natural

Greening Your Beauty Routine

April 15, 2010 at 4:36 pm , by Mandy Hendrix

My beauty routine could use a little green overhaul. So, in honor of Earth Day next week (April 22nd) I decided to clean up my act. Here are my top picks for a green makeover.

I’m surprisingly picky about hand soap (I’ve found natural formulas can be awkwardly sudsy or non-lathering) but I love this just-right formula from Pure & Natural Liquid Hand Soap, $4.50. The rosemary and mint scent is great, too.

Lately I’ve become a face mist junkie. It adds moisture into my eternally dry skin and makes my thick moisturizers spread like butter. Kiehl’s Acai Damage Protecting Toning Mist, $27, also adds antioxidant protection. Bonus points for it’s Cradle to Cradle certification, meaning that it’s made with the least amount of waste from start to finish.

The transitional weather of spring really does a number on my lips and I’m forever bouncing between a lip balm and lip scrub. Because I end up nearly eating the granules, I wanted to find something ingestible. Lush’s Buble Gum Lip Scrub, $9, is vegan!

I love the way a bath pouf really makes a soap nice and bubbly, but am forever replacing them. EcoTools EcoPouf, $2, uses recycled plastic and is cheap enough to toss (into the recycling bin) when it gets grimy.

Aveda’s Light The Way candle, $12, is my new favorite house accessory. I not only get to enjoy the French-y lavender and clary sage scent (all organic) but once it’s done, I can use the glass vessel to drink from. These reclaimed holders started as a wine cooler bottles. So cool!

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Mineral Makeup Madness: Fulfilling Your Recommended Daily Allowance

January 14, 2010 at 3:37 pm , by Mandy Hendrix

Mineral makeup may have started as a trend, but has proven its staying power. Why? It won’t aggravate sensitive or problem skin and has a built-in sun protection factor. I was recently on a shoot with Ricky Wilson, a Dior makeup artist, who loves the stuff because, “it offers a good amount of coverage while letting the skin glow.” Sounds amazing, right? And you won’t have to look too hard to find it either; you can easily pick up mineral-laced products not only at natural grocers and beauty boutiques, but in the drugstore aisle, too.

Here are my favorite skin-loving minerals:

Foundation: This is the grandaddy of all mineral categories. Options abound, so feel free to experiment with different textures and application methods to find your perfect match.

• The vibrating puff of Lancome’s Oscillation Powerfoundation, $48, makes application fun, but also helps the powder sink into skin.

• Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation, $28, won’t leave you with a shiny finish.

• Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation, $8.50, is a great liquid option.

Mascara: Minerals are a good choice for sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers. (Myself included.)

• Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara, $16.50, is also free of fragrance and parabens.

Blush: A soft dusting of mineral blush (or bronzer) is a quick way to pull your look together.

• CoverGirl TruBlend Microminerals Blush, $11, includes a mini kabuki brush (the oh-so-popular mineral makeup brush) in a spill-proof bottle.

Lipgloss: This can be a tricky category to find, but considering how often we lick our lips, you might think it wise to try a more natural choice.

• The 12 shades of Revlon’s Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze, $9, look amazing and will last you from morning ’til your first sip of coffee at least until noon.

Setting Powder: If you don’t “wear powder” but want a shine-free face, look for this ultra-lightweight finisher to top off your look.

• Youngblood Pressed Mineral Rice Powder, $30, is one of my personal favorites, especially in the summer when I tend to get a bit oilier. I dust it on with a fan brush and don’t worry about looking greasy.

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