[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/path-to-greener-makeup-pastures\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/path-to-greener-makeup-pastures\/","headline":"Path to Greener Makeup Pastures: Eco-Friendly Cosmetics","name":"Path to Greener Makeup Pastures: Eco-Friendly Cosmetics","description":"Eco-Friendly Cosmetics","datePublished":"2011-10-05","dateModified":"2021-06-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/wedding-green-lesbian-beauty-jane-iredale-circle-delete-concealer.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/wedding-green-lesbian-beauty-jane-iredale-circle-delete-concealer.jpg","height":571,"width":1194},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/path-to-greener-makeup-pastures\/","about":["Beauty & Grooming"],"wordCount":935,"keywords":["eco-friendly","makeup","makeup artists"],"articleBody":"We\u00a0Love\u00a0Eco-Friendly Cosmetics! Makeup artist Kristen Arnett talks to Equally Wed about her journey of converting to an all eco-friendly makeup kit, plus tips on bringing green into your own makeup routine. Makeup is supposed to enhance our features\u2014open our eyes, plump the lips, rosy the cheeks\u2014but after the products have been washed away from our faces, we can be left with chemical-induced blemishes, ironically having the opposite effect of makeup\u2019s function.  So when Kristen Arnett, an accomplished freelance makeup artist whose clients range from runway to bridal to television, was introduced to eco-friendly products while living in Italy, she was instantly intrigued. During a photo shoot, a model boasting a flawless face had brought a collection of unmarked skincare bottles. \u201cHer skin looked amazing and, being a product scavenger, I wanted to know more about what they were,\u201d says Arnett. The model explained how the majority of beauty products contain toxic and potentially carcinogenic chemicals, which irritate the skin. \u201cSince I had struggled with acne, trying everything from chemical peels to drugs, I thought maybe the ingredients were doing more harm than good,\u201d Arnett says of her epiphany. \u201cI started researching and realized that I had never even thought of the ecological impact of chemicals. As soon as I saw the difference in my own skin\u2014how it glowed and looked less inflamed\u2014I was convinced. What turned out to be good for me was also planet-friendly. It was a win-win!\u201d She dedicated the next year to turning her makeup kit green, but between saying goodbye to the beloved products she had long been devoted to and finding eco-friendly ones that matched her high standards, the transition wasn\u2019t an easy feat. \u201cIt\u2019s very unchartered territory,\u201d she says. \u201cIt took a lot of energy, patience and outreach to source products and then take risks of using them. But I\u2019ve since discovered brands that I love and can\u2019t pry away from!\u201d While undergoing her organic conversion, Arnett was bombarded with questions from others who were interested in natural products. \u201cI kept wishing I had one place I could send everyone for information,\u201d she says. With an abundance of new resources and recommendations at hand, and a talented entourage of holistic friends who were all professionals in their fields, GreenBeautyTeam.com was born. \u201cA few years ago, the majority of recommendations seemed to be from non-makeup wearing, \u2018crunchy\u2019 types,\u201d says Arnett. \u201cI wanted to bridge the gap of pro-makeup artist and green aficionado to give women credible product recommendations and tips.\u201d And the response has been overwhelming, especially with the LGBT community, which, according to Arnett, is exceptionally susceptible to a holistic lifestyle. She particularly recommends eco-friendly products for brooms. \u201cIf she isn\u2019t used to wearing that much makeup on a daily basis and hires someone who coats her face with potentially irritating ingredients, she risks having a reaction that could be rather unsightly the days following her wedding. Not usually how people like to spend their honeymoon.\u201d As a lesbian, Arnett understands the importance of making each bride comfortable in her appearance\u2014something that not all makeup artists can grasp. \u201cMany artists have a standard approach to makeup and don\u2019t understand the art of restraint and keeping it natural,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen it\u2019s a very femme bride, it\u2019s all pretty straightforward. But for the brides who are more androgynous or butch, they can benefit greatly from makeup in photos to even out their skin tone, remove under-eye circles, and cut down on shine. It must be done in such a way that they feel beautiful, not caked with makeup, and 100 percent comfortable with who they look like\u2014a fresher version of themselves!\u201d Whether she\u2019s playing the role of makeup artist, website designer, educator or content creator, Arnett is continuously making the world a greener place, one beautiful face at a time. Kristen\u2019s Must-Have Products1. A salmon-tone concealer for under the eyes, like Jane Iredale Circle Delete #2 for light skin and #3 for darker.2. Primitive Makeup Lipstick, which is incredibly moisturizing and comes in beautiful easy-to-wear colors.3. RMS Beauty Living Luminizer to add a glow on the cheekbones, brow bones and the inner corners of the eyes.4. Youngblood Mascara, because great lashes help eyes to really pop in photos. Kristen\u2019s Tips for Going Green Going green should begin with skincare, including deodorant, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo and lip products. Think of all the most sensitive, absorbent areas on your body and change out those products first. 1. Familiarize yourself with harmful ingredients and start looking for them on labels. If you can\u2019t pronounce it or you can\u2019t eat it, then it\u2019s probably not the greenest. 2. Do a little research online for replacement suggestions on your beloved products. Get friendly with the sales staff at a natural food store. They tend to have good suggestions. 3. Ask for samples or buy travel sizes before you commit to a full-sized purchase. 4. Keep your expectations in check. Even if you switch from one regular product to another, there will be a difference and may not be one you initially like. The same goes for going green. There are products that work wonderfully, but it may take you a couple of tries to get there. 5. Don\u2019t freak out, get overwhelmed or give up in the conversion process. Just take it step by step, and know you are doing something better for yourself and the planet. PHOTOS: Wedding photos: Robert McNary Photography; Kristen Arnett photo: courtesy of Kristen Arnett; product photos courtesy of respective companies "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Path to Greener Makeup Pastures: Eco-Friendly Cosmetics","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/path-to-greener-makeup-pastures\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]