Rouquinne's Makeup Missive

A few weeks ago, the news feed at my service provider flashed a story about 5-minute makeup. As anyone who’s ever watched an episode of What Not to Wear knows, make up artist Carmindy (of the U.S. version of the show) is a huge proponent of wearing as little make up as possible and applying it in only five minutes.

Since I am so completely NOT a five-minute-make-up type of woman, I went off to the library to get Carmindy’s book The Five Minute Face (Harper Collins, 2007). In about 200 pages, Carmindy not only outlines the steps for her daily routine, she also offers advice on looking good at any age, and simple steps to follow for special occasions like weddings and perfecting a classic smoky eye.

Carmindy’s book, The Five-Minute Face

My morning make up regimen goes something like this: sunscreen; take 10 minutes to put on 2, 3, 4 or more eye colours and lots of mascara; then put on foundation (with my fingers) from the nose out; lightly dust on powder; and add lip colour. If I’m pressed for time, the eyes can go on in five minutes because I still do a shadow/liner/mascara combination no matter what. I always do foundation last because I don’t like to take a chance at having my eye shadow fall on a freshly-made-up face.

Carmindy’s routine starts with foundation or tinted moisturizer applied with a sponge all over the face, including across the eyelids, and she suggests a second layer stippled over the areas that need more coverage. Step Two involves applying under-eye concealer with a brush and blending it with your finger, while Step Three is applying concealer on all other spots you think need it.

A light dusting of powder over most of the face, again including eye lids, comprises Step Four. This step is followed by the judicious use of highlighters, preferably in powder form. Anyone who has seen Carmindy on television knows that pearlescent shimmer powder or liquid is part of her signature look. In addition to putting it on the brow bone, she also recommends sweeping it across the cheekbones, and, of course, at the inside corners of the eyes.

Step Six is blush application and is followed by light applications of eye liner and mascara for steps seven and eight. Carmindy suggests applying a thin line of chocolate brown pencil smudged into the lash line as much as possible and one coat of black mascara.

At the end is lip colour — for the sake of fitting into the last few seconds of your five minutes, Carmindy recommends tinted lip balm or your favourite gloss instead of applying lipstick with a brush.

I tried to follow Carmindy’s routine — not on a work-day — and found that it did take me longer than five minutes to follow all the steps. However, I do have skin that needs more coverage due to a lot of redness. And I really do prefer to have a little more colour on my eyelids.

But the book is great for makeup newbies and those who want a quick and easy routine to follow. It is also worth the purchase price for the instructions for all the special occasion looks and product recommendations.

Finally, Carmindy’s sense of fun comes through, and that’s part of what makeup is all about!

As hard as it is for me to believe this, today marks the fifth anniversary of my column. And when I started thinking about what to write for this auspicious event, the first thing that popped into my head was the iconic perfume Chanel No 5.

Perfume is a tough business. It is estimated that more than 600 new fragrances are introduced annually around the world; few make it into production past the second year. And fewer still last longer than a decade. A select handful are positively ancient: Farina Eau de Cologne from 1709, Creed’s Royal English Leather, which dates to 1780 and Caswell-Massey No. 6, introduced in 1752. These perfume houses are still in business, along with Roger & Gallet which was founded in 1806 and Guerlain, started in 1853. Compared to these, Parfums Chanel and No 5 are relative newcomers.

No 5 was first introduced in 1921 and has been sold continuously since then. It is so popular today that it is estimated that a bottle is sold somewhere around the world every single minute. Half a million bottles of perfume a year might not sound like much in terms of the multi-billion dollar perfume industry, but that figure applies to the “parfum” itself; the highest concentration of fragrance. The product is also available in lower concentrations called “eau de parfum”, and “eau de toilette” (“eau de cologne” was discontinued in the 1980s).

Coco Chanel set out to make a perfume unlike others available on the market in the 1920s. At the time, floral scents dominated the industry; but Mademoiselle Chanel herself said “I want to give women an artificial perfume. “Yes, I really do mean artificial, like a dress, something that has been made. I don’t want any rose or lily of the valley, I want a perfume that is a composition.” No 5 was the first scent to use synthetic aldehydes as a top note.

