Spring Cleaning Hits Your Makeup Bag

Yes, it's March and more snow is on the way, but spring beauty is in the bag at this weekend.

The Excelsior Boulevard boutique is hosting an event on Saturday featuring a variety of jewelers and clothiers touting their fresh, bright new lines. In addition to the sangria pours and cheese plates promised at the event, my mouth is watering over the complimentary mini-makeovers that Minneapolis-based online retailer Organic Divas will offer.

Though the company has been in business peddling sensible cosmetics for more than three years online, I haven't had much exposure to Organic Divas. Yes, I've heard raves about the company — which promises to sell only healthy, chemical-free beauty products — for a couple of years. However, makeup is something I like to buy in person rather than online; I need to see the colors and test out the makeup on my own skin before committing.

So, Saturday can't come soon enough. In fact, I got impatient recently and had to chat with Organic Divas founder Ann Garrity about her tips and tricks for healthy skin this spring as a prelude to a makeover at Guild this weekend.

St. Louis Park Patch: What are your plans for the trunk show Saturday? I read something about mini-makeovers — what will you be offering and will there be any specials on products?

Ann Garrity: Guests will enjoy a special gift with purchase — a Jane Iredale mini Longest Lash mascara. We will have a makeup artist on-hand to give guests a new spring look.

St. Louis Park Patch: What are some trends in makeup this coming spring? Are there any must-have colors or products that you think will be big? 

Garrity: Of course, lilac and pinks are hot again this spring. No matter what the trends say, I always say you can't go wrong with keeping your look natural in spring and summer. Really great, healthy-looking skin, and a beautiful sun-kissed look go a long way in the summer. Summer and spring are for simplifying your routine. "Less is more" never is so true. And don't forget Keys Solar RX for sunscreen under your makeup. Really wonderful stuff! 

St. Louis Park Patch: At Organic Divas' online store, I checked out the "Founder's Makeup Bag" full of your favorites. Now, it's spring break season and I'm wondering what you recommend to pare down a makeup bag to take on vacation. What are the best items to travel with?

Garrity: I recommend bringing products that do double duty. I use an Afterglow eyeshadow that I also use as blush (in "Bloom" or "True"). I also recommend deciding on one sun-kissed natural look, which means bringing one lipstick, one eyeliner, a mini Jane Iredale mascara and an eyeshadow that will work as blush, and you are good to go.

St. Louis Park Patch: I understand the products sold by Organic Divas are fully vetted to be toxin-free. How do you find these products, and are you finding that more and more companies are creating this type of makeup or is it hard to come by makeup that meets your qualifications?

Garrity: So many companies have jumped on the bandwagon and purport to be selling "organic" and "natural" products that are as toxic as their mainstream counterparts. We look for products all year long that meet our standards. They must sign "The Compact for Safe Cosmetics", which commits them to not use any ingredients that are cancer-causing or hormone-disrupting. All must earn a low toxicity rating by the Environmental Working Group. All must fully disclose their ingredients, not use catch-all terms such as "fragrance," and all must pass muster with Organic Divas product testers throughout the country. You either care about women's health or you don't. We don't sell "sort of" non-toxic products. We only sell truly non-toxic products.

St. Louis Park Patch: Have you discovered any new great products recently that you can tell us about?

Garrity:  A great kit for spring is Jane Iredale My Steppes. This all-in-one compact contains two lip glosses, a blush, a bronzer and a mirror for effortless touchups on the go. This is my favorite product for spring. It is great for travel, too!

St. Louis Park Patch: Is it possible to build a toxin-free makeup bag on a budget?

Garrity: Most definitely. Again, use products for double duty. A great product is Keys Eye Butter. It retails for $19.95. I use it for my eyes and for my lips. I use blush as eyeshadow and eyeshadow as blush. Again, the best thing you can do is to simplify your routine.

St. Louis Park Patch:Your website says a lot about how to avoid chemicals and toxins found in many popular makeup brands. Something I've always wondered is how long can you safely keep makeup and brushes — does mascara or a tube of lipstick have an expiration date? And, what about sharing them with friends and sisters?

Garrity: Never share your make-up with friends or sisters. Like a toothbrush, everyone should have their own makeup. Wash your brushes in a good organic shampoo every week. I toss my mascara every three months. As for eyeshadows and blushes, I hold onto them for up to a year. Lipsticks never stay around for longer than six months.

St. Louis Park Patch: Great tips! See you Saturday!

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IF YOU GO

What: Second Saturday Trunk Show, featuring selections from Ann Lambrecht Jewelry, Donna Menne Jewelry, Organic Divas and Luciana. Serving sangria, fruit, cheese and crackers.

Where: Guild Collective, 4414 Excelsior Boulevard

When: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.