These easy little cream sticks provide the perfect pop of color for cheeks and since they’re packaged in a simple push up tube, no brush is required. Simply dab a bit on the apples your cheeks and blend, blend, blend with fingers.

I like Cheeky, since I’m quite fair, but as you can see, there’s a color for every skintone.

The best part of all? The Blush Tints are just $7 each.  Snag them through your mark. rep or via meetmark.com.

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Offering twelve new shades for Fall 2009, BeingTRUE’s latest collection is inspired by gemstones. The shadows are rich and quite pigmented, not to mention infused with Demaxyl, a ceramide complex that helps smooth crepey eyelids by adding moisture to depleted skin.  They also include an antioxidant complex of Vitamin E, Green Tea, White Tea, which helps shield the skin from the environment, UV damage and moisture loss.

You can snag the shadows at www.beingtrue.com – they’re $16 per pan and $5 for a refillable single compact.

Another eco-friendly favorite of mine is the PlantLove collection by Cargo. The chic and sweet bio-degradable bio-plastic packaging is actually made of corn (tip: you can also plant the cardboard packaging – there are seeds embedded!) while the products are the ONLY prestige makeup line to carry the globally recognized ECOCERT™ natural designation for environmental commitment.

My favorite product in the PlantLove line are the Baked Illuminator marbelized powders (bottom left of the photo above.) Infused with natural and organic ingredients, the formula is free of parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, and synthetic dyes and fragrances (in other words, all the bad stuff!) The Baked Illuminators are multi-use as well – try them as a highlighter, blush or eye shadow. I also love them brushed on the shoulders and decolletage for a bit of glow.

I want to know – what’s your favorite eco-friendly makeup line and why? Leave a comment and share!

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1. Excessive glitter and over the top shimmer are de rigeur in most bronzers while I eschew them.

2. When you are as fair as I am, it’s a challenge to find a bronzer that doesn’t go too dark, too muddy or too orange.

I found the solution to my bronzer dilemma in MAC’s new Colour Craft collection.

This bold color story for summer includes some of the most beautiful baked, marbled Mineralize Skinfinishes and Mineralize Blushes you’ve ever seen, including my new BFF, Warm Blend.

Three layers of color – Antique Gold, Mahogony Brown and Copper – can be swirled together to create the perfect diffused, iridescent glow.  I like it best with the Daft Pink Mineralize Blush ($21) added on the apples of cheeks for a finishing pop.

Mineralize Skin Finishes retail for $27 – but don’t forget that they can easily do double duty as eyeshadows.

p.s. That “u” in “colour”? Blame Canada (MAC’s homeland!)

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1: Most appear either orange or dirty on my skintone

2: Glitter. I’m 30. I don’t need it (yet most bronzers have it.)

LORAC has the solution this summer with their new TANtalizer Baked Matte Satin Bronzer SPF 15 ($30).

This finely milled powder does the unthinkable…it adds radiance without adding a ton of shimmer or heaven forbid, glitter. The mineral-based, baked formula applies like a dream too – it’s long-wearing and virtually weightless on skin.

For a little versatility, try this baby either wet or dry. (A damp brush will make this a bolder, darker hue.)

To snag your very own, visit www.loraccosmetics.com.

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Available in two shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Deep, each compact packs two shades of subtle bronzer that can be blended or used separately. These babies also do double duty as eye shadows in a pinch, so don’t be afraid to multi-task.

And of course, with a product like this that incorporates SPF, you get the benefit of a beautiful sunkissed look without the danger of skin damage or worse, melanoma.

Snag your very own Almost Bronzer at www.clinique.com.

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TREND: A NEUTRAL, FLAWLESS COMPLEXION

In the spring and summer, your best feature should be flawless skin. But since it’s warmer outside, you have to use a product that isn’t too heavy and won’t run down your face when it’s humid.

TIP: To make sure you don’t over-do it, use a product that gives you sheer, light coverage that makes it look like you were born with smooth, flawless skin! Apply it just like you would your regular moisturizer. An added bonus is finding one with SPF in it! (She suggests Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 – I also love Laura Gellar’s, though it’s a bit more expensive.)

TREND: A SUBTLE GLOW… EVEN WHEN A VACATION ISN’T AN OPTION

It’s not as easy these days to jet off for a weekend getaway, but you don’t want your only glow to come from the light of a computer screen either. The solution? Fake it with a subtle, natural-looking bronzer – one that will make friends ask which beach you spent your weekend at.

