I’m excited to share with you my interview with American model and actress Josie Maran. Josie is also the founder of her own natural cosmetics product line, named Josie Maran Cosmetics.

In this interview Josie Maran talks about what led her to create Josie Maran Cosmetics. Her ultimate beauty secret. Her passion to protect the environment and for all things green. The people that inspire her the most, and future plans.

Marta Walsh: You are known for your career as a model and actress, what inspired you to create your own cosmetics line?
Josie Maran: When pregnant with my daughter a few years ago, I decided to look for natural makeup formulas to use and discovered that none lived up to the levels of sophistication and luxury as I wanted. It was then I realized that after spending so many hundreds of hours in the makeup chair, I was uniquely qualified to create my own line of cosmetics, the type of makeup that I was searching for: chic, luxurious and, most importantly, healthy. Not long after the birth of my daughter, Josie Maran Cosmetics was born.

MW: What is the Josie Maran Cosmetics philosophy?
JM: I believe in beauty without the baggage. Less is more. When starting my makeup line, I knew I wanted to avoid using toxic ingredients such as parabens and petrochemicals. Therefore, I aligned Josie Maran Cosmetics with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of women’s, consumer rights and environmental health organizations. I want to contribute to making positive change, and I also want to create something fun, beautiful, and luxurious. My dream is to build a brand with so much influence and popularity that my customers and I can work together to make the world a better place.

MW: Which products from your cosmetics line are you most in love with?
JM: Argan Oil is my ultimate beauty secret and favorite ingredient—I use it in over 90% of my line! As a moisturizer for skin, hair and nails, this 100% organic oil is housed in a recyclable glass bottle and purchased from women’s cooperatives in Morocco. A new favorite is my Argan Moisturizing Stick—now available exclusively at Sephora—which infuses the powerful hydrating ingredient of Argan Oil with rich Avocado Butter and Tea Tree Oil for concentrated moisture wherever you need it! This stick is the perfect size for my purse and I use it throughout the day on my lips, cuticles, elbows!!

MW: What was the most enjoyable part of creating Josie Maran Cosmetics?
JM: The most enjoyable part is knowing women will be getting healthy beauty products. I am very strict when it comes to ingredients and I am creating a line people can trust and feel good about on the inside ant out.

MW: Where does your desire to protect our environment come from?
JM: I was born into a family that cares about environmental and social issues – so you could say my awareness of environmental issues was just a natural part of my upbringing. My father is a green builder, my mother an artist, my grandmother a human rights activist/professor at UC Berkeley. We were always into a socially conscious way of living. But, I do feel that now having a daughter of my own has led me to a whole new “eco-awakening” – inspiring me to be even more conscious of our impact on the environment.

MW: What is your number one beauty secret?
JM: When I’m tired, I like to use my Argan Oil under my eyes… and I smile a lot.

MW: How would you describe your own style?
JM: I’m a free spirit who loves to be barefoot or in organic high heels.

MW: In your opinion, what makes a woman beautiful?
JM: It’s not what makes a woman beautiful, it’s what a woman makes beautiful. I think beauty comes from within and it’s up to women to take care of herself inside-mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. And then her beauty will shine through….

MW: Which people inspire you the most?
JM: My mom has always influenced my style and sense of beauty, and of course my daughter, Rumi Joon is my biggest inspiration.

MW: What is your favorite city in the world?
JM: San Francisco

MW: What are one or two things some people may not know about you?
JM: That I’m an inventor and the pronunciation of my last name rhymes with “Karen”

MW: What’s next for Josie Maran?
JM: I’m evaluating all my ingredients and formulas to make sure they are healthy and reformulating where need be. We are launching a brown mascara and some amazing new Argan Oil products this fall.

If you loved Christina Hendricks’ look last night at the 2009 Emmy Awards, Talking Makeup is excited to share with you some tips on how to get Christina’s look at home.

Makeup artist Georgie Eisdell shares some of her La Mer must haves for the big night:

Prepping Christina Hendricks for the evening, her makeup artist Georgie Eisdell says, “The look we went for with Christina had a little 20′s influence. I wanted it to keep Christina’s makeup really fresh, clean and elegant. I prepared her skin with La Mer’s The Moisturizing Lotion – it’s perfect to hydrate the skin with being greasy and a perfect base for foundation. Next, I love La Mer’s Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF 15 for Christina. It is light on the skin but gives excellent coverage where needed.

 Under her eyes I used La Mer’s new Radiant Concealor SPF 25 – a genius product, it goes on so easily and does not cake under the eye. Before I started on her eye I lathered her lips with La Mer’s The Lip Balm. I love using this on Christina; she has full lips so keeping them hydrated is really important and when it’s time to apply lipstick it goes on beautifully.”

