Makeup Mondays With Mario: Natural Beauty

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Dear Mario,

I'm writing for advice on eco-friendly/natural/organic beauty products and makeup. I want to incorporate some "green" products into my routine, but I don't know where to start. I'm not interested in granola-crunchy stuff made out of hemp that smells like patchouli. I want high quality products that work as well as my regular products, but are also good for my body and the earth. Please share any favorite brands or products. Thanks.

-Linda

PS - I'm a big fan - so basically whatever you recommend, I'm going to buy.

Linda,

There are definitely great eco-friendly, organic beauty products out there for you to use and enjoy - and I think in the future we'll be seeing a lot more beauty companies going green as well.

One of my personal faves is Josie Maran Cosmetics. Her line of makeup is very eco-friendly and the products deliver beautifully as true makeup should. Aside from being good for our environment, Josie's makeup has tons of benefits for your skin. Most of her products are made with Argan Oil which, thanks to Josie, is becoming very popular for its healing abilities.

As a makeup artist working on sets and photo shoots, I tend to use product that has great pigment and textures over products that are eco-friendly or organic. But Josie's line totally delivers. Of course, I have to mention the Bear Naked Wipes that I can't live without. They are, hands down, the best makeup wipes ever! Other great natural brands I like are Tarte, Korres and Bare Escentuals.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Free Philosophy, Korres and DuWop Gifts With Purchase at Sephora.com

Free Philosophy Purity Made Simple High Foaming Daily Cleanser with any $25 order at Sephora.com. Enter PURITY at checkout.

Free full-sized Korres Body Butter with the purchase of Korres Shower Gel. Enter KORRESDUO at checkout.

Free DuWop Prime Venom with any online order. Enter DUWOP at checkout.

News Flash: There Are Beauty Deals To Be Had at TJ Maxx

Just in case you've been living under a rock, there are some amazing beauty deals to be had at TJ Maxx. And just in case you don't believe me, I took some pics with my CrackBerry - to show you how much money you can save simply by doing a little digging...

T3 Overnight Dryer, $48
(originally $130)

Hairdo Salon Clip-In Hair from Jessica Simpson and Ken Paves, $19.99
(originally $90-95)

Jessica Simpson Fancy Eau de Parfum, $19.99
(originally $35)


Philip B Drop Dead Straightening Baume, $5.99
(originally $24)

NARS Skin Essential Oil-Infused Therapy Soak, $19.99
(originally $75)


Korres Vanilla Cinnamon Showergel, $3.99
(originally $13)


Bliss Tried + True Blue Kit, $7.99
(originally $20)


Freeze 24-7 Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with Sunscreen SPF 15, $16.99
(originally $48)


Bliss Clog-Dissolving Cleansing Milk, $14.99
(originally $28)

Click here to find a TJ Maxx near you. Happy shopping!

Naturally Beautiful: Nordstrom Goes Green

Just because you’ve embraced an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t mean that you need to trade your Manolo Blahnik for Birkenstocks. And just because you prefer your skincare to be chemical-free doesn’t mean you have to purchase products in a health store/head shop that reeks of patchouli. Just in time for Earth Day, Nordstrom is going green.

Last month, Nordstrom launched its new "Well Beauty" counters in 25 stores – and a virtual counter on Nordstrom.com. Rather than zip from counter to counter looking for natural products, Well Beauty is one-stop shopping your organic beauty needs.

Featured brands include Origins Organics, Juice Beauty, Pangea Organics, Korres, Caudalie and CARE by Stella McCartney. Products were chosen because they are paraben, petro-chemical free and sold in recycled packaging. And there will also be a full-time staff member at the Well Beauty counter to answer questions and direct customers to the products most appropriate for their skin.

To find a Well Beauty counter near you, contact your local Nordstrom store. To shop online, click here.

Is The Price Right?

Test your beauty shopping savvy by matching the price to the product. Don't cheat...only click the links once you have taken the quiz.

Products:
1) Laura Mercier Eye Colour Quad
2) Best Of Korres Gift Set
3) Bliss The Youth As We Know It
4) Missoni Parfum
5) Frederic Fekkai Travel Brush
6) Zeno Pro Acne Clearing Device

Prices:
A) $25
B) $38
C) $55
D) $79
E) $185
F) $300

How did you do? Brag in the comments section. All products are available at Sephora.

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Too often, there’s a good deal of false advertising when it comes to lip butters. In some cases, they’re actually waxy lip balms in a tube. And sometimes, they turn out to be gooey lip glosses – which I personally love. But if it’s gloss, then call it gloss – right?

Lucky for you, Spoiled Pretty as done some of the leg work – and we’ve found one that’s not waxy or gooey. I think even Goldilocks would agree – this lip butter is just right.

Korres Lip Butter is a buttery balm that melts on the lips and offers a shiny finish. The combination of shea butter and rice wax penetrate for deep hydration and softness. And because the lip butter is part of Korres’ new good-for-your-skin color collection, it’s perfect for those gals who prefer natural, eco-friendly beauty – but still prefer Manolo Blahniks to Birkinstocks.

Korres Lip Butter is available at Sephora.

Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Three years ago, Bath & Body Works abandoned its single brand, single price point strategy when it started carrying popular lines like C.O. Bigelow, Frederic Fekkai, and Wexler. Neil Fiske, then CEO, said of the change, "This represents another step in the transformation of Bath & Body Works from raspberry shower gel to a modern apothecary of beauty and well-being."

Now, Bath & Body Works is reinventing itself, once again, by cutting its outside vendor list by 50%. Upscale brands that have left, or are slated to leave flagships by the end of the year include DDF, Peter Thomas Roth, Korres, Juvena, and The Savannah Bee Company. "We still feel very strongly about third-party brands and continue to carry them. We continue to look for not only new items within the brands we carry, but also additional brands," current CEO Diane Neal said. "I personally think we over-assorted ourselves,” she added.

So if your favorite brand is getting the ax, visit your nearest Bath and Body Works store now and adopt a few soon-to-be homeless beauty products.

Cornucopia of Cosmetics

Greetings from Spokane, Washington - where I am celebrating my first Thanksgiving away from home, with my hubby and in-laws. Thanksgiving is the ultimate celebration of family, friends, and food...and as a bonus, you get a day off from work, football is on TV three days early, and overindulgence is encouraged! Doesn't it seem unfair that it only lasts one day?

The following products simulate the scents of the season, and will have you giving thanks well into the new year.


Indulge your feet and your senses with The Body Shop's Cranberry Heatable Booties. To use, simply remove the cranberry-scented sachet and heat in the microwave for one minute.


Treat your lips to Philosophy's Kiss Me Lip Trio. There's a flavor for every kiss—Melting Chocolate Lip Shine for a decadent kiss, Cinnamon Buns Lip Shine for a sugary, sweet kiss, and Cranberry Lip Shine for a red, juicy kiss. Spread holiday cheer with these luscious high-gloss Lip Shines. Only at Sephora.


Korres Vanilla Cinnamon Moisturising Body Milk has an exceptionally light, powdery texture that goes on matte, and keeps you fresh and soft, all day.


The Pumpkin Classic Candle from Paddywax shows its bounty with scents of fresh carrot, spicy pumpkin and vanilla bean.