Along with the aldehydes, the other top notes (scents that are noticeable as soon as you put it on) are ylang-ylang and neroli. The middle notes are May rose and jasmine and the base notes (the ones that seem to last all day) are sandalwood, vetiver and vanilla. And the House of Chanel goes out of their way to make sure that the perfume still smells exactly as it did in 1921; they contract exclusively with flower growers in the area of the south of France called Grasse — the part of France that was the source of the modern perfume business. Flower production has moved to cheaper centres around the world — mostly India — today. But just as soil is important in wine production, it also affects the quality and scent of the flowers.

Just as iconic as the fragrance is the Chanel bottle — the rectangular, clean lines stamped with the name of the perfume in a simple black script. It is used in some variation for all other Chanel perfumes. And, as with other cultural items that were immortalized in his art, Andy Warhol made a colourful silk screen of No 5 that the company later used in an advertising campaign.

While Marilyn Monroe was never an official spokesperson for the brand, she added to the mystique of the scent when she declared that she wore nothing but Chanel No 5 to bed. And advertising has been helpful in keeping the perfume in the public eye since Mademoiselle Chanel died in 1971; famous faces have included Catherine Deneuve, Carole Bouquet and Nicole Kidman. Audrey Tatou, the star of Amélie and The Da Vinci Code, will become the new face of the scent later this year when Chanel launches an “eau première” — a new version of the scent in between the perfume and the eau de parfum.

In an interview last fall with “The Independent” (a newspaper in England), Jacques Polge — The Nose — of Parfums Chanel stated that the reason this one fragrance has lasted so long can be attributed to one thing — that “it smells good”.

I’ve never worn No 5, or any Chanel fragrances, myself. To my completely untrained nose, they just don’t “smell good”. But I thought I should give it another try for this column and dutifully went to the store to get a sample of the eau de parfum to try. At the store, I picked up the bottle and gave it a sniff — still didn’t seem appealing. So I sprayed it on.

But no … I just plain did not like it. Perhaps it’s the aldehydes, but I find it to be too “chemical-y”. I passed on getting a sample and couldn’t wait to get home to wash it off.

Luca Turin, the author of The Secret of Scent, describes Chanel No 5 as “a regally beautiful thing”. I can’t agree with him; perfume is one of the most intensely personal things we wear, and not all of us have body chemistry that appreciates aldehydes in all their glory.

Editor’s note: NaturallyCurly.com is thrilled and honored to have had a writer as skilled and knowledgeable as Angela gracing our pages for so many years. We look forward to many more years with her as a vital part of NaturallyCurly.com.

It’s safe to say that beauty icons today come in all shapes, sizes, colors and even genders; witness RuPaul as the first face of MAC’s Viva Glam line and Dame Edna as the face of a collection this year.

One enduring beauty icon has just turned 50, and her appeal is so far proving to be as timeless as that of Marilyn Monroe. Barbie turned 50 on March 9th amid controversy caused by a West Virginia lawmaker who wants to ban sales of the doll in his state because he believes she represents a poor body image for girls. Whether or not you agree with him, it is difficult to argue with the fact that Barbie — the brand — has invaded the homes of millions of girls and women in hundreds of countries around the world.

The original Barbie

Barbie’s origins are well-known now; she was the brainchild of Ruth Handler, a founder of Mattel, who wanted to give her daughter, Barbara, a doll like her teenage self instead of the paper dolls she was playing with. Using a rather naughty German doll as her prototype, Handler created Barbara Millicent Roberts from Willows, Wisconsin. She debuted at the American International Toy Fair wearing a black and white zebra-striped swimsuit along with high heels and sported a physique that owed much to that other 50s blonde bombshell, Marilyn. Barbie had a sly, sideways glance and the kind of hair associated with California surfer girls.

Early on, it was easy to see that this was no ordinary doll. Barbie had careers and remained resolutely single, despite the introduction of her boyfriend Ken to the Mattel line in 1961. While some of these careers were strictly pink-collar (nurse, teacher, flight attendant), Barbie broke the glass ceiling to become a pilot and an astronaut in addition to being an Olympic medalist in several sports and running for President of the United States.

Over the years, Barbie’s look has changed too. From a flirtatious glance to the wide-eyed, open sunny smile of today, the doll is now available with different hair colors and 20 skin tones. She is even available with facial features that are decidedly eastern Asian, southern Asian and African. As a child, my mother bought me Midge, Barbie’s best friend, so that I’d have a doll with my hair color. Today I own a dozen Barbies with red hair.

