Orgasm Blush: My Farewell

Any makeup artist worth her weight in eye shadow will tell you Nars Orgasm blush is the best color ever invented. It's won all sorts of awards for it's unique peach/pink/sparkle that lights up most skin tones from palest ivory to the deepest caramel. But I really want my entire makeup kit to be from brands that are purposeful about non-toxic ingredients. I'm not saying I know that Nars has awful stuff in their blush. I'm saying I want to support brands that make it known that their focus is to make healthy products.

With that in mind, I've slowly removed all of the mainstream cosmetics from my kit - except Nars Orgasm. Each time I've reached for the black matt rectangle sitting atop my kit, I break out into a cold sweat. How could I part with such a perfect color? Last week while on a makeup job in New York, I confessed my hypocrisy on Facebook. And asked for help. Anybody out there make a mineral blush as wonderful as Nars Orgasm?

Kathy Duncan from Fusion of Color answered my call. "I have a color I've formulated that I think matches it pretty closely." My pulsed raced. But wait. What if she only thought she had a similar color? I didn't want to get my hopes up. I answered her email with a tirade of questions - does your color have those finely milled sparkles that sit on the cheek bones just right? What about the slight pink undertones beneath the perfect peach?

Finally, I got on her nerves. I've been known to do that. "I think it matches well," she answered. "But I'll send you a sample and you can decide." Today my Orgasm substitute came. I ripped open the envelope and pulled out the teeny container. I noticed Kathy's more modest name for her blush: Oh Me, Oh, My. But we all get the picture here. *wink*

Anyway, I shook a little out into the palm of my hand. Hmmm. It certainly looked like Orgasm. Then I rubbed a bit between my fingers to check for the slight sheen that has made Orgasm famous. Yep, it was there.

The last test was my boyfriend. His skin is fair with the slightest hint of a summer tan. "Try this blush on your arm for me," I asked with my best "please" face. He initially said no, but I wore him down. As soon as I blended the blush on his arm, I was in awe. It was an incredibly convincing natural version of my beloved blush. Fusion of Color's version is slightly more pigmented, so the color adheres more and will work on darker skin tones, as well. The best application, in my opinion, would be with a fan brush to keep it soft. I let out a sigh of relief. My honey shook his head, smiling. He will no longer hear my whines about how I can't part with Orgasm even though I'm supposed to be all about the healthier side of beauty.

Now I can have my favorite blush and my integrity. What's your favorite blush?

Want healthy beauty news and company profiles? Visit my other site, The Healthy Beauty Project.

Scary Nail Salons

Watch this serious video produced by 16 Deaths Per Day about the toxins in traditional nail salons and then check out Tierra Mia, a perfectly safe, organic salon here.

The Safe Cosmetics Act 2010

On Wednesday, July 21, The Healthy Beauty Project was on the press teleconference concerning The Safe Cosmetics Act 2010. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., introduced the bill (H.R.5786), which gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the $50 billion cosmetics industry. At present, the industry in America is self regulated, which in the opinion of many, is not working in the best interest of consumer’s health. As discussions concerning toxic ingredients and deceptive labeling are heating up, the bill is gathering strong supporters and outspoken critics.

And small, independent beauty brands are wondering will the bill adversely affect their businesses.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, along with several other prominent non-profits, is behind the effort to see this bill passed.

We decided to catch up with someone close to the front lines concerning the bill and ask questions. Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the author of Not Just a Pretty Face, agreed to speak with us.

HBP: Thank you so much for taking time for this interview. I know you must be crazed right now.

Ms. Malkan: Yes, I’m definitely busy. I’ve just had a radio interview for the past hour. And I’ve not eaten lunch yet.

HBP: Okay, I promise to be brief. I have just a few questions regarding The Safe Cosmetics Act. I know you’re heavily involved with this bill. And you must have seen some of the things being said over the internet about it – both positive and negative. Do you honestly believe this is the time to get this bill passed? There are so many other issues going on right now in Congress.

Ms. Malkan: There’s no question Congress is a tough climate right now, but I believe the system can work. I think this issue has a chance of getting through because so many people care about it. So many women care about it. As women, we don’t understand how much power we have. We are the largest voter. And spender – 75 cents from each dollar is spent by a woman. We have tremendous power. Another reason I think this bill will pass is it’s part of a broader effort to reform chemicals. This has been building momentum for the last decade. Now is the time and this is the bill.

HBP: I saw The Story of Cosmetics. There are studies out there on toxic ingredients in beauty products. This is real. But some critics are worried about having the government regulate these issues. Do you think this is something that possibly could be handled without government intervention? What if other stores did what Whole Foods recently did – create store policies about labeling and refuse to sell products that can’t back their claims with third party verification? To read the rest, go here.