Wicked Witchy Halloween!

It's my favorite time of year and I have been slow with planning my costume. No party this year, just answering the door, handing out candy to the kids. Typically I'm either a witch, ala 1960s Bewitched, or a cat, like the last two years. I've decided to go back to the classic witch costume, but this time I'm going to style myself after Elphaba Tropp, from "Wicked." I've never seen the musical and really know nothing about the music other than what I've heard on "Glee." But I've seen the poster and pics on the 'net, so I figured I'd give it a go.

The supplies, a mix of professional and drugstore cosmetics.

Back in high school, I pretty much lived in the drama club makeup department, but that was 30 years ago, so my skills are pretty rusty.  First, I collected my supplies. I checked out Easley's Fun Shop for makeup. I picked up some Ben Nye cake makeup in green, white, and black and a foundation brush. I grabbed two shades of M.A.C. Viva Glam lipstick from my makeup bag, some eyeliner in black and white, mascara and eyelash curler, eyeshadow (black, silver, grey, and white) and makeup primer.

I started with a semi-clean face and applied the primer.

Primed and ready.

Then I applied the first layer of green, using the foundation brush and some water. The layer is pretty thin; I look more queasy than witchy.

Layer #1.

I let the first layer dry and applied another layer. I think I was a bit too eager and applied the green before the primer had fully soaked in. That's why there's a dress rehearsal, folks!

Layer #2. Kind of blotchy.

And layer #3. I look full on Hulk here. I also started applying black as contour to my forehead, nose and the hollows of my cheekbones and mixed white and green for highlights.

Layer #3, feeling green!

Next, I drew in my eyebrows and highlighted around my eyes using eye shadow and the white cake makeup.

Eyebrows on, working on highlighting the eyes & cheeks.

Now the eyeliner. Just a simple cat eye swoosh.

Mascara on top and bottom lashes and a quick eyelash curl.

I'm using Physician's Formula Natural Origin Mascara. Love.

Finally lipstick and I start to let my hair down.

M.A.C. Viva Glam! The face is due to a tangled hair tie. Ow.

Witchy hotness, but I need wardrobe and better lighting.

Something is missing here...

Perfect! A sparkly cape and I'm ready for the Trick or Treaters!

What are your plans for Halloween?

Super handy guide

Cold, winter air brings dry, cracked skin. Luckily for us, The Green Guide has just published their hand and body lotion buying guide. An easy to use resource, it provides information on ingredients to look for and offer other tips to keeping your skin smooth and silky in the winter months. Be sure to click on the tabs explaining the environmental impact of moisturizers as well as the product comparison chart, which shows whether or not the products have been certified as USDA organic, Leaping Bunny certified, or are Dirty-Dozen Free.

Another tip from The Green Guide is to not rely on terms such as fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and cruelty-free. These labels are not defined by the government or by independent third-parties (such as Environmental Working Group or Leaping Bunny) so manufacturers don't need to follow any specific guidelines in order to include these labels on their products.

They also recommend drinking plenty of water, avoiding long, hot showers, and moisturizing after bathing. I would include adding good oils to your diet (and eliminate bad trans fats). Eating olives, walnuts, ground flax seeds, cold water fish such as salmon or sardines, and drizzling extra-virgin olive oil over your favorite foods are all good ways of moisturizing from the inside out!

A favorite and inexpensive trick for smoother feet and hands is applying a thin layer of castor oil to cracked fingers or heels and then putting on a pair of gloves or socks overnight. Take care as castor oil can stain, so have those socks ready to slip on so as not to leave a trail of oily footprints behind.

Safe sunning

Gone are the days of slathering on the orange gelee or baby oil and baking in the sun for hours. Sunblock is everywhere now that the ozone layer is not. Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database, Skin Deep, has once again announced their top ten picks for best/safest/most effective sunscreens. They also feature a list of more common brands that are zinc oxide, paraben, or oxybenzone free. These are ingredients often found in sunscreens. According to the EWG and the NIH, oxybenzone, also known as 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and benzophenone-3, is used as a UV blocker but may cause an allergic reaction in the skin when (or even when not) exposed to sunlight. Zinc oxide also has been found to be an allergic agent in some, but can pose greater health concerns when inhaled, so best not to use an aerosolized sunscreen product with this ingredient. Paraben is a preservative that is found in a multitude of items such as food and cosmetics and may be an endocrine disrupter.

As if all of this isn't bad enough, sunscreens have been found to cause coral bleaching in reefs where people tend to vacay.

So, grab your sunglasses and a big floppy hat, don a caftan made of UV fabric, and sit under that giant golf umbrella when you hit the beaches this holiday weekend!

More, cool info:
NIH Household Products Database
European Food Safety Authority
Environmental Health Perspectives