Ten years ago, on Barbie’s 40th birthday, 23 writers as diverse as Erica Jong and Jane Smiley came together to contribute essays to a collection titled “The Barbie Chronicles.” Within the pages of the book, the writers took on the mystique, the culture and the controversies surrounding the 11½ inch plastic figure. Nothing was spared, from the over-sized breasts and the unbelievably tiny waist (enlarged in 2000) to the chaste nature of her relationship with Ken.

A Barbie-themed collection from Stila.

Love her or hate her, Barbie has become a beauty icon in addition to being a fashionista. The doll is wildly popular in Japan where Barbie Retail was launched in 2003 — stores offering clothing and accessories for adult women. Two years ago, the Barbie Loves MAC makeup collection broke sales records for the Lauder Corporation and this year there are Barbie-themed makeup collections available from Stila and the Canadian company Cake Beauty. The products are heavily slanted to pastels (probably to match Barbie’s Dream House — pink, pink and more pink) and sugary in scent.

For as long as there are little girls, there will most likely be Barbies. And as long as Barbie looks the way she does, there will most likely be controversy. But one thing is clear: the doll was born in the conservative 1950s, and yet, Barbie remains single, childless and independent. Perhaps a forward-thinking role model for generations to come.

In keeping with my resolution to feature budget-friendly beauty in this economic climate, I decided to start with one of the largest cosmetics and personal care companies in the world — Avon.

As strange as this sounds, Avon started with one man, a door-to-door book salesman named David McConnell. He gave perfume that he made at home to women to entice them to buy his books; however, the perfume soon became the product he sold. The California Perfume Company was founded in New York City (!) in 1886 and the first “Avon Lady” was Mrs. P.F.E. Albee. A laboratory was established in Suffern, New York in 1887 and the company opened its Canadian presence in Montreal in 1914.

Avon began offering color cosmetics in the early 1900s.

The company name was changed to Avon Products, Inc. in 1939, two years after the death of McConnell, and the “Avon Calling” campaign was introduced in 1954. Avon committed itself to corporate philanthropy in 1955, starting the Avon Foundation in order to make a difference in the lives of women. The focus of the foundation has been in three areas: breast cancer research, domestic violence and emergency relief.

To say that Avon’s products have evolved would be an understatement. I doubt McConnell would recognize the perfumes available from his company today. From the original single-note florals to Sweet Honesty and Soft Musk, fragrance offerings today include collaborations with fashion designers Christian Lacroix and Emmanuel Ungaro, in addition to celebrity-endorsed scents like Imari (Jennifer Hudson) and Unscripted (Patrick Dempsey).

The company branched out to offer color cosmetics in the early 1900s and today offers a dizzying array of shades in eye shadow, blush, pencils and lipsticks in cream and powder formulations. They have recently begun offering mineral makeup versions of their products, too.

Through their research arm, Avon invented waterproof mascara that washes off easily with soap and water as well as a huge range of skin-care products. Today, you can buy many products with skin-clearing properties like alpha-hydroxy acid, but it was Avon that first made these widely available almost 20 years ago in 1991. The Anew line was one of the first anti-aging lines of skin care products available, building on product lines like Avon Solutions and Clearskin. And Avon was the first major cosmetics company to end testing on animals back in 1989.

Over the years, the company has expanded their brand to include jewelry, clothing, giftware, housewares and soft furnishings, hair care, sunscreen products and lines directed at men and children.

Mark products are very popular with teens.

One of the most successful secondary lines is Mark — introduced in 2003. In five short years, the Mark line has become one of the most successful teen-oriented makeup brands in the world.

I asked my own “Avon Lady”, Kelly Smith, why she decided to sell the products. She told me: “I (enjoy) the products/gifts etc. and it (is an) easy way to shop. It’s easy as it’s delivered to you and you make some good money on it. Avon is well-known so I don’t have to push it. People know the name, and it sells itself.

Avon bills itself as “the company for women”, and as their current television ad campaign states, it’s a way for you to be CEO of your own company.

Their makeup products are also good value in these money-conscious times. Take a look for yourself on www.avon.com, www.avon.ca, www.uk.avon.com, www.avon.com.au, www.mx.avon.com, www.avon.fr.

