Earth Day Beauty Is Everyday Beauty for Most Models and Celebrities

April is a great month.  The sun is out.  It finally feels like spring.  It’s my birthday month.  And, of course, it’s Earth Day month!!  

To fashion magazines, Earth Day month equates to natural beauty month.  I’m not sure when the mags began spotlighting natural products each April, but I love the tradition and obviously have a lot to say about it.  For instance, do these Earth Day beauty spotlights mean that magazines recognize healthy skincare is better for BOTH our bodies AND the environment???

Not sure if you noticed this in the April issues, but I thought the juxtaposition of Town & Country’s Earth Day beauty review (first below) to InStyle's (second) was fascinating.  InStyle asks: do natural products really work?  Then T&C just goes ahead and lists beautiful celebrities’ healthy beauty product favorites—noting that these products have “become less the exception than the rule.”  HELL YES, Town & Country!!!  Who knew you’d be the most progressive of them all?!?!?

While InStyle, Women's Health, Elle, and others reviewed healthy products in their April Earth Day spotlights, they still tiptoed around these products like they might not be effective.  The unhealthy mass-market brands wouldn't want you to know it, but the reality is that natural skincare is not only effective…many (dare I say most?!?) models and celebrities use natural products ONLY!  In addition to those featured in the T&C spotlight, we know that Giselle Bundchen, Miranda Kerr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba and others are on board with natural because they either make or license their own healthy product brands (check out the name links to see their brands).  The list goes on...  Natalie Portman, Carolyn Murphy, Emma Stone, Zooey Deschanel...!

If the women who are in the public eye most, and who MUST care for their skin and appearances (because they're paid to do so!) all use healthy, natural skincare products ONLY--how are we still questioning whether these products work?  How do we only get reviews of these products in April for Earth Day?  Let's join the models, celebrities, and women with the most impeccable skin.  In the wise words of the folks at Refinery29, let's make every day Earth Day...with our beauty products, and the rest of our lifestyles!  

Town & Country Earth Day Beauty Spotlight.

InStyle Earth Day Beauty Spotlight.

Womens Health April Earth Day Spotlight.

Elle Spotlight.

                              

Beautiful spring day at the Boston Common!

The Russian Beauty Scene

The past two years of business school have afforded many perks.  One of the best has been the opportunity to study abroad again—but, in true “grown up” fashion—only for a week, and over spring break vacation.  I chose Russia for my trip, and boy am I glad that I did!  I could write more than a few posts on our fascinating company treks and adventures, but I know you don’t come to the Naturalchemyst for econ…so let’s talk Russian beauty instead!

The first opportunity I had—I asked some Russian knock-outs from St. Petersburg’s School of General Management where they buy beauty products.  So excited for great Russian products to bring home and try, I literally skipped through the subways and streets on my way to these stores. 

Much to my dismay, none of my trips revealed any Russian brands whatsoever!  Take a look at the below pics to get an idea of the Russian beauty retail scene.  It’s strikingly similar to ours.  They have their Sephora (Ile de Beaute) and L’Etoile, which are also found in malls.  They also have PNB Row, which is located in high foot traffic street level spaces, and carries both the high (Bliss, Clarins, etc.), low (L’Oreal, etc.), and a single healthy-ish Greek line called Fresh (no apparent relation to the American Fresh).  The only large, notable difference was in the haircare section. 

While I recognized many of the Western European skincare brands, nearly all of the haircare lines were from the East.  Literally.  Every shampoo I picked up was Asian, and that’s a big difference from home!  Of course I had to try some of these products.  Stay tuned for a later post on what the hype might be all about…

Suffice it to say, I was quite disappointed by my store excursions.  With such a young business infrastructure (outside of energy of course), I don’t know why I had such high expectations, but still…nothing Russian and absolutely NOTHING healthy?!?!  Who knows…maybe I checked the wrong places.  I did to retreat back to the Russian beauties with two more questions:

1) Had they heard of, or used any healthy or natural skincare products?  Answer: They make healthy skincare products in their kitchens—oftentimes at gatherings with friends!   Now THAT sounds like my kind of party! 

2) All Asian haircare products? 

Answer: Who knew!  That’s what they’re used to, and never really thought twice about the difference!  

So, key take-aways on the Russian beauty scene:

1) It’s in serious need of truly healthy brands

2) The retail infrastructure is extremely familiar

3) D-I-Y healthy skincare parties are trending

4) All Asian haircare, all the time.

