While some of you could care less what models use on their skin—they’re just genetic jackpot winners, right?—I actually think these women have a lot of insight on the subject.
Models are the ultimate guinea pigs: Day in and out, products of all stripes are piled onto their hair and faces. This means several things: They get to test everything out; they have access to experts; and they actually have to work harder than most of us to try to maintain some kind of balance when they’re not shooting and strutting.
So I was not surprised to see that several of the models in a post from Elle about Model Skin Secrets sited naturals and oils as the ultimate in skincare.
Plant oils seem especially popular among this set. Are you a plant-oil convert yet? And if so, which do you use: argan, coconut, jojoba? See any other products you love here?
Without further ado, the natural picks of these natural-born beauties…
“I like Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream because it’s chemical-free—I think using clean, organic ingredients on your skin really helps it. The Cleansing Milk and Cleansing Cream are also very good. I’m a huge Dr. Hauschka fan; I’ve been using their products for a couple years
“I actually just discovered Suki—it’s an organic line that you can buy at Whole Foods and health stores. I use their soap and moisturizing oil—facial oil is my new thing!” —Ginta Lapina
“I got really lucky with my skin—I don’t have to do a lot with it. But Caudalie has this Beauty Elixir—it’s just water with some essential oils mixed in—and it’s so nice.”
“I like argan oil—when you put it on before you go to bed, you wake up with baby skin! Really soft baby skin.” —Anais Pouliot
“During Fashion Week I use the Carrot Butter Cleanser from Organic Pharmacy to remove my makeup. It’s moisturizing and takes off everything, even waterproof mascara—it cleanses really deep.”
“For removing my mascara, I like using coconut oil. As a moisturizer, I like Dr. Alkaites’ cream or Bulgarian rose oil—you know, things that are organic and natural for the skin, and won’t just sit on it.” —Karolina Kurkova
Spoken like true clean girls! Do you share any favorites with these ladies?
Here’s a million- (or several-) dollar question for you: Why do cosmetics companies hire famous people to be in their ads if they’re going to make them look totally unrecognizable?
On first glance I had no idea who was in this Rimmel ad. Can you tell?
A very long time ago I worked for a modeling agency. I was all of 19 when I started, and while it was a wonderful experience on many levels (travel, creative people, clothes, clothes, clothes), I was little more than a glorified babysitter. Maybe you’re wondering who a 19-year-old babysits? Why, 15-year-olds, that’s who! See, at the time the industry was obsessed with hiring young girls—with their flawless, unwrinkled skin—and then doing them up to sort of look like women. Emphasis on sort of. (Luckily, after a few years everyone got tired of this terrible trend. The girls were inexperienced and unprofessional. The parents were a nightmare. And then there was that whole sexualizing minors thing… Bad idea.)
Part of the ridiculous argument for hiring these girls was to save costs on retouching. Graphic designers were charging a lot more back then (I remember hearing that one company spent $90,000 to photoshop a campaign when the model showed up with a breakout). They were also doing a better job. Which takes me back to the lady in question… If you haven’t guessed yet, it’s Zooey Deschanel.
Of course, I wish Deschanel wasn’t doing the ad in the first place—her big sister Emily Deschanel has been vocal about using clean cosmetics, and it’d be great if she followed that lead—but let’s put that aside for now.
The great appeal of Deschanel is that she’s quirky. She’s not your typical beauty—and that’s what makes her whole look so special. And she’s over 30, which makes her relatable to someone like me. But a 31-year-old turned into a high-schooler through bad retouching—which is how that picture reads—is relatable to exactly nobody.
So, yeah, sure, cosmetics companies suck: They spend a fortune on celebs only to photoshop their faces into oblivion—and then they cut costs elsewhere with crappy ingredients. But I’m also just sick of seeing weird disfigured photos and weird disfigured faces put forward as a beauty ideal. It’s just getting creepy, and it’s enough already. I like the real Zooey Deschanel, damnit!
Can I get an amen to that? (Then I will step down from my soap box, promise.)
Thanks to Jezebel and its Photoshop of Horrors series for this image
Last week Josie told us why we should use our fingers to apply makeup (just make sure they’re clean, y’all!), and this week she dishes on the sliding scale of “green,” her other favorite sustainable cosmetics brands and how traditional makeup used to wreak havoc on her skin.
When you were modeling all the time did you notice a difference in your skin and hair from all the product used? Did that have any part in you going clean?