Image via www.fabsugar.com

New York Fashion Week Spring 2010 Report: MAC Cosmetics Makeup Face Charts for 9/10.

Designer: BCBG. Artist: Lisa Butler

“It’s all about the individual. The look is finished but not made up.”-Lisa Butler

EYE: Zoom Lash in Zoomblack – applied to lash line as messy but chic liner with a 205 Mascara Fan Brush. Zoomblack Mascara – applied to upper and lower lashes. Zoomblack Mascara- applied to upper and lower lashes

FACE: Mineralize SP F15 Foundation – applied to skin where nee ded and under eyes with 217 Blending Brush.

LIP: Lip Conditioner – matted down onto lips with sponge.

Designer: Vena Cava. Artist: Lloyd Simmonds

“The collection is inspired by the graphic wall murals of the Ndebele tribe in South Africa, with a Maude Lebowski take on styling so we created a bold, graphic lip in violet.” – Lloyd Simmonds

EYE: PRO Taupe Powder Blush – blended over the eyel ids and along the lower lash line. Coquette Eye Shadow – applied to the crease of the eyelids. Clear Brow Set – brushed up through the brows.

FACE: Studio Sculpt Concealer and Select Cover-up Concealer –applied with M·A·C 190 Foundation Brush to create a matte finish on the skin. Prep + Prime Powder – applied to set the skin. PRO Taupe Powder Blush – brushed under cheekbones to contour.

LIP: PRO Lipmix in White, Burgundy, Blue and Red – blended together and applied to the lips to create a matte, opaque violet lip.

Desginer: L.A.M.B. Artist: Donald Simrock

“Makeup to capture the spirit of Gwen Stefani. A fresh, young and playful approach to past decades. Splashes of vibrant coloUr to match the line – neutral, soft lines with bold patterns and tribal accents.”-Donald Simrock

EYE: Fascinating Eye Kohl – applied to the water line. PRO Lash Mascara – applied to top lashes only. The look featured three different eye looks: Liner 1 – Fascinating Eye Kohl applied in a winged-up shape to lash line as a base with Marine Blue PRO Chromaline brushed on top. Liner 2 – Basic Re d PRO Chromaline brushed in a winged-up shape to lash line as a base with PRO Acid Orange Pigment brushed on top. Liner 3 – PRO Belicious Eye Pencil applied as base in a winged-up shape with PRO Rock It Yelow Pigment brushed on top.

FACE: Face and Body Foundation and Studio Finish Concealer – applied to the skin with a 190 Foundation Brush. Mineralize SkinFinish Powder – applied to set the skin. Spiked Brow Pencil – filled into the brows to intensify.

LIP: PRO Fleshpot Satin Lipstick and Media Lipstick – pressed onto lips.

mark has hooked up with the very first mark Rep and American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks to give mark girls an exclusive first peek of Jordin’s new video, S.O.S (Let the Music Play)! Tomorrow 9/9/09, for 24 hours only, the www.meetmark.com  website will be the only place to check out the video before it premieres worldwide on September 10th.

Love Jordin’s look from her new video? Learn “how to get the look” from makeup artist Myla as she gives you an exclusive behind the scenes peek at how she created Jordin’s gorgeous makeup look!

How to Get Jordins Red-Hot look:

Face: “To get her look, I started by applying mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter in Golden to her upper eyelids and on the high points of her cheekbones. Then I applied mark Good Riddance Hook Up Concealer in Medium/Deep under her eyes and around her nose blending with my fingers. Next, I applied mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Sunny to the apples of her cheeks and blended outward towards her hairline. Once the creams were applied, I set everything by dusting mark Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation in Natural with a powder brush.”

Eyes: “For her eyes, I started by blending mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Magic from the lashline upward with the mark Blending Brush to create a nice, warm nude eye. I then added mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Nomadic with the mark Eyeshadow Brush to the inner corner of her eyes to create brightness and mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Tough Luxe in her creases with the mark Angled Eyeshadow Brush. Then I lined the top lashline and lower rim of her eyes using mark Eyemarker in Jet, blending with the mark Eyeliner Brush to avoid harsh lines and finished by applying mark Scandalash Hook Up Mascara in Blacklash.”

Lips: “I completed Jordin’s look by mixing mark Pro Glimmer Hook Up Powder in Play and mark Pro Gloss Hook Up Plumping Lip Shine in Swell and applying to her lips.”

Accessories: “To give Jordin that all around gorgeous look, we accessorized her with the mark Into the Wild Ring, mark Glamoratti Earrings and mark Glitz and Gloss Mini .”