Keeping track of what works

I love to keep track of outfits that work. Here is a page I've been playing with to print out and make my own little notebook. More to come!

Indie Makeup Companies - Made in the USA

Indie makeup companies are started by people like you and me, who love makeup so much they want to create exactly what they would like themselves. I have found 3 companies which all have their own unique features, and the small-company feel makes them a pleasure to deal with.

Marlena, creator of MakeupGeekTV Youtube videos, has a giant selection of eye shadows at her MakeupGeek website. They are smooth and creamy, made in the USA, and a total bargain.

And if you're looking for a MAC dupe, she shamelessly lists them here. Her line is expanding quickly, she recently came out with some beautiful pigments I'm dying to try!

Susie Wang's creation is 100% Pure. Walking into her Santana Row store in San Jose, California, feels a bit like entering a brilliantly lit laboratory which happens to smell like heaven. Her products are addicting, and all formulated with pure, safe ingredients.

I've tried a golden cream eye shadow which I quite like, and next time I intend to try more color cosmetics. But the lovelies I really crave are the skincare products. I can't start the day without my Eucalyptus Butter Soap, the lotions all smell incredible, and even the Organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream smells good. I am obsessed.

The company I've known about the longest is Silk Naturals, created in New York by Karen Stark. I found them because I noticed bismuth oxychloride, an ingredient in most shimmery powder makeup,  makes my skin wrinkle up a bit and look dry and crepey. Not exactly the "beauty" look I'm going for! I've been very happy with all their pigment eye shadows, face powders and blushes. The colors are intense and exactly as described, and the ingredients are very natural. Probably the only reason I don't use them every day is the loose powder format, I do love the convenience of a pressed powder. All the products are quite reasonable in price and the customer service is great.

Three Bloggers for Real Women, Wearing Real Clothes

Audrey is a cutie from San Diego with lots of tips at Putting Me Together for putting together outfits. I love the way she breaks down the items she combines in each look. Totally wearable, California casual style.

Jessica Quirk from Bloomingdale, Indiana blogs at What I Wore and authored a spinoff book showing four seasons of daily wear. Love her color combos, and her fresh, Midwestern vibe.

Stylist and fashion blogger Angie Cox at You Look Fab has a sophisticated, international feel. She puts together simple pieces to come up with stylish, work appropriate looks.

Green Sunscreen

After reading labels on many, many tubes of sunscreen, I found one by Badger that looked pretty good. We've had 100 degree weather here, so I'll have plenty of chances to try it out!

It's pretty rare to see any kind of skin product at all that doesn't have sketchy detergents and preservatives listed on the back. I haven't completely made up my mind about how dangerous these ingredients are, but why is it so incredibly hard to avoid them, even among products sold in health food stores?

I am also intrigued by the 100% Pure sunscreen here. I've tried some lotions by them, and their ingredient list really is impressively pure. All their products smell totally yummy.

Green Beauty

After reading The Green Beauty Guide, I have started rethinking my beauty product choices. I've been busy researching products and ingredients.

I want to be more careful about what I slather all over my skin.

Do you ever worry about the safety of beauty products?

As a woman, can I just say . . .

I don't care if it's expected, I refuse to chop off my hair at 30 . . . 40 . . . 50 . . .

From my Moleskine

I've been fooling around with some sketching. My daughter and I took an online class together from Suzi Blu.