Feelgood Style

In a country where regulations of beauty products are non-existent, the Skin Deep Database was a revolutionary undertaking, providing access to safety information few others have the time or knowledge to decode.

The Skin Deep database, if you are unfamiliar with this resource, provides safety scores for an extensive range of personal care products and the ingredients found in them. Using a complex algorithm, ingredients for each product are entered into a database and, using the available research from around the world, a number from 0 to 10 is given for the product, based on the ratings for each of the ingredients.

As impressive and ambitious as the database is, the system is not perfect. Many reasons exist for this, perhaps none more important than the dearth of research on cosmetic ingredients, particularly regarding their long-term impact on health. The reality is that the Environmental Working Group has taken on what is essentially an impossible task, and they are doing the best they can.

My role as head of a natural beauty retailer has required me to become intimately familiar with the Skin Deep database. Through numerous experiences and conversations, I have come up with a system I believe makes the most of this resource. This Guide to the Skin Deep database is my attempt to help you make the most of the information the database provides, by outlining what to look for, what to ignore, and how to determine whether your favorite products are deserving of your hard-earned dollars. Read the rest of this entry »

Last week, Elizabeth reminded you how much fun you can have reacquainting yourself with eye shadow. Eye shadow is the first area of makeup application that captured my interest (well, that and the teal mascara I wore when I was 11 – it was, like, totally rad), because I truly felt like an artist, working with various colors to create wildly different looks with the same face. Call it experimenting with optical illusion.

When I first got my grubby little hands on a handful of Couleur Caramel eye shadows, I knew I had found a new playground, one the likes of which I hadn’t seen since my MAC-lovin’ days. The more shades I added to my collection, the giddier I got. Rich pigments, a variety of finishes (matte, pearly, and downright glittery), and a ridiculously extensive selection of colors (eighty, to be exact) give you free reign to create any look you can imagine. These long-lasting, 100% natural shadows run the gamut from natural taupes, greys, and beiges, to bright pinks, blues, and purples.

Some tips for making the most out of your shadow play: Read the rest of this entry »

Remember when eye shadow was fun?  It’s usually the first item girls grab when they start to play with make up.  The unabashed brightness swathed across their lids. 

But as we mature this teenage beauty staple often falls by the wayside.  Desire for a more “natural” look, a two- (or three-) in-one product or (usually) less time for primping all contribute to our displacement of this lid adornment. 

After not using eye shadow in years, a set came across my desk recently.  Even back when I did use shadow it was usually a light tannish, brown color not that far off from the natural color of lids.  This duo from Lavera came with a white shade and (here’s the fun part) a dark charcoal color.  The deep, sultriness of it was so super tempting that I could not wait to test it out.  Envisioning Angelina Jolie in Wanted I rounded up my brushes, sponges and assortment of applicators and plunged in.  My first attempt (done, thankfully, preshower) ended up a bit addict-y.  Not what I’m trying to represent.

After more experimentation I ended up with some cool results.  Here they are: Read the rest of this entry »

Some of us wear eyeshadow, others not so much.  Most of us wouldn’t think of leaving the house without mascara.  And we all wear foundation.  Right?

Actually, there are a (smallish) group of us who have somehow, to this point in our lives, gotten away without wearing foundation.  I am one of them.  My skin is has always been fair and even toned and I really never paid much attention to covering it up. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Even when it’s cold outside, a girl needs to keep her fingers and toes manicured and polished. For the eco-savvy mom looking for a non-toxic alternative and something fun to do with her daughter, check out Piggy Paint, the absolutely adorable line with great colors and without the toxic smell.

The company boasts that the water based paints are non-toxic and hypoallergenic. They have a great but limited color selection of 13 aptly names hues, including Angel Kisses, Glass Slippers and Tea for Two, that dry with a surprisingly hard finish and comes off easily with their Piggy Paint Polish Remover.

Developed by Melanie Hurley, mom of two, who was concerned about dolling her little ones up with harsh and strong-smelling polishes (only for them to insert hands in mouth), Piggy Paints ($8.99 each or 3 for $24.99) are free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, acetate and ethyl acetate found in most conventional brands.

Although Piggy Paint goes on big fingers and toes just as smoothly as little piggies, moms may want to check out SpaRitual, Zoya or Acquarella lines. My personal pick is the amazing SpaRitual line up, which has fabulously bold and demure color collection that is completely free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP. In addition, the company uses recycled glass for its bottles along with soy ink for packaging. For the money and ease of use, you can’t beat it.

I’m just gonna put it out there: I have always had really oily skin and large pores. Consequently, much of my brain space in high school was not so much occupied with how toxic the ingredients were in my oil controlling face powder as it was with whether the hot foreign exchange student would kiss me for the first time on an evening when I forgot to (re)apply the aforementioned powder because then he would get a close-up look at the oil and the pores and I would subsequently be subjected to an unsolicited lesson in how to say “My God woman what is wrong with your face?!” in Italian, thus forcing me into hiding for the next three years, with nothing to keep me company but Sassy magazine and my angst-ridden poetry about bad skin and why I hated Europeans.

Ahem. Moving on. Read the rest of this entry »

When considering whether to wade into the experimental waters of eco-friendlier makeup and skin care, consequently taking on the hassle and expense that always accompany such decisions, you’ll likely find yourself creating a mental list of pros and cons. To complicate matters, misinformation in the beauty industry abounds on both sides of the fence, making it hard for a glamour-lovin’ gal to know what to do. From…ahem…creative uses of the word “organic,” to beauty writers poo-pooing the idea that anything could be toxic enough to warrant ditching semi-permanent lipstick, it’s no surprise many would-be green beauty consumers are confused and conflicted.

To help you sort it all out, I have outlined and, I hope, dispelled three common green beauty myths. Read the rest of this entry »

The Nature of Beauty is throwing it’s annual store wide* New Year’s Eve Sale! Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to receive 15% off your favorite brands that rarely go on sale- rms beauty, Rare Elements, Dr. Alkaitis, Revolution Organics, Couleur Caramel and more!

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Peacekeeper Cause-Metics offers make up on a mission. They are the first company to donate all of their after tax distributable profits to Women’s Health Advocacy and Human Rights issues. Read the rest of this entry »

The women (and some men) in your life will love finding bath and body products in their stockings…if you choose wisely.

Whether it is sweet smelling perfumes, relaxing bath salts or uplifting shower gels make sure to go for the green…as in eco-friendly green.

Here are a lot of green bath, body and beauty gift ideas that won’t cost you a lot of green. Read the rest of this entry »