It’s awards season everywhere you turn as critics’ associations and entertainment industry societies celebrate the best in movies, television and music of 2008. Today, the “pre-show” — where entertainers are snapped in all their finery as they enter the hall for the main event — have become displays of glamour avidly eaten up by those of us who don’t have to borrow two dozen gowns and jewels worth millions to get through our daily lives.

Every once in a while, we mere mortals find ourselves having to glamorize ourselves for an event — a wedding, New Year’s Eve, or even a night out on the town for Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t take a professional stylist or the artistry of Pat McGrath to make you look as good as any of the actresses/models/singers at the red carpet events. All you need are a few tricks of the trade.

Start with your skin; exfoliate your face and body with your favorite scrub, then moisturize well. For those of you who like the tan look, a light application of self-tanner is better than reaching for L’Oreal Sublime Bronze in deep dark. If you’re a pretty pale princess like me, try a lotion with soft shimmer to highlight cleavage and collarbones.

Primer will help your makeup stay for the duration of your event — I use Benefit Lemon Aid on my eyelids and sometimes a silicone primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer on my face. There are lip primers, but filling in your lips with pencil before applying color can have the same effect.

Add a luminizer to your foundation to give your face a soft glow. Try Laura Geller Liquid Candlelight or Stila All-Over Shimmer. Just a drop will do — you don’t want to look shiny and sweaty in photographs.

Pink-toned blushes photograph well — consider Benefit Posy-Tint for lips and cheeks or Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush. If you prefer powders, NARS Orgasm is a peachy-pink that works well with many different skin tones or try Make Up For Ever Candy Pink 85.

However you like to wear your eye makeup — dark-winged eyeliner only like Angelina Jolie or full eyeshadow and liner like Debra Messing at this year’s Golden Globes — consider false eyelashes. As I’ve said before, learning to wear them is a practice-makes-perfect task, but one well worth the time. MAC has a great new collection, called Lash & Dash, of exaggerated spikes and fringes. An easier choice for beginners to try would be Sephora’s house brand of lashes that has a half-strip along with a full-strip in one package. Individual clumps are easily applied to the outside corners with long-lasting glue.

When you see celebrities on the red carpet, they either play up their eyes or their lips — rarely do they highlight both. If you go for simple eye makeup, choose a great lipstick in deep red, fuchsia or plum. Put a dot of clear or matching lip gloss just in the centre of your lips to play up a pout. And if you’re like me and make your eyes the focal point, wear a great neutral lippie like MAC Viva Glam 5 with a matching gloss.

No matter how you wear your hair for your bombshell look, shoulder-dusting earrings will draw even more attention to your gorgeous face.

It’s doesn’t take much to let your inner bombshell out — give yourself a chance to shine too!

Happy New Year. Or is it?

I know that this new year is going to be difficult from an economic standpoint for many of you reading this; the message boards are full of posts from members who have lost jobs themselves, or have family members in similar situations. Keeping that in mind, I’ll try to discuss beauty on a budget as much as possible this year.

But did you know that difficult economic times are often a boon for the beauty business? As strange as it sounds, when the economy goes down, cosmetics sales — particularly those of lipstick — go up. The online British financial blog “This is Money” reported in May that quarterly figures from makeup giants L’Oreal and The Lauder Group showed increases in sales, despite a drop in sales in other parts of department stores in the United States in that same quarter. Conventional wisdom holds that lipstick is a small indulgence that most of us can afford, even when our household budgets are being squeezed.

The term “Lipstick Index” to describe this phenomenon is attributed to Leonard Lauder, son of Estée and chairman of the board of the Lauder Corporation. He noticed that sales of lipstick by all brands that Lauder Corp. represents tended to increase during tough economic times.

While the Wall Street Journal found that makeup sales fell in the United States for the second and third quarters of 2008, during the last two recessions overall makeup sales rose by 4 percent and 10 percent respectively. The “lipstick index” may, however, be holding up in other countries. News.com.au reported in early December that it wasn’t only makeup sales going up Down Under. They found that sales of chocolate and alcohol were also increasing as the economy worsened.

And the Avon of the rest of the world — Oriflame Cosmetics of Sweden — is expecting growth of 25 percent again this year. Oriflame is actively expanding in markets that won’t be affected as much by the North American recession, including Russia, China and India.

