We peeked inside the makeup bags of some of our favorite green beauty enthusiasts to find out what eco brands are their must-haves, plus they shared their picks on earth-friendly grooming products for men and women.
Kristen Arnett
International celebrity makeup artist Kristen Arnett has been immersed in the world of beauty for over 14 years, with roles ranging from product development to high-profile fashion work. Her idea of green extends beyond the ingredients, and her go-to brands all involve philanthropic work and creating sustainable change.
Eyes: Jane Iredale eye shadow palette in Daytime, paired with Youngblood eyeliner pencil. “Very wearable colors for almost any skin tone,” she says. “And the eyeliner goes on and stays on, but because it’s a pencil, it’s still easy to blend and work with.”
Lips: For a barely-there look, she prefers Alima Pure in Fig (“It’s a very universal color and doesn’t look too makeup-y.”). For medium coverage lipstick, she recommends Primitive Makeup, which nicely hydrates lips with a selection of wearable colors, but isn’t too bold. For brides that want to make a statement, she reaches for Dr. Hauschka lipstick. “They have rich pigments that really last with a more matte finish.”
Face: Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer or Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Tinted Moisturizer leaves skin looking hydrated while evening out the color on the face. To prevent shine, Arnett recommends a touch of Alima Pure Finishing Powder or their Satin Matte Foundation, “It has four simple, natural ingredients and each jar is hand-filled in the U.S.”
To get the blushing bride look, Arnett uses RMS Beauty lip2cheek in Promise and Smile. “These shades can be worn by just about anyone and they give a soft natural glow on both the cheeks and lips because they are made with high quality, raw and organic ingredients.”
For grooms and butch brides who want flawless skin underneath the photographer’s unforgiving lens, she recommends using RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up. “It adds a bit of coverage where needed, and can be applied easily with the fingers,” she says. “With the warmth of the hands-on application, it ‘melts’ into the skin, so the makeup is virtually undetectable.” Follow with a swipe of the Alima Pure Finishing Powder.
Moisturizer: Dr. Alkaitis Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil is extra hydrating, won’t clog pores and can be used unisex on face and body. “It’s filled with healing plant extracts and is rich with anti-oxidants that protect the skin from environmental damage, including the sun,” she says. “It’s great for almost every skin type and the smell is natural and pleasant, not perfume-y at all.”
Nails: Zoya, Priti NYC and SpaRitual. Nail polishes have to have some strong chemicals in order to stick on the nail, but these are without the most toxic of all the ingredients—toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP. “They’ve not compromised on shade selection at all!”
Fragrance: Lavanila Laboratories is free of synthetic perfume which can contain hundreds of allergy-inducing toxic chemicals, the scents are light and not overwhelming, and on the more feminine side as they have sweeter notes. “They also carry a line of safe and clean deodorant that matches the scent of the fragrance, which I think is genius,” she explains. “I personally use the Vanilla/Coconut scent.”
Grooming: “There’s an awesome line called Organic Male that I made a few of my gay male friends try out and they have fallen in love. The packaging, smells and textures are just masculine enough and the quality of the products themselves is what wins them over. Especially the shaving cream.”
Sunscreen: Two great unisex sunblocks are from Pratima and Badger. “The Badger is a much thicker formula which I would consider sporty because it really doesn’t budge easily. Pratima is great for daily wear and feels light on the skin,” says Arnett.
Lina Hanson
Lina Hanson is one of the top makeup artists and natural beauty experts in Los Angeles. She has worked with some of Hollywood’s most celebrated artists including, Naomi Watts, Brooke Shields, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Orlando Bloom and Ewan McGregor and is the author of the book Eco-Beautiful—The Ultimate Guide to Natural Beauty and Wellness.
Eyes: RMS Beauty Cream eye shadows blend beautifully and come in a variety of shades. Line with creamy Jane Iredale Eye Pencils and top off with Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay Mascara (“It makes your lashes appear long and fuller, and never flakes,” notes Hanson).
Lips: For the perfect pout, Hanson reaches for Ilia Beauty Tinted Lip Conditioners. “These lipsticks are so moisturizing and come in great shades.”
Face: Start with eco-friendly foundation Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation and give your skin a healthy glow with Vapour Beauty Multi-Use Cream Blush.
Moisturizer: Hanson’s own formula, Global Face Serum, is a great go-to for both men and women. Made from 100 percent natural ingredients harvested by women’s cooperatives and local farmers, it’s ideal for all skin types and ethnicities, as well as an aftershave.
Nails: For a wide range of fun shades sans the chemicals, Hanson recommends Scotch Naturals Non-Toxic Nail Polish.
Fragrance: Honore Des Pres Perfumes—“This company makes wonderful natural perfumes that smell heavenly,” says Hanson.
Hair: Hamadi Beauty is a wide range of products for both men and women made from 100 percent organic essential oils and plant extracts.
Terri Bly
Terri Bly is a green makeup artist and owner of The Nature of Beauty, an online and in-store retailer of natural and organic skin care, hair care and cosmetics, based in St. Paul, Minn.
Eyes: Couleur Caramel eye shadow lined with Jane Iredale eye liners. “Couleur Caramel’s rich long-lasting pigments are a favorite with green makeup artists,” explains Bly. “[Jane Iredale’s] liquid eye liner is gorgeous and lasts forever, while their pencils go on easily and stay put … perfect for those doing their own wedding makeup.”
