Remember when Maria in West Side Story sings “I Feel Pretty”? Well, how much prettier she would feel if she knew all her cosmetics were cruelty-free! Trying to ensure all your shadows and glosses have been animal-friendly from their incipient stages to the final product sitting on your counter, however, can be like opening up a Pandora’s Box. First, there’s the caveat about parent companies; just because your lip balm says it’s cruelty-free doesn’t mean the product line isn’t owned by a larger, less animal-friendly company. Second, there’s a problem with companies that are evasive when it comes to questions about their animal-testing policies. Third, some companies claim they don’t do animal testing but neglect to mention they outsource the testing to another company. Oh… and let’s no forget the ultimate slimy move: “No animals were used to test this final product.” Just don’t ask them what they did while they were still working on the ingredients before they put them all together.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t sweat it. You’ll learn as you go, just as I am. And cosmeticsdatabase.com is a resource worth repeating a second day in a row. As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog when I was talking about skincare, this web site will let you search manufacturers and individual products. And while you’re at it, you’ll be able to weed out all the nasty parabens and other artificial ingredients in your make-up collection, too — a little at a time.

What you’ll find in my personal make-up collection:

Dr. Hauschka Concealer
Organic Wear Concealer Stick
Dr. Hauschka Translucent Makeup
Dr. Hauschka Face Powder (loose)
Organic Wear Face Powder (compact)
Zuzu Blush Powder
Gabriel Blush Powder

Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara
Dr. Hauschka eyeliner
Almay Voluminizing Mascara
Gabriel Color Lip Gloss
Terra Gloss
MAC lip pencils
MAC eyeshadow
Revlon eyebrow pencil

Brushes:
Ecotools — synthetic bristles!

For your nails:
“No Miss” nail polishes (available at Whole Foods)
“Almost Natural” Polish Remover

Best Value!
Kiss My Face tinted moisturizer

I could spend four hours a day practicing yoga, drink two gallons of water daily, and eat nothing but raw vegetables… and still, the face would need some extra TLC. I’ve always been good about cleansing and moisturizing, but as I’ve gotten older and the fine lines start creeping up around my eyes, the term “saving face” has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I spare no expense when it comes to my face products, but I also have found some inexpensive products that seem to do the trick quite nicely. As I mentioned in yesterday’s piece, I’m also making the effort to be paraben-free, whenever possible. But before you go throwing out all your old stuff and replacing everything:

Tip #1: Check out Skin Deep cosmetic database
You can search most cosmetic companies and specific products to get the lowdown.

Tip #2: Go gradually
I’d been using many of my products for so long that I forgot how many other products I had to try before finding ones that didn’t mess with my complexion. When I introduced a entirely new regimen all at once, my face was not happy; plenty of back pedaling was involved as I tried out each new item and assessed the results.

Tip #3: Don’t be afraid to seek out samples!
If you’re in New York, head to Jurlique’s store in SoHo! The salesperson there sent me walking away with tons of samples… and it paid off for both of us. Although my skin didn’t respond well to a couple of the moisturizers, one of the samples proved to be marvelous for me and has become part of my daily routine.

Tip #4 Watch out for parent companies
I call this my “Burt’s Bee’s Lesson.” What’s not to like about Burt’s Bees? The products are natural, inexpensive, and can be found in just about any store or pharmacy. Burt’s Bees is cruelty-free; but it’s now owned by Clorox, which isn’t. You’ll have to decide for yourself where you want to draw the line.

So here’s what you’ll find in my bath area — my faves for the face:

Zia Skin Basics Moisturizing Cleanser with soybean
Zia Skin Basics Bamboo Exfoliant with rice bran (love this!)
Alba Botanicals Pineapple Enzyme Facial Cleanser
Alba Botanicals Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask
Collective Wellbeing “Whirled Peas” Hydrating Face Mask
Dr. Hauschka Eye Contour Day Balm
Jurlique Calendula Cream
Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream (parabens, but company does not conduct animal testing)