Another trend related to the Lipstick Index can be found in the color palette chosen by consumers: neutrals are the big sellers. A color that can be worn with everything is more practical than a statement color like deep red, fuschia or orange. See my July 2008 column “Into the Nude” for neutral lipstick suggestions.

If you have favorite colors of certain beauty products like NARS Orgasm blush or MAC Amberlights eye shadow, but can’t afford them, Milani Cosmetics makes duplicates of colors found in many high-end makeup lines. Try Luminous blush or Sun Goddess eye shadow. NYX and Wet ‘N Wild also attempt to duplicate the colors of more expensive lines. It’s up to you to decide if the color payoff and product formulations work for you.

One area not to skimp on is skin care. Clean, clear, healthy skin will make the cosmetics you use look that much better. Buy products on sale where possible, and look for coupons online. There are many sites with clippable coupons to take to the store or lists of online voucher codes.

I wish you and yours a beautiful — and prosperous — 2009!

For makeup addicts like me, December is a good time to avoid department-store cosmetics areas and any Sephora within driving distance. This is due to the fact that every makeup company on earth seems determined to dangle even more temptation than usual in front of us in the form of palettes and kits.

Since I wrote my first column about Christmas-season kits five years ago, a growing number of companies have begun putting out multiple gift items for your consideration. They often include special colors or products designed to entice you even more. This year, these are my picks for some of the best on the block.

Last year, Sephora quickly sold out of their fragrance sampler box. It contained 10 vials of best-selling perfumes and a gift certificate for a full-size bottle of any one of the scents contained within. This year, not only is there a set of best-selling perfumes, they have a set of classic perfumes (including Shalimar) and one of “trendsetters” (including Ferragamo Incanto Heaven). There’s also a men’s sampler set.

Too Faced is known for their collection of tiny palettes called “The Quickie Chronicles,” each named after an archetypal movie character (for example, The Temptress). This year, you can get eight of these palettes in a collection, or spring for the World Domination Tour All Access Backstage Beauty Collection! Inside a jewel box — with a tiny dancer swirling to the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” — are eye shadows, bronzer, blush, lip glosses, a cake eyeliner and an illuminator.

If you’re a fan of Lorac, you might consider the Croc Case Full Face Collection of 16 eye shadows, two blushes, a highlighter , bronzer and three lip glosses in a fake crocodile skin case. Or Tarte’s The Vanity Limited Edition Palette that also has 16 eye shadows, along with 16 glosses and mascara and brushes.

The Stila Step Out & Shine Color Collection comes in a lovely silver evening bag and consists of the Montmarte eye shadow quad (purples), Convertible Color in Orchid, plus a mini-mascara, All Over Shimmer and lip gloss in Pomegranate Crush.

Urban Decay’s Book of Shadows Palette not only contains eight of their best-selling eye shadows, there are an additional eight shadows created exclusively for this set. It also has a travel size of their very popular Primer Potion and two brushes.

At the high-dollar end are offerings from two of the biggest names in luxury products: the Givenchy Very Couture Holiday Palette (containing a mini-gloss, tiny mascara and a Purple Couture eye shadow quad and a compact powder quartet); and the Dior Chic Makeup Palette for the Eyes, with six rich colours to make any look your own.

Every year, MAC offers about a dozen different palettes and sets, and this year is no exception. The popular Viva Glam lip sets come in warm and cool versions. And the sure sell-out every year: the brush sets in makeup bags. This year, there are three brush sets — one of basics, another of face brushes and a third of eye shadow brushes.

For the true color-junkie, or the teen who just wants MORE makeup, the Sephora Ultimate Blockbuster Palette should be on your list. There are 84 eye shadows, 60 lipsticks, 3 blushes, 3 face powders, a lip liner and an eye liner pencil along with 7 applicators. That’s a lot of makeup for less than $50 (even in Canadian dollars)!

Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season!

One of the best things about the winter months is that darker, more dramatic, makeup colors become more commonplace for those of us not of the Goth persuasion. Smoky eyes for day and deeper lip shades are good complements for the heavier clothes we wear at this time of year, and they’re almost standard for evening wear as we head into the holiday party season.

Here are some lovely dark colors for your consideration this winter!

Avon’s Midnight Hues: a collection of eye liner, eye shadow and nail shades in Warm Black and Midnight Plum (eye liner in Blackest Black and Majestic Plum) ($3.99 each from Avon Canada).

