Last night, I attended the Josie Maran Cosmetics Sephora launch party at Akasha in Culver City.  Inspired by her Northern California upbringing, a love of organic products, and years of modeling, Josie created a luxurious line of natural and organic makeup and skin products.  What’s particularly amazing about her makeup is that it has a ton of color payoff (intense pigments that look really lovely on skin) while still being good-for-you.  (Check out the super moisturizing, organic Moroccan Argan Oil, which can be used on both skin and hair, and the gorgeous Finger Paints palette, consisting of four shades to brighten and prettify eyes, cheeks or lips.)

Finger Paints

Right as I was introduced to Josie, she was off to the boys’ bathroom to make mischief by writing on the mirror in lipstick; she invited me along, and the resulting silliness was caught by Wire Image:

Why I am clinging to the wall for dear life, I have no idea.

For young women hovering around my age (we nipped at the heels of Generation X and were blessed with an email-free youth distinguished by New Kids on the Block sleeping bags, slap bracelets and episodes of Full House) certain products are inextricably linked to the middle school beauty regimen: Noxzema, Sea Breeze Astringent, Mane and Tail shampoo, Vanilla Fields, and the lipbalm crack of the early 90’s: Softlips.  One slick instantly transports me back to 7th grade and the halls of Haynes Bridge Middle School, where I was the awkward new girl recently moved from Plano, Texas–a simpler, more carefree time that was nonetheless insanely dramatic in the way of all middle school experiences.  I recently received a shipment of Softlips tubes, and it was like Christmas: Vanilla! Cherry! Strawberry! Tinted!  There are even balms certified organic by the USDA in flavors like Honeydew and Pomegranate, although they don’t contain sunscreen like the others do.  I threw a few sticks in my various bags–so I’m never without tasty moisturizing goodness–and have been enjoying a little reminder of the old days.  (All I need now is a boombox blasting Mariah Carey’s Music Box album and I’m set.)

I hesitate to report on any skincare products before I’ve given them a fighting chance to work wonders on (or wreck) my complexion, but I’m tentatively in love with Nude Skincare, which I’ve been tearing through for the past week.  The line, made of mostly organic and natural ingredients and recycled, biodegradable packaging, is a collaboration between Bryan Meehan, the creator of Fresh and Wild (the UK version of Whole Foods) and Bono’s wife Ali Hewson, and bills itself as ethical, biocompatible skincare that reduces inflammation and helps prevent aging by strengthening the skin’s protective barrier through pre and probiotics.  All the thought and care that went into making the line as green as possible is impressive, but I’m hardly a skin hippie, so what really sways me is how soft and glowing my skin looks after I use the luxurious products.  Yes…I think I’m a believer. 

The Nude Selection Box is a great place to start: for only $38, you get all the bestsellers, including the Cleansing Facial Oil, Advanced Smoothing Complex, Miracle Mask, Moisture Balance and Hydrating Water.  (I am, by the way, obsessed with the Cleansing Facial Oil.  Obsessed.  There needs to be an intervention.)

Just when I start thinking crazy thoughts like, “Hey, Kate Hudson and I are almost the same age.  And, you know, if you kind of squint, we even look alike!  She’s accessible!  With a little hair and makeup help, I could be as gorge!” she goes and blows every other twentysomething on the planet out of the water with a Jackie O-meets-Audrey look for the ages.  The tan alone belongs in a museum…and the perfectly tousled “angels sprout from my scalp” hair?  It makes me weep.  Well played, Kate.  Well played, indeed.

Photo from USmagazine.com

Once again, who is this girl’s colorist?  I love me some Kaz Amor at Warren-Tricomi like a maniac..but I need to know.

