy look on the face, but if it’s nearing triple digits, I’d set it with a powder to make sure it doesn’t slip away.

Nearly every makeup line has a powdered bronzer, so that can make it even more confusing to decide which one to choose. These bronzers glide on effortlessly with a brush and have more staying power through hot and humid weather than creams. Depending on how matte the finish, they can also offer a dewy look.  Be careful because they don’t always blend easily and you don’t want to look streaky or overly powdered up.

The Sparkle Factor

The majority of bronzers have some shimmer in them because consumers love their sparkle, even if it’s not always the most flattering look on their faces. Often on photo shoots, I start with a matte bronzer and build in the amount of shimmer over it that feels right for the face I’m working on and the overall makeup look we are going for. More shimmer can be a lot of fun for a candlelit summer soiree, but for a more natural look, like at the workplace, keep the sparkle factor to a minimum.

Truly matte bronzers are few and far between, so if that’s what you are going for, use a foundation about 2-3 shades darker than your skin tone.  The above photo is an example of how I used a warmer, darker foundation shade on this model to create a tanned and sculpted cheekbone.  There’s dewiness to the skin, but it doesn’t come from using shimmer.

Not Faking It

The hue of bronze is where it can get trickier, because “tan” for one person could be a totally different type of shade for another and the goal is having that color look realistic. There are two extremes you never want to touch: a shade that is so orange that it looks as if you are cousins with an ompah loompah and a shade that is so cool and muddy that you looked as if you got some dirt on your face.

You said you have a medium skin tone, and now the question is do you have more golden, olive, or pink undertones? That will help determine the hue of bronzer to use. The best way to see which shade complements you best is to compare swatches of the color on your forearm side by side.  Usually that area is more tan than the face and there you’ll be able to see very clearly which bronzer comes closest to the shade of your natural tan.

Some of my favorites include:

Revolution Organics (cream, slight shimmer)

Josie Maran (cream, no shimmer)

ZuZu Luxe (powder, slight shimmer)

100% Pure (powder, slight shimmer)

Jane Iredale (powder, very shimmery)

Alima Pure (powder, a variety of finishes)

Once you’ve settled on your perfected shade of bronze, refer to the High Definition article Tropical Eyes for the exact application technique.

Thanks for reading and asking such a great question!

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: Kate Owen

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I am not Ultimate Eye Shadow Girl.

You know who I’m talking about – the girl who applies awesome eye shadow with such ease and flair that she must be a secret- agent-supermodel who can disarm a bomb from memory and never, ever trip in her high heels. She always has artfully applied eye shadow, and she always looks amazing and not the least bit clownish in it.

I have always wanted to be Ultimate Eye Shadow Girl. And it looks like this might be the year it actually happens.

This season, the trends in eye shadow are all about subtle, smoky eyes combined with neutral lips. (Or bright, berry lips combined with a neutral eye.) Forest colors are big, including lots of dark green, browns, plums, mauves and berries. And it is all about blending dark and light contrasts, or layering sheers over muted darks.

Here’s how to ace the eyes:

Start with the lighter color over brow. Blend in darker colors, but keep it below the crease. You can even add texture with a metallic blend or bright champagne color. You can also blend browns with a shimmery green or blue, which can reflect when the light hits it. Don’t forget to choose lighter eyeliner to enhance the smoky eye look.

And most importantly, what organic products to use? I sampled some of the top-rated eco-friendly eye shadows out there.

First, consider the eye shadows from Lavera Naturkosmetik. Their eye shadows contain organic hydrating vegan organic calendula and jojoba. The dual combination of Sand and Mocca is a good bet for shimmery earth tones. These products are certified by BDIH of Germany, free from parabens, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, emulsifiers and petroleum-based ingredients. They also contain  pure, organic plant oils, herb and flower extracts. However, they do contain talc, which in some studies has proven controversial.

NVEY ECO eye shadows offer up dark greens, silvers, deep purples and browns. They contain organic chamomile and vitamins A, C, and E. Further, they are free of talc, parabens, and preservatives. NVEY ECO contains no petroleum-based ingredients, propylene glycol, SLSs or genetically modified crops. And ,they are certified organic by the Australian government.

Josie Maran Cosmetics keeps up the season’s trends with some cool, smoky colors. (See? Everyone is all about smoky this season.) Their current line is extremely rich – Chianti is some of the richest bronze out of all the lines. Smoke and Maple also keep up the dusky trends. Josie Maran Cosmetics combines organic and mineral-based ingredients. They are free of parabens, fragrance, and petrochemicals.

Image: Mark Sebastian

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