DuWop offers four shades of duos they call Smoke: coordinated eye shadow and liner in black, navy, olive and plum. Their Lip Venom product also comes in a color gloss formula in a deep berry shade they call Berry Chill.

Kat Von D at Sephora: who better to team with makeup powerhouse Sephora for a color collection based on her signature goth-princess look? With four shades of deep red lipstick, a range of eye shadow duos and two palettes, along with six liquid eye liners in shades like Black Metal Love, you, too, can get Kat’s “cat” eyes.

Revlon’s Color Stay line has an eye shadow quad in blacks and greys called Sultry Smoke. Also check out the “Just Bitten” lip stains in Cherry Tart and Plum Wicked.

Urban Decay is known for their daring colors and even more daring color names. This winter, look for Goddess and Oil Slick eye shadows, Perversion and Smog liquid eye liners, Apocalypse and Revolution lipsticks, and Greedy Lip Envy lip stain.

OPI for Sephora has a handful of gorgeous nail polishes in darker shades. Look for Personal Shopper, Mr. Right Now, Because I Said So, Opening Night, On Stage, Meet For Drinks, Caffeine Fix, Beauty Junkie, Brunette on the Internet, Never Enough Shoes and I’m With Brad. ($9 US at Sephora only)

Chanel seemed to create the fashion of dark nail polish almost overnight with their infamous shade Vamp. This season they’re offering another black shade of polish called Black Satin. And they have a special holiday palette called the Smoky Eye Quad ($56 at Chanel counters/stores) in shades of black, grey and silver.

The late Kevyn Aucoin was the master of the smoky eye and it’s only right that the makeup line that he started developing before his untimely death in 2002 features some truly beautiful darks. Try eye shadows in Aubergine and Midnight, lipstick in Bloodroses or the Liquid Fountain Pen lip gloss in Lilette or Orchelle.

To keep your lips looking their best through party season, try long-wear lipstick formulas like Maybelline Superstay in Wine Shine or Radiant Ruby. MAC’s Pro-Longwear is a popular choice and this fall, there are duos available with deep lip colors and new top coats designed to intensify the base coat. Look at Alta Moda/Hip Love and Red Flame/Orange Flicker.

Happy Shopping!

I know a lot of members here at NaturallyCurly are interested in “greening” up their lives. You probably use natural cleaners and soaps around the house, recognizing that they might be better for your children and/or pets as well as the environment. A growing number of companies are developing products that will allow you to go green for your personal care and beauty regimens, too.

One of the first things you have to do is figure out which products actually are what they claim to be, and whether they are right for you. For example, years ago I had a facial with products that were presented as “all natural.” What I didn’t know was that some of the ingredients used in the products put on my face were tree bark extracts. And I am violently allergic to trees.

I think you can guess what happened next!

The first rule of “natural” skin care is that it doesn’t mean it’s automatically good for you.”

The second rule is that just because the company markets it to you as “natural,” that doesn’t mean it really is. This is because there are no standards set by the FDA in the United States regulating what can and cannot be sold using natural as a descriptor. Their only requirement is that a product be safe for its intended use.

Fortunately, the Natural Products Association (founded in 1934) is working to develop product standards in order to assure customers that the products they are buying truly are natural. By natural, they mean that they contain ingredients that come from a renewable resource found in nature and that there are no petroleum compounds, residues of heavy metals or other contaminants “in excess of tolerances set by the FDA or EPA”. (For more information, visit www.naturalproductsassoc.org)

A “natural seal” will appear on products that meet the standards of the NPA; which currently only apply to a select few products of Burt’s Bees.

Founded in 1984, Burt’s Bees is one of the largest natural personal care companies in the world. Currently a division of Clorox, it is also one of the “greenest” companies in the world in terms of carbon footprint. Not only is almost all packaging made of recycled materials, they are also recyclable themselves; and even biodegradable, as with their soap wrappers made of limestone. Printing is done with water-based soy ink. The production facility itself is chemical-free, using steam to clean and recycling water. In an interview with Toronto Life Fashion in May 2008, CEO John Replogle said that the company aims to get to zero waste by 2010.