Many moons ago I was a grooming assistant at FHM, and Dr. Hauschka was one of the very first lines I encountered in the free-for-all beauty closet.  Its holistic, botanical, environmentally-friendly reputation preceded itself and I’d heard through the grapevine that Madonna used it, so I was sold instantly.  (Hmm, remind me to post about my Madonna story later…)  Obviously, I took home as much as I could carry and began testing it, liking how gentle and calming all the products were.  In the past few weeks, several readers have written in recommending it not just for those suffering from the after-effects of chemotherapy, but also for anybody looking for a natural–yet chic and effective–alternative to the chemical-laden products in the stores.  One such tip here:

J. writes: ”I recommend products by Dr. Hauschka – I know so many women of our mothers’ generation who swear by it! And I asked my godmother (a breast cancer survivor), and she said that they were the only ones she was able to use as she underwent chemotherapy. I have to admit, however, that their creams are too rich for my skin. I’m not even thirty years old, and my oily, sensitive skin starts to break out as soon as I’m using anything not completely oil-free. The whole Dr. Hauschka concept for oily skin (add oil so that your skin “learns” to be less oily)…well, I can kind of understand it, but I couldn’t get my skin to agree on that.  Still, I know many people with dry or mature skin who just love the products!  For those days where you feel uncomfortable in your own skin—zits coming, yet itchy all over—it’s time for the Facial Steam Bath followed by the Cleansing Clay Mask (it comes as a cheaper refill, so you don’t have to buy the more expensive original jar). And for any day where your eyes are burning because you spent so much time in front of a computer (visiting blogs or actually working…) Eye Solace is just wonderful. I also recommend the Translucent Bronze Concentrate, which looks really natural and feels better on your skin than any self-tanner I’ve tried.  Oh, and they also have their own line of Holistic Home Remedies!”

Send in your own secret weapon recommendations to nadine@jolienadine.com and I’ll post the best!

For more Green Beauty info, check out TotalBeauty.com’s “Two Minute Guide to Green Beauty” below!

Okay, peeps, here’s the scoop.  TotalBeauty.com is holding a series of contests in honor of Earth Day, in the attempt to make our planet just a little bit greener…not to mention a little bit prettier.  As I blogged about last week, they’re not only giving away hundreds of organic beauty products, but will also be giving away a Saturn Vue Hybrid (itself filled to the brim with organic goodies!).  Somebody has to win, so why not you, eh?  For all the scoop and to enter, click here:

Next up is a contest Total Beauty is having for their bloggers.  There’s a beauty trade show held in Paris every year called Beyond Beauty, and Total Beauty is sending three of its affiliate bloggers to the October 2008 summit in Paris.  Jolie would be thrilled to go and get the scoop on the latest and greatest beauty innovations…but this is only possible with your help!  Whichever blogger pulls in the most traffic to the site via links will win, plain and simple.  Your part?  Just click on the buttons above or below!  I’ll link back to the contest throughout the month as I post about my favorite and latest organic finds, but in the meantime…you know what to do!  (Click above…click below…click wherever!)

Kermit had it wrong: it is easy being green.  (Groan.)  In celebration of Earth Day, my new favorite website ever TotalBeauty.com is launching their “Totally Green Campaign,” giving away a 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid filled with a year’s supply of organic and eco-friendly products.  Intrigued?  Go to the website, write a product review…and wait for your brand new car to appear in your driveway!  Ta-da!  (Okay, it’s not quite that easy…but you will be automatically entered by posting a review between April 17th and June 5th.)  Perhaps you already have a car.  Perhaps the offer of an awesome new hybrid vehicle filled with goodies from Sephora and Origins Organics is not exciting to you.  And perhaps we can no longer be friends.  Eh, just kidding…Jolie love you long time.  (Seriously, what’s up?  I am really punchy right now.)

I am loving the genius behind CARGO PlantLove Botanical Lipsticks.  Sure, sure, the shades are pretty and were designed by beautiful celebrities (Lindsay Lohan!  Angie Harmon!  Evangeline Lily!), and the formula is infused with meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba and shea butter, and the lipstick feels nice and totally glam.  Whatever, CARGO, you designed an awesome lipstick.  Good for you.  For the first time ever, I want to focus on the packaging!  Not only are the tubes to-die-for gorgeous (I mean, just look at them), but they’re made from biodegradable corn (an abundant, renewable resource), and the carton itself is made from flower paper embedded with flower seeds.  So, you can actually plant the boxes…and flowers will grow.  Maybe I’ve had too much coffee today, or maybe I’m turning into a hippie, but I think this is about the coolest thing ever.  Bonus: CARGO is donating two dollars from every sale to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.  So much love.