Lips: For lip color, Bly gravitates toward lipstick pencils. “They are creamier and more moisturizing than a lip pencil, and stay put better than most lipsticks. They are also very easy to apply with precision.” Logona makes gorgeous lipstick pencils in a range of shades. For a rich, creamy lipstick, Couleur Caramel makes a stunning, heavily pigmented line. “These lipsticks stain, thus giving them exceptional staying power.” For a subtler, nude lip, she reaches for Logona lipstick in Moonlight Rose and Vapour Organic Beauty in Tempt. “Both are beautiful, yet natural.”
“I am, and will always be, a sucker for lip gloss. I put lip gloss on every bride. It brightens the entire face,” she says. For a more natural sheen, Zuzu Luxe Lip Gloss in Crystal is perfect, and brides who want serious glamour, Jane Iredale PureGloss in Just Gloss has a bit of glitter, giving lips a Hollywood level of glam.
Face: For dry skin, Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation is her go-to foundation. “I’ve probably used this foundation more than any other when doing wedding makeup,” she explains. A close second, however, is Jane Iredale’s Liquid Minerals foundation, which is the better choice for oily skin. Both offer long-lasting coverage. For butch lesbians who typically don’t wear any makeup but want to add a bit of refinement for the big day, she turns to cream blushes. “They provide a natural radiance, and blend into the skin, giving the look of a freshly flushed cheek.” Vapour Organic Beauty makes a stunning line of cream blushes. Her favorites include Courtesan and Lure. For powder blushes, she adores Alima Pure in Leigh and Freja, “Leigh is a gorgeous pinky-mauve, while Frejo is a lovely peach.”
Moisturizer: “For both men and women, it’s hard to find a better line of skin care—natural, organic, or otherwise—than Dr. Alkaitis,” she says. With gender-neutral packaging and aromas, Dr. Alkaitis skin care is a cult favorite among celebrities, models, makeup artists, estheticians, and skin care junkies. For those on a tighter budget, she recommends Keys, which makes another gender neutral line of skin care that is simple yet highly effective, affordable and ideal for very sensitive skin.
Nails: Bly’s favorite “3-Free” line (free of toxic toluene, phthalates and formaldehyde) is Butter London. “They always seem to have the trendiest and most unique shades to offer.”
Fragrance: “If you can get your hands on Florascent, that is, to me, the best line of natural fragrance in the world. But it is increasingly hard to get here,” says Bly. Other lines that are definitely worth sniffing out include Tsi-La, Acorelle and red flower.
Hair: For men, she suggests Max Green Alchemy, which is affordable but high-performing, and perfect for even the most discerning male grooming product collector. For women, Rare El’ements conditioner and shampoo is her go-to. When it comes to styling products, Intelligent Nutrients is her line of choice. “It’s the brain child of Aveda founder Horst Rechelbacher. Their Harmonic shampoo and conditioner are also fabulous for women with thinner hair (Rare El’ements is much better, however, for thick and/or dry hair).”
Grooming Products: Ursa Major makes a brilliant, effective yet simple line of men’s care, including cleanser, toner (i.e. aftershave), and shaving cream. “It’s been getting rave reviews from men and women alike, and the shaving cream works exceptionally well even on the most sensitive skin.”
SPF: “Soleil Organique is best line of sun care I’ve encountered. Beautiful, effective, and is great under makeup.”
Rebecca Casciano
Rebecca Casciano is on a passionate mission to inspire beauty from the inside out. For the last decade, she has worked as a makeup artist and educator in the fashion, advertising and entertainment industries.
Eyes: Coat your lids in RMS Beauty Cream Eye Shadow and top off with 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara. “The mascara pumps up the lashes and comes in four shades (black, dark brown, navy and dark purple), while the eye shadow makes the lids look dewy, fresh and sexy,” says Casciano.
Lips: Casciano recommends Ilia Lipstick and Jane Iredale PureGloss to give lips great color while keeping them moisturized.
Face: For good coverage and wearability, Casciano turns to 100% Pure Healthy Skin Foundation and Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation. “Plus, they offer colors for all skin tones,” she adds. Highlight cheeks with a natural sheer flush using Josie Maran Argan Cream Blush.
Moisturizer: Kahina Giving Beauty Serum is a unisex moisturizer made from argan oil, which has antioxidants that help nourish and protect the skin.
Nails: Priti NYC and Ginger + Liz both do “3-Free” polishes in lots of cool colors.
Fragrance: Spritz a scent from eco-friendly perfume companies Honore` de Pres and A Perfume Organic.
Hair: The brand Rahua is aptly named for its main ingredient—a restorative oil found in the Amazon rainforest that instantly revitalizes hair color and soothes irritated scalps.
Deodorant: Most anyone whose tried natural deodorant knows it can be hard to find one that “works” with your body chemistry. Try Casciano’s top picks, Soapwalla Kitchen Deodorant Cream or Lavanila Laboratories Healthy Deodorant.
Sunless Tanning: Chocolate Sun is an organic, plant based sunless tanner. “It gives a nice, healthy glow.”
