The Beginning of Something Truly Beautiful

Bodkin Spring/Summer 2010 collection (photo by Tina Tyrell)

There is no doubt that the Summer of 2010 has been the beginning of something truly beautiful. Not only are more eco fashion collections gaining the attention of mainstream media and fashion editors, but many of our outdated notions about what constitutes skin deep beauty have finally been peeled back and laid bare for closer inspection.

Authors Siobhan O'Connor and Alexandra Spunt (photo by Carolina Crespo)

The recent release of No More Dirty Looks by journalists Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt, is a welcome blast of fresh air in an industry that has been dulled by stifling policies and toxic attitudes about consumer health and safety. It seems obvious that with increased focus on what is in our food, our textiles, and the environment at large – we might finally take a closer look at the daily regimes we adopt as part of our personal cosmetic rituals.

No More Dirty Looks serves as an accessible and refreshingly sassy guide for consumers to become better informed about hazardous ingredients in beauty and cosmetic brands as well as the impact of pervasive mystery ingredients on our long-term health. 

Emma Grady at Treehugger asked the authors some pointed questions about their findings during an interview at the NYC book launch party this past week*. Do not miss Emma’s video chat with Siobhan and Alexandra, as their candid discussion reveals that ‘dirty looks’ and industry practices impact every woman, girlfriend, and beloved family member. The decisions we make about responsible beauty and ‘how to get that glow’ are ones that we now must make with bold investigation and open doors.

With The Story of Cosmetics film release date this Wednesday, July 21, the timing could not be better for a well-researched and probing book like this one. As the sustainable beauty movement begins to mature and ripple outwards, let’s hope that future government involvement does not go the route of mismanaged policy and corporate greed masked by blatant cover up.

'Kahina Giving Beauty' now available at Bergdorf Goodman (photo by Johanna Bjork)

*A special thanks to Katharine L’Heureux of Kahina Giving Beauty and Jessa Blades of Blades Natural Beauty for being such wonderful hosts at the NYC book launch party. Both entrepreneurs are at the forefront of sustainable beauty offerings and do so with total grace and expertise.

No More Dirty Looks is now available on Amazon.com