Some other companies that make products attempting to live up to the standards set by Burt’s Bees are:

Origins (there is now Origins Organics)

Nature Girl/Rich Hippie

Ren

Pangea Organics – h

Kiss My Face

Physicians Formula Organics (with enviro-friendly packaging) — at drugstores everwhere

Green Beaver (yes, it IS Canadian!)

While some “green” products are more expensive than everything else out there, the benefits to you, your family and Mother Earth can be well worth the cost!

Canadians, Americans and New Zealanders—don’t forget to vote in your upcoming federal elections. You might want to ask your local candidates about green issues.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—while current research indicates that self-examination often finds benign lumps that cause anxiety more often than they find cancer, breast cancer organizations around the world are now encouraging women to be “breast aware”. Learn the topography of your breasts visually and manually, and don’t be afraid to bring changes to your doctor’s attention.

Think Pink—and donate what you can to cancer research—the life you save could be your own!

Beauty tips for “older” women have always seemed to involve the word “don’t,” as in “don’t wear shimmer anything” or “don’t use powder products” or “don’t wear your hair long”. The idea behind these tips is that those three things actually emphasize wrinkles rather than hide them.

If you’ve protected yourself from the sun and haven’t spent years with a surprised look on your face while reading (like yours truly), most of your wrinkles are probably badges of honor — crying at your wedding, 36 hours in labour, seeing a best friend through a major illness, waiting up while junior stays out all night at prom, etc. You can’t hide all wrinkles, and why would you want to when you’ve reached that “certain age” (as the French like to say).

So, what does work for those of us over 40?

First off, wear your hair however you like. Sport a gorgeous gray mane like songstress Emmylou Harris, or keep your color like Susan Sarandon. Long, short or in-between is up to you.

Secondly, develop a skin-care routine that is easy and works for you. Buying the entire Erno Laszlo system might not be what you need; pick and choose products from different lines and customize them to suit your lifestyle and budget.

When it comes to makeup, let your personal preferences dictate color, product type and finish. I keep reading how I should be wearing cream blush, but cream blush sinks into my skin and vanishes within a couple of hours.

Do try to avoid matte foundations, because they can be drying on skin that is drying out. I’ll never be a tinted moisturizer type of person, because I REALLY need the coverage of foundation. But using it only where needed on well-moisturized skin is ideal — no matter what your age.

I recently read that two concealers can go a long way toward hiding dark circles under the eye. Start with a yellow-toned concealer that matches your skin tone/foundation color, then, after it dries, use a slightly shimmery peach-tone concealer to reflect the light away from the area. Pen-style products (YSL Touche-Eclat or Bourjois Anticerne Pour Petits Matins) are ideal for this purpose.

After years of hearing how frost emphasizes lines, it’s good to know that new products with a slight shimmer to them actually reflect light — which makes wrinkles less visible to the eye.

For blush shades, only those with truly dark skin tones should be looking in the tawny and plum tones. The rest of us can really warm up our complexions with clear pinks, peaches and apricots. If you have really dry skin, cream blush with a light dusting of a matching powder over it will provide staying power.

I’m not ready to give up my shimmering (or frosted) eye shadows just yet, and as long as I don’t have crepe-like eye lids, I don’t see why I have to. At this stage in my life, I just pair them with matte finishes and use a light hand. And as we have all heard from makeup artist Carmindy of What Not to Wear fame, a dot of shimmering nude/pink/peach eye shadow at the inner corner of our eyes helps to open the area up.

Eye liner in a rich shade smudged close to the lash line can actually help counteract sagging at the outer corner. Follow up with lots of your favorite mascara (or false eye lashes for special occasions). You might find it necessary to fill in your brows. I’ve found that my brows are getting a bit sparse, and gray, in areas. Using a tiny, flat brush and an auburn-taupe powder, I use tiny strokes until I achieve the look I want. Then I brush them into place with a tiny bit of wax.

You might find that your lip volume is decreasing; and that’s without having an accident like mine where they had to be glued back together! Use lip liner before any lipstick — either match your natural lip color or the lipstick shade you’ve chosen. And don’t be afraid of strong lip color — especially if you’ve been spending money on tooth whitening. Go cherry red (like MAC’s new Cult of Cherry lip glass), if you really want to.

In the early 1970s, the Clairol Loving Care hair color ads said: “You’re not getting older, you’re getting better”. With the choices and improvements in skin care and makeup products available today for those of us over 40, that slogan just is more true than ever!