With 17 years of modeling experience, I’ve spent a lot of time in the makeup chair. There were days I’d have makeup caked-on and I often got break outs. I never heard about healthier alternatives that were functional enough to be used by professional makeup artists. If I had, I would have asked that we use them. This is what inspired me to start my own line. It was also perfect that I was pregnant around the same time I was developing the line, because it definitely made me more aware of what I was putting inside my body and on my skin. I wanted to stay away from toxins as much as possible.
Where do you stand on the sliding scale of green? Totally clean without exceptions? Or do you bend the rules sometimes?
I was born into a family that cares about environmental and social issues, so being green and natural has always been an important part of my life. I try to reduce my carbon footprint whenever possible—one of my favorite things to do is compost in my backyard!
As for my brand, it has always been a luxurious, high-performance line that uses many natural and organic ingredients. As we’ve progressed, I have found that select synthetic ingredients are essential to high-performance cosmetics and since these will remain in some formulations, I am implementing ways to bring balance to this equation. Planting thousands of trees, donating profits to eco-organizations such as Global Green USA and the Natural Resources Defense Council, etc. Also, our packaging will remain compostable, biodegradable and/or recyclable. I am committed to being as authentic and transparent as possible as my line continues to grow.
Are there any exciting new discoveries you’ve made?
I’m really excited about my new mascara. We found a great way to introduce natural blacker-than-black mascara that really performs, while also giving back to a great cause. The formula features a breakthrough ingredient: double silica encapsulated carbon black. It offers unbeatable shine, the deepest carbon black available and water resistant, long wear benefits.
What’s your absolute favorite product from your own line?
My absolute favorite product is of course my 100% pure organic argan oil. It’s the ultimate multitasking product. I use it as a daily moisturizer, to heal rough cuticles and to fix split ends.
Other than your own, what are some other favorite clean brands?
I love Jo Wood Organics, Lulu Organics, and Duchess Marden.
Now there’s a face you can trust, are we right? Josie Maran, the foxy model and makeup maven behind Josie Maran cosmetics answered a few of our burning questions about beauty and products. We’re going to run it in two parts. Here’s the first chunk where she tells us about a—gasp—waterproof mascara, and some insider beauty tips. Next up? More modelly secrets, her favorite other natural lines and more.
What are some common booboos you see in makeup application—and how can we fix them?
One thing I see a lot of is eyeshadow mistakes. Blend, baby, blend! Apply your colors and then take a clean eyeshadow brush and go over what you’ve done until it blends together beautifully. Also, curl your lashes. This is such a small step that so many women skip but it makes a huge difference. Curling your lashes really opens up your eyes and pulls a whole look together. I’m actually totally addicted to curling my lashes.
Do lots of models use natural products?
As a model, it’s hard to use natural products because, unless you’re carrying your own kit around, you’re at the mercy of the makeup artist who is doing you for the job. On top of that, there haven’t really been [many] high performance natural makeup products that hold up for photo shoots or runway. However, I do think that models (like everyone else) are becoming more conscious about what they put on their bodies—especially in terms of skin care. In fact, the gorgeous supermodel Brooklyn Decker just gave a shout out to my argan oil saying she can’t live without it! Every day makeup artists have been asking me to help them clean out the toxins from their kits, and we send them healthy high-performing cosmetics from my line to use on their clients.
We bend on waterproof mascara and antiperspirant on occasion. You told us in the past that creating a good mascara was crucial to you—and yours is great—but could natural ever replace truly waterproof?
It is true that a good mascara is like the holy grail. And guess what? My new mascara is natural and water resistant! You can have both! Two ingredients—the organic cerifera wax and the organic beeswax—help keep the mascara on your lashes, while the argan oil conditions and volumizes at the same time. I’m also so proud of the GOGO mascara because of the cause behind it. GOGO stands for Get One, Give One. We’ve teamed up with City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment center, and for every GOGO we sell we are donating one to a patient or survivor of cancer.
If you could offer women one beautifying tip, what would it be?
Use your fingers when applying makeup. Don’t be afraid—the result is natural and clean. And, of course: Smile!
What is your number-one favorite natural ingredient to use in products—other than argan?
Argan Oil IS my favorite natural ingredient! I use Argan Oil in almost all of my products for it’s moisturizing, anti-aging, and nourishing properties.
Stay tuned for part two!