5) All above=great opportunity for U.S. skincare manufacturers to bring over their products.  This was confirmed on a trip to the U.S. Consulate.

Great experience overall!  If you have any questions about the trip, do let me know!  

Sephora in Russia!

L'Etoile.  Wasn't so easy to read the store signs in this country!

All Japanese haircare all the time.

They had some good attempts at natural at Stenders. 

Another good attempt by Natura Siberica.

Sticking to Roots with Farmaesthetics

As you know, I’ve been following healthy skincare for more than 5 years now.  It’s been fun to watch brands go in and out of vogue, reformulate, repackage, thrive, and sometimes, sadly, disappear.  Of greatest interest to me are those that thrive.  The theme connecting them: authenticity and an unwavering adherence to brand values.  One excellent example is Farmaesthetics—a brand I’ve always loved for its Lavender Milk lotion, which I now love even more for its story and strong values.

Last week I had a great chat with Brenda Brock, founder of Farmaesthetics, in her Newport showroom.  Quite fitting that I conducted the entire interview from a rocking chair, as it helped me appreciate Brenda’s stories of growing up on a farm, and mixing her first skincare oils in the kitchen there.  As she mapped out her evolution from that Texas farm to the Rhode Island farm stand where she began selling her products I couldn’t help but think to myself—you can’t make this stuff up!

Many brands burn tons of cash on creating a beautiful story to fit their product—and rightfully so.  But then there’s Brenda—with no one else’s story but her own.  Not only has Brenda managed to thrive in this space, she’s become an authority in it.  She’s been pegged by product associations, wellness institutes, designer spas, and everyone between—to share her kitchen chemistry and sustainable beauty secrets.  She’s never changed her formulations, packaging, or message to accommodate the powers that be, and yet her products have stayed in vogue—and thriving—the entire time I’ve been researching the space!

The next time you pick up a Farmaesthetics product, check out the label.  It's in Brenda’s handwriting.  Even THIS hasn’t changed since the roadside farm stand!  She’s managed to scale everything from her kitchen recipes, to her writing on glass bottles, because it works!  

Brenda credits her success to sticking to principles…no matter what.  She joked with me, and her awesome Marketing Associate, Amanda, about how much she had to learn about business.  My thought: when it comes to smart growth and values, any business could learn a great deal from Ms. Brock!  

Here are some shots I snapped at the Newport apothecary last Friday.  Such an awesome space.  A must-do in lil' Rhody!

Confident Beauty with Shamanuti

I love meeting the founders of truly healthy skincare brands.  These entrepreneurs (oftentimes women—very cool!) are driven, passionate, creative, and RADIANT!  This week I had the opportunity to meet the beautiful Beth Hopkins, founder of Shamanuti.  What a woman, and WHAT a product!

Before jumping into skincare, Beth voraciously read and learned as much as possible about the best ingredients and processes used to make products that optimize skin functionality.  The skin has so many duties—like protecting and enriching our bodies, for two!  Beth wants us to be just as intentional with the things we put on our skin as we are (or try to be) with our food, exercise, mental health, and wellbeing.  I KNEW I’d like this lady.

The products that resulted from her studies, consultations, and caring are absolutely incredible.  They’re densely packed with nutrients that feed us from the outside, in.  They smell beautiful and real, but the ingredients are far from overpowering and appeal to men just as much as women.  They're gorgeous.  I first tried Shamanuti because of a visceral pull to take their lotion off the shelf in Whole Foods—the packaging was basic, beautiful, and real.  Beth describes her brand as “urban agrarian.”  God, is she cool.

By far the best part of my conversation with Beth was her unrelenting focus on confidence. When you go from scrubbing your face dry with chemicals to using nutrient-rich products, your skin will GLOW.  This will make you more confident, and her brand can deliver on this.  Beth even wants to begin supporting science clubs for young women.  I hope she does, and I definitely agree: without healthy confidence, we’ll never be the best version of ourselves.  We need confidence to achieve all that we're capable of; and we're capable of A LOT.  As I walked out of the beautiful Shamanuti workspace, Beth left me with great advice: "Don't be careful...be confident." 

Shamanuti founder Beth Hopkins.  

My favorite Shamanuti product so far: very nurturing Golden Light Night Cream!

Cool and calm Shamanuti offices.  

Crazy beautiful mansion I spied enroute to the offices! Good start to this sunny yet still cold weekend.

Enjoy it!