Green Glamour

Here it is — the end of the 3 oz. tube of Lancome liquid makeup (concealer? skintone even-er? foundation?) I purchased about ten years ago. Pretty old, I grant you. But as I’ve ping-ponged between makeup and no makeup, fancy and free-spirited, I’ve never needed to buy a new tube.

Now, however, the big question is: with what should I replace yon facepaint? I’m hoping for something a little better for me and for the world (compostable packaging would be nice, e.g.). And after a walk-through of the Seattle Sephora, I’m stumped. I saw a slough of Bare Escentuals mineral makeup, but does it work? Will I look like a glamour puss? Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm? Gene Simmons? And just how good is it for the environment? So says the corporate website:

Bare Escentuals has been breaking all the rules about makeup with the introduction of our revolutionary foundation called bareMinerals®. This extraordinary beauty innovation is composed of 100% pure bareMinerals with no additives and zero irritants whatsoever.

Sure thing. But what the heck is a “bareMineral”? Sounds like an infomercial, right, skeptics?

Any suggestions, friends? Products you love? Products you hate? My face thanks you.

Sing it with me: “I love being a girl!”

You say Aveda, I say Avada.

Looks like the Aveda people are getting on the Cradle to Cradle bandwagon. According to TreeHugger’s Jasmin Malik Chua, four of the beauty-care company’s ingredients have received C2C certification from the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency. Writes Malik Chua:

Its rose and lavender essential oils come from a sustainable organic farm in Bulgaria, while its wild Australian sandalwood is sourced from the Mardu people of Western Australia based on standards of an indigenous raw materials certification. Meanwhile, organic uruku, a pigment Aveda uses in lipsticks, is sustainably harvested by the Yawanawa people of the Brazilian Amazon.

What does this C2C stuff mean? Based on the principles laid out in William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s eponymous book, “cradle to cradle” means smart, green design — that is, creating products, from candy wrappers to shoes to airplane parts, that at the end of their useful life can either nurture growth (via composting or incineration) or maintain their structural integrity when broken down or recycled into another product. Confused? Want to learn more? Check out the book. It comes with Living Small’s highest recommendation.

And, next time you need some lipcolor, scan for Aveda.

Bathtub Bouquet: At-Home Parfum

But soft! methinks I scent the morning air.

That’s me! I have of late been concocting my own eau de toilette. The recipe:

5 oz. water

2 drops lavender essential oil

1 drop lemon eucalyptus essential oil

1 drop citronella essential oil (esp. good for summer, when the ‘squitos are out)

Shake it up in a little bottle. Spritz. Smell nice.

While the initially lavendery nose doesn’t last all day, as do market perfumes, I’m guessing this water-based jazz does better by your skin and by other people’s sniffers. I spray it on my pressure points, and I mist it over my hair between washings.

It also works well for freshening up clothes after a tumble through the dryer or before a line-dry inside the house — daresay a mite more earth- and cloth-sound than Febreeze or other fabric fresheners, many of which don’t list their ingredients, and are therefore a bit fishy. Agree?

I’m trying to envision other scentual syntheses; any suggestions?