Smack Dab in the World of Kaleidoscope Color

CEW just came out with the finalists for their prestigious beauty award ceremony. The best of the best, voted by the leaders in the beauty industry, la creme De la crop in the cosmetic industry. I glanced through the products and spotted a few of my favorites, and some intriguing new lines, too. 

CEW has launched a new group of finalists, the ever popular and growing Eco lines, including Amala, Alterna Haircare, Aveda, Jurlique, Pomega5, Sophyto, Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, The Body Shop, Vapour Organic Beauty, and Yves Rocher. 

A big fan of all things au natural, and good for the environment products. I can't wait to test drive these eco friendly brands. Amala intrigues me, one because I love the name and second because of its 'straight from the root' philosophy.

"Amala skincare enhances natural beauty by embracing the individual and benefiting the world. Amala. In Sanskrit, “most pure.”  "The ancient word Amala has many unique meanings, but it is the harmony of all of them that resonates most with us. We believe that if we love and respect the earth as we would our own mother, nature will give us everything we need to look and feel beautiful."

http://www.amalabeauty.com/

A big hooray to my friends at Cover Girl. Their Liquiline Blast Eye Liner Pencils made the CEW finalists list. They may not be liquid, but are smooth enough to create a fabulous liquid look, application made easy. The sponge tip makes blending a snap, Liquiline Blast is waterproof, so it stays where you put it. I love all the CG products and use lots of them in my kit. They are already winners hands down, in my book.    

http://www.covergirl.com                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                           

And last but hardly least, ANTHELIOS gets my vote. By La Roche-Posay their sunscreens are beyond amazing.

Anyone who has been to France, is in the biz, or reads the beauty rags knows there is no better, superior sunscreen out there. I was first interested to this cream by my brother, a model and the face of CK ONE for many years. He was  a longtime resident of Paris, and something of a cream junky. I had to chuckle when my 'fancy beauty editor' friends started bringing it back to the states in multiples, the newest discovery. I 'm glad its available stateside, everyone deserves to be protected and pampered. ANTHELIOS, thank you for saving my skin and doing it so delicately. 

ANTHELIOS- CEW has picked the latest Ultra Light Sunscreen 45 for the body. I pick them all.  "Revolutionary ultra-light sunscreen with SPF 45 and Cell-Ox Shield™ for protection down to the cellular level."

http://www.anthelios.com/
                                                                                                                                                                                 

http://www.cew.org/eweb/

Quack Quack

I woke up this morning to two ducks waddling across the front yard. Seriously, just walking around minding their own business. While I come from a small town, it's far from the country. It got me thinking, Easter is almost here, and I've got egg decorating on the brain. For some twenty odd years, there has been a long standing tradition among friends, to create the most fabulous, outlandish, wicked Easter egg ever done. This is a creative group, a take no prisoners contest. Anything and everything goes, from ornate to jeweled to real life looking egg people to TV's aliens. It's competitive and hilarious fun. We all used to be in the same city sitting around a table laughing, but sadly that is no longer true. Facebook allows us to carry on the wacky tradition. When I came across Eos, the fabulous, all natural skincare line, I had to chuckle. The cute sphere packaging reminded me of an egg! Packed with shea butter, anti-oxidants, and vitamins C and E, the lotion feels smooth and silky, not sticky. It's hypoallergenic and doesn't irritate the skin. The lip balm is to die for! I've even spotted pics of Rachel Evan Wood posing with her Eos Lip Balm and a couple of Backstreet Boys, too. Hey, guys need to stay hydrated.
"Eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, EOS keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth." It comes in fruity flavors like summer fruit, lemon drop SPF 15, honeysuckle honeydew and sweet mint. Best of all you can get it at your local drugstore. It won't cost you an arm and a leg, or an egg.

http://www.evolutionofsmooth.com/

Simply Delicious

MoroccanOil Treatment was voted by InStyle magazine as one of 2010's best beauty picks. It peeked my interest. Made with Aragan oil, powerful antioxidants and rich in nutrients, MoroccanOil Treatment is a hair stylist's dream. It's beautified the tresses of J Lo, Sienna Miller, Charlize Theron and Pink, and countless supermodels. Applied to damp hair, it hydrates, repairs, and nourishes, leaving the hair silky smooth without a greasy residue. It's great for the boys, too. I am not always convinced by a celebrity product endorsement, and tend to listen to what the experts are saying, for both hair and beauty products. Seeing the bright blue and orange logos popping up everywhere, in studios, and hotel rooms prepping celebs for premieres and award shows, I was hooked. I love the way it feels, the smell and the gorgeous, sleek hair after effects.


















http://www.moroccanoil.com/en/our-products.html

I am Une.

When I heard that Bourjois just launched the affordable, all natural, high street brand Une Beauty in the UK, I was estatic.
As one of the oldest French cosmetics companies in operation, Bourjois is an expert in beauty. 'The brand is all about colour, quality and joie de vivre' - and their infamous little round pots (shadows and cheek colors come in cute, color-coded packaging). I helped launched Bourjois in the states and learned invaluable lessons about makeup, beauty writing and PR. It was a fun, exciting, innovative time to be launching such a prestigious makeup brand. I met many of my best girlfriends at Bourjois and still call on these formidable Pr  mavens, for expert, beauty advice.
UNE's formulas are all 98% to 100% from natural origin, most of the products are certified by Ecocert, and the packaging is eco-friendly to minimise environmental impact. I love that Une is taking a simple approach to beauty. The shades are subtle, natural and blend effortlessly. I'm digging the super cute Breezy Cheeks cream blush in a convenient, slide out case. The pink rose shade leaves the skin looking fresh, with a healthy glow. Une is making us pretty, while not breaking the bank.  And saving the planet, one natural shade at a time. 
I'll be waiting, stateside.








http://www.unebeauty.com/
http://www.boots.com

Green Day

I use lots of essential oils in my daily skincare routine.

Lavender & Tea Tree Oil have been staples for twenty years.

I recently added Huile D'Argan straight from Marrakesh to my repertoire. Rich in Vitamin E, a drop added once a week to the bath soothes chapped winter skin.

A fellow makeup artist posed me this question, Is there a great organic makeup line out there? It got me thinking...Josie Maran Cosmetics leans green & is environmentally conscious. And if you can't get to Morroco, she has added Argan Oil to her line.

Sweet.

www.josiemarancosmetics.com