TIP: For a subtle glow that is polished, not overdone, use a bronzer that offers gorgeous color and one that offers a mistake-proof formula. Picking the correct bronzer will give the illusion of a soft, smooth surface. Sweep it across cheeks, forehead, nose and chin, neck and chest for a healthy looking fresh finish. Use it to create some cleavage as well! (Joanna suggests Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer)

TREND: MAKE EYES POP WITH A WASH OF WARM, RADIANT BRONZE

A subtle application of bronze shimmer shadow on the top of lids is right on trend for spring and summer. With the same shade in hand, sweep color gently under the lower lashes to make your eyes stand out for a more dramatic pop.

TIP: Make sure the shadow is applied starting right above eyelashes and take it up just past the crease. Be careful though – if you apply it any higher, the look will go from being in trendy to clown-ish. (Try another great Physician’s Formula product to get this look - Shimmer Strips Custom Enhancing Shadow & Liner – Bronze Collection)

Will you be sporting any of these key trends this summer?

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Eye Exotics Eyeshadow Trio ($6 each)
A full coverage, powder eyeshadow for your eyes. Whether you want to shade, define, shadow or line, any look can be yours. Create stunning eye looks with 1 color palette. Bold shades that make the perfect eye statement for the season. Available in three gorgeous shades, including Beach Babe (left) Ocean Hues and Jungle Love.

Lip Exotics Lip Lacquer ($6 each)
A full coverage, wet, high shine, lacquer for lips. Creamy texture glides on lips smoothly….leaving lips looking full and lush. Flavored with mark signature spearmint for fresh, kissable lips. Available in five gorgeous shades: Fever, Pop, Rush, Chill & Wild.

Good Glowing Mosaic Cheek Color ($7 each)
A super-smooth powder that lets you glow wherever you to want it to go. Whether you want to shimmer or blush the look can be yours. Sold in single-pan format, it can easily be removed/popped into the mark. Favorite Colors Palette, interchangeable with mood or moment. Available in two gorgeous shades – Chica and Sandy.

What do you think of the mark Summer 2009 collection? Are you tempted to give any of these goodies a go?

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Inspired by Kate’s modern beauty and sophisticated taste, Elaine was determined to create a look that highlighted these elements while incorporating key spring makeup trends. She selected a peach palette to give Kate’s skin an overall warmth with a punch of seasonal freshness. To create dimension and luminosity, Elaine stuck to a range of burnt-pinks and tangerine-bronzes.

To get Kate ready for makeup application, Elaine prepped her skin with a selection of BeingTRUE antioxidants and calming anti-inflammatory products to ensure keep the makeup in place smooth out her canvas. For a dewy glow, Elaine layered BeingTRUE Powder Blush in Peony over the Cream Blush in Peach. Last but not least, Elaine applied BeingTRUE Sheer Lip Shine in Dreaming to give her lips a smooth, fresh color to compliment the peachy palette. These glosses have a delightful minty essence, and a slight plumping effect to make her pout stand out.

What do you think of Kate’s look?

Image via InStyle.com

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My makeup bag must-have from the line is the Freedom Glow Beauty Balm. This travel-friendly tube contains a creamy, easy-to-blend, hydrating formula that can be used on lips, cheeks, eyes and décolletage for a natural, dewy radiance. It’s available in three glowing shades to compliment any skin tone – Sunkissed, Blushed and Bronzed.

Shop the Revolution Organics Freedom collection at www.revolutionorganics.com. 

What steps are you taking to get a little greener in your beauty routine?  Leave a comment and share!

Image courtesy of Revolution Organics.

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• Never apply a powder or cream bronzer to an un-prepped skin. Bronzer is rich in color and will grab onto dry or un-exfoliated skin creating a choppy and dirty look to the skin.

• Powder bronzer will adhere smoother to a skin that has a slight base, if you want to go sans foundation, wait for your moisturizer to dry, very lightly dust a sheer translucent powder over entire face using an oversized powder brush. Follow with powder bronzer, using a bronzer brush over entire face

• If you wear a liquid foundation in the summer, mix a drop of liquid or cream bronzer with it to create a sheer glow on the skin with out being too dark.

• Bronzer should always look like its coming from your own skin not a bottle. Go for a bronzer with a satin or matte finish during the day, keeping luminosity very sheer. However using a bronzer with shimmer at night will add depth and glow to the skin – try Prescriptives Mineral Bronzer (available in Warm or Cool.)

• If your skin is tan naturally, avoid a flat look by adding a liquid or powder low level shimmer in gold for warm and rose for cool, this will brighten the skin and enhance your natural tan.

Image courtesy of Prescriptives

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