almost summer...

I thought I'd change things up today and do an inspirational post. Here are some fabulous beauty shoot images from Vogue Beauty Italia. I love the mood in these shots, it reminds me that my favorite season summer, is just around the corner! Not to mention, how cute are all the dresses!? Also, I just had a great weekend upstate New York which reminded me of the scenery and the leisurely attitude in these photos as well...via foto decadent.

earth-friendly beauty...

I finally gave EcoTools a try, the much blogged about, environmentally friendly make-up brushes and bath accessories. The brushes are made from bamboo, with out animal hair and they also offer a recycled bath sponge which works great! With an affordable price range of $1.99-$10.99 everything is definitely worth trying. Click here for more info.

products with great fruity ingredients...

I came across this wonderful company from Hawaii, Bubble Shack. They use fair trade Shea Butter for the lotions, organic ingredients, and because of the high content of aloe vera this makes for a great after-sun lotion. The scent is wonderful, rich and natural.

I previously mentioned the new line by Tarte cosmetics featuring products loaded with their special blend, t5 super fruit complex. Featuring Acai, the super berry from Brazil. Pictured above is the natural cheek stain in Full Blossom. Presevative-free, paraban free, mineral-oil free and phthalate free. Available now at Sephora.

Another deliciously scented creme is the Mangosteen body lotion from Fresh. High in antioxidants and made with Shea Butter, a wonderful blend for dry skin right after those winter baths!

don't go to the cosmetic counter without me...

I recently reviewed the book, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, by Paula Begoun. I have to say I was very impressed by the sheer amount of information on beauty products that the author covers! Most of the book is devoted to literally thousands of beauty product reviews. The products range from all markets and prices. Each product is broken down by content and bluntly explained how beneficial the ingredients are for your skin, or in most cases, how your skin can do without the listed ingredients. I'll admit I was a little disappointed to find that some of my favorite products did not rank very high. The book is very informational and extreme which makes for a great debate regarding what ingredients are beneficial for different skin types and what ingredients are a waste of money.

I still believe you should be your own judge, sample products and see how your skin reacts to it before ruling it out. Regardless, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, is a great reference to have on hand. The concept of being acquainted with just how rare the "rare ingredients" you're paying for are, or what the "fantastic claims" companies make really do for the skin is frequently overlooked. You may save a few hundred dollars on your next trip to Sephora by doing a little self-educating. Treat what you put on your skin the same way you treat what you put into your body, be aware.

time for a little lip shine...

Bella Sugar posted about a new lip gloss by Tarte. What grabbed my attention was the fruit berry blend of goji, acai, maracuja, acerola and pomegranate, all of which are high in antioxidants. They also claim the lip gloss uses mineral pigments for color and is free of parabens, mineral oil, and phthalates!

Josie Maran Cosmetics...luxury with a conscience...

Image from www.dev.josiemarancosmetics.com.
Model Josie Maran recently started her own natural and/or organic cosmetics line. The packaging has great shelf appeal and is recyclable which is always a plus! I have not yet had a chance to try the make-up but I like what the company is doing. Here's a statement from their website...
"Josie Maran Cosmetics is just getting started, but it is our goal to be known for the responsible choices we make. Our products, packaging and processes are only the beginning, as we endeavor to broaden our scope of responsibility each day. Our efforts include small but important steps – printing only when necessary and using recycled paper and eco-friendly products in our day-to-day operations. Our display units at our retail counters have been constructed from sustainable materials and we do our best to be responsible in our manufacturing and shipping materials. We learn as we go and these things take time, but we're getting there."
Now available online.