This week we’re pleased to introduce the lovely Terri Bly of The Nature of Beauty. You can find Nature of Beauty in Saint Paul, Minnesota at Ecotique, and also online through her wonderful website.
Hi Terri, Can you tell us a bit about your background and past experience?
I come from a pretty eclectic background, especially for a natural beauty retailer – the two jobs that really inspired me to what I do now have nothing directly to do with the environment, chemicals, or beauty! I was a licensed clinical psychologist working part-time for two different organizations. In one, I was conducting assessment and providing counseling for gastric bypass surgery patients, both before and after surgery. Through this work, I saw the devastating health effects our environment was having on so, so many women. It wasn’t just that these women were “lazy” or lacked willpower. Their environment was clearly set up to promote the destruction of their bodies, and I suspected there was more to it than just cheap, fatty foods. My other job was as a consultant for a human resources consulting firm, where I helped companies like Target hire their higher-level corporate employees, for jobs like Buyer, Merchandise Planner, Marketing Director, and so forth. It was through this work that I developed an understanding of retail strategy and business. I really enjoyed it, too, much to my surprise. When I learned about the chemicals in the environment – and in beauty products – that interfere with estrogen, I knew I had found one of the missing links between women and the health problems that were so prevalent with my gastric bypass surgery patients. I decided to start my own business in order to not just educate women about these chemicals, but also to offer them beautiful, high-performing alternatives to what they were using. Read the rest of this entry »
It is beautiful to live cruelty-free, and did you realize there is a whole section of examiner.com devoted to doing just that? Examiner.com offers a wealth of information on just about every topic you can think of, including Alima Pure! Check out this article by Jennifer Zhang, or this one by makeup artist extraordinare Krystal Burrell.
T.S. Eliot may have considered April the cruelest month but weather-wise, we think February can give April a run for it’s money. Months of rain and/or snow have most likely taken their toll on your complexion, leaving you at your annual palest, and probably without that just-in-from-the-cold flush. It’s time for a little wake-up call for the skin. Read the rest of this entry »
She’s dangerous AND ethical! Tonya Kay is the world’s ONLY professional female knife thrower (as seen on History Channel’s “More Extreme Marksmen”). She also restores hot rods, dances with fire (as seen on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) and shoots guns. The Most Dangerous Woman in Hollywood doubles as a long-term raw vegan, aggressive environmentalist and green philanthropist. She may shoot guns, but never at animals or people. She may crack whips, but only those which are leather-free in construction. She may sit in studio make up chairs, but on-camera as well as off, Tonya Kay insists that her cosmetics be cruelty-free. Look for Tonya Kay in cruelty-free cosmetics on Showtime’s “Live Nude Comedy” (premiers July 16). Tonya Kay performs her Bullwhip Burlesque solo wearing exclusively Alima Pure mineral cosmetics, proving that the greenest option can also yield the best performance. Read the rest of this entry »
Alima has a garden-full of floral-named shades, and every one of them is beautiful and appropriate for spring. For cheeks, choose from Dahlia, Dianthus, Lotus, Primrose, Rosa, Sugar Rose and Tea Rose Luminous Shimmer Blushes. If you prefer a matte look, Satin Matte Blushes come in Apple Blossom, Azalea, Carnation, Geranium, Mimosa, Tulip and the roses…Antique Rose, Honey Rose and Desert Rose.
For eyes, you can choose from Black Orchid, Hellebore, Hyacinth and Nigella Luminous Shimmer shadows; Camellia, Daphne and Lilac Satin Matte shadows; and Viola Pearluster shadow.
To create a spring bouquet, apply Daphne as a base, with Hellebore on the lid. Contour with Lilac, and use it damp to line. For fair skins, sweep Tulip blush over the entire cheek area, and apply a touch of Rosa on the apples of the cheeks. For deeper skins, apply Carnation or Azalea on the entire cheek area and add a touch of Antique Rose or Geranium for brightness.
We’re delighted to have you join the conversation about natural beauty, healthy living, cosmetic safety, and whatever cool, fun topics happen to strike our fancy. We’ll be testing skincare products, doing mineral makeup makeovers, chatting with practitioners and cosmetic chemists about the latest, greatest (and not so great) developments in the field, and even submitting ourselves to strenuous spa evaluations. We’re passionate about green beauty, and look forward to your thoughts and ideas on the topic. Pour yourself a cup of tea, and make yourself at home. We look forward to hearing from you!
