Tarte Spring 2010

Can you believe that while we are all still scrambling to purchase Christmas gifts AND make a Thanksgiving dinner, our favorite cosmetic lines are already done with next seasons collection? I think it's because they have a lot of assistants... I want an assistant...

I was checking out some previews and came across Tartes collection. The soft tones and brow-perfecting tools launching will mi mick the seasons hottest trend of nude nude nude! All across Spring 2010 Fashion Week we saw neutral eyes, matte and natural lips, and ultra-perfect skin and eyebrows. It seems to be the designers way of easing those eco-resistant beauty queens into a greener routine by starting with making natural fashionable. No, we aren't seeing arm-pit hair on the runways...yet?

If you aren't familiar with Tarte, it's definitely worth your while to check out. The lines mission is to nourish your inner diva with minimal impact on the environment. Earthy ingredients like coconut oil and minimal packaging make this line stand out even further. My favorite product of theirs right now is their refillable eye-shadow palette. I know how much it sucks to have emptied all of one color in your daily quad and then have to purchase a whole new quad to get your favorite back. It's a colossal waste of packaging and makeup, not to mention your precious beauty budget. With their palette, you can add your 9-5 eyeshadow before your weekend smokey eye has run out. This is a luxury that I don't see too much in retail lines. As a professional makeup artist, I use refillable palettes all the time because I can replace what I need only, customize, and add to. Once you start using a palette like this, you will never go back. If the price seems a bit steep to you, think about all the money you have thrown away in the past on almost-full palettes. Check them out at www.tartebeauty.com

Green Beauty

If the thought of "Green Beauty" reminds you of that at-home highlight you did in yourself in high school, be consoled by the fact that even the most meticulous beauty queen is going "Green" these days. We are following the emotionally charged country on a bandwagon of contemporary hippies pleading with our candidates to "Go Green". Oh sure, it's easy enough to recycle, watch your watering schedule, and buy your veggies locally, but one aspect of our existence that is perpetually there yet fallen to the "green" wayside is our beauty routine. A few steps, and your on your way to Beauty Nirvana.

Buy products NOT tested on animals: We all know that we would never want to be part of a bunny torturing contest, but do you know how important even the smallest animal can be to preserving our eco system? (Not to mention the gas and resources spent chasing them around to catch)

Know your fragrance: Take a few minutes to read your fragrance; if you see the word

"-butane" attached to some other long word, you might want to reconsider.

Let your locks go: Go "red-carpet" and follow the beach wave trend. Save energy on letting your hair air-dry into those waves, the work a polishing product in to de-frizz.

Help your Hair Out: Or in, rather- the best conditioning we can do for our hair is to let our hair take care of itself. The natural oils produced by our scalp really is the best thing for healthy hair, so skip that daily shampoo and go two or even three days. Throw your hair up in that scrunchi you kept long after middle school when you shower. You'll save water, and your hair will thank you for it. Feeling greasy? Comb you hair from scalp to ends to spread out that oil, and use a light hair spray at the roots, which will dry it out a bit.

Make a Fashion Statement: Find a really cute, really amazing bag to use for your shopping. A reusable tote is one of the best things you can do for your environment. If you don't like the ones you can buy at your local grocery store, use this as an opportunity to buy that oversized bag you thought was way cute but didn't know what to use it for. Just make sure you get a few- one bag may not be enough always. Keep them in your car for last minute shopping!

Reduce, Reuse, And Recycle: Not just a friendly mantra, this simple theory is tested and true. Donate your old blow-dryer, actually use a whole can of hairspray, and see if that shampoo bottle can be recycled.

Buy Better Quality: If you spent the extra on a better disposable razor, you wouldn't need to replace it as often. Same goes for hair care- the higher the quality, the less you typically need to use. Less product-Less Waste.

Take Better Care of Yourself: Ultimately, the best way to be beautiful AND take care of your environment is to take care of yourself. Not using sunscreen will cost you in wrinkles you'll spend money and resources on to fix. Eating the right foods helps you stay healthy and keep you out of energy-high hospitals. Look for skin and hair care that is organic, or better yet, find a company who supports the environment by reducing or eliminating harmful products that damage the earth and it's resources. The better you take care of yourself, the better you take care of our earth. Be beautiful for it.

Article featured in Roxanne Magazine.