Nathan Menashe, the designer of Freedom of Choice (FOC) Jeans knows how important it is to “go green.” With a pair of my own dark denim FOC jeans, and an appreciation of their colored denim look (but with never enough guts — nor the shape — to pull them off!) , I am so excited to learn how Menashe has incoporated eco-friendly awareness to fashion.

From a company that creates more than just denim bottoms (think jackets and skirts as also part of the FOC collection), and the type of styles that easily allow you to transition from a jean day at work to an evening out with the girls, you gotta love their “Earth Friendly Jean.”

This new bootcut denim pant avoids the use of toxins or synthetic fertilizers. The Earth Friendly Jean uses organic cotton and a non-chemical wash process, which protects the integrity of the jean fibers. Basically, these jeans are expected to have a long life span. From what I understand, organic cotton is more expensive and makes the wash process slower and a bit more time-consuming. Yet according to Menashe, protecting the environment and human health by incorporating this earth friendly process is extremely important.

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If you are like me, the harsh winter takes a huge toll on your skin. You may think that because I live in Southern California, I wouldn’t have this problem. But the Santa Ana winds suck any – and all – moisture right out of me. On top of dealing with these drying winds, it is also flu season; the constant washing of my hands has only added to my need in finding something that will replenish the moisture of my skin and help it look better!

I know, there are plenty of skin care products out there for dry skin, but I have tried every over-the-counter lotion out there and have been nothing but disappointed. They are either too greasy, too thin in consistency, or have over-powering fragrances.

So I figured I need to look beyond the local Target and CVS pharmacy. So I hopped on the Internet and started my search. I stumbled upon Smooth Heals, which quickly caught my attention! Its owner and creator, Tennie Smith, has been hands-on in creating and testing her product. More »

If you are seeking a fashionable way to send a message with substance, Girl On Top Clothing (GOT) is the way to go! From everyday women to celebrities, such as Kendra from “The Girls Next Door,” the masses are really starting to take notice of all that this clothing line has to offer. Thanks to Beauty Chat’s blogging buddy Nikki over at Fashion Frenzy, I was introduced to the styles of this up-and-coming line – and now I’m hooked.

I recently interviewed Jon Paul, the fabulous creator of GOT, and here’s what he had to say:

Leeann: Please explain the name Girl On Top…

Jon Paul: Its GIRL POWER baby! Our name says it all. Girl On Top Clothing exists so that women have a brand that empowers their existence. We make ready-to-wear apparel and custom couture designs for today’s empowered women. Since we believe that life is not about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself; Girl On Top Clothing creates trend-setting looks that contribute to female leaders defining themselves. More »

Andrea: So Stephanie (of “Steph’s Beauty Buzz“)…Being the makeup junkie that I am and the cosmetics expert that you are — I have an important makeup question!

I always look for what’s new at my favorite cosmetic boutiques — Ulta and Sephora. But when it comes to finding the best “long-wear foundation,” I wonder how many of our Beauty Chat readers know the best method to finding the right match for their skin tone. Also, I can’t help but wonder if I’m going about finding the right foundation correctly! After all, it’s difficult to test it in the store…

Stephanie: Step one in choosing a foundation is not color, but skin type. Learn the makeup artist lingo to define you personal skin type: Dry skin, oily skin, and combination skin. More »

My son is now 13 weeks old (that’s me carrying Jonas at 8 months prego), and because I am no longer nursing; I am embarking on my journey back to a healthy body. The plan is that I am going to focus on how I feel and how my clothes fit versus the number on the scale.

Along with my PlasticSurgery.com co-workers and Beauty Chat contributors, we are all challenging each other to an in-office “Biggest Loser” contest. The winner gets a pot of money, which is inspiring me to lose my baby weight.

I have 30 pounds to lose and three to four dress sizes to go down to. My goal is to continue tracking my calories and fat on TheDailyPlate.com, walk on my lunches with Jennifer, and do some Pilates at home when the kids are in bed (I also have a 3 year-old daughter).

I would love to hear your weight loss suggestions, and of course your support is appreciated.

Track along with me and personal story on Beauty Chat!

‘Til next time…

Photo Credit: A Beauty Chat exclusive, taken at our recent Bejeweled photo shoot!

If you’ve been keeping up with Mellori’s love for products by Cibu International, then it is our pleasure to let you know how you can save money and maintain the fabulous quality of your hair.Just visit their “Promotions” page online, and you will notice their full page of “Cibu Greetings 2007” holiday sets still in effect.

Product packages range from $12 to $30! With the holidays over and all, maybe this is the time to treat yourself…

Photo Credit: http://www.cibuinternational.com

Good skincare and good makeup are essential to having overall facial appeal. A major exception to this rule, however, is bad breath. Few people are able to look past the unpleasantness leaving your mouth, in order to admire your perfect combination of eye shadow and flawless application of a red lip. More »

Now as most of you have come to know, I am obsessive with my feet. Pedicures, Blister Block, reflexology, Yoga Toes – you name it, I do it! I am super aware of my feet and how they feel. However, I am new to wearing so-called “cute shoes.”

I used to wear the cloggy, unattractive-yet-comfy shoe. It was safe, and I knew my feet would be happy all day. Well enter my friend, co-worker, and personal shopper, Elana.

She introduced me to a whole new world!

…But along with wearing cute peep toe heels, my feet grew unhappy! They were constantly sore and cramped. So wanting to keep up with my newfound cuteness, I started to do some research on shoe accessories. I came upon Foot Petals (as a suggested product to look into from Elana). More »

A hairstyle can make or break a look, and that is exactly what the designers were faced with on this week’s episode of Project Runway. In pairs of two, assigned by Tim, they were instructed to design an avant-garde piece based on the hair of their models.

This was an opportunity for the teams to create grandiose styles that were fashion-forward. That is, on the condition that they meshed well together. The pairs consisted of: Chris and Christian, Ricky and Kit, Victorya and Jillian, and Rami and Sweet P.

(Victorya and Jillian trying to decide who would relinquish control)

The first two teams seemed to complement one another, while the other collaborations proved to be a bit rocky. Victorya and Jillian had some trouble selecting which one of them would get to be the captain (they had to actually flip for it), but they eventually pulled it together. More »

…Is my daughter really going to wear my wedding dress in 20 years?

The new thing these days: Brides are taking photos in their wedding dresses doing very unconventional things in unique locations. For my debut Beauty Chat feature, I had to tell everyone about my experience!

“Trash the Dress,” is a new trend that is quickly catching on in the photography industry. After watching my friend in a Trash the Dress photo shoot, and seeing how amazing the pictures turned out, I knew it was something I had to do! I have traditional photos from my wedding day, but I wanted to do something different with my wedding dress then just let it take up space in my closet.

So after checking out the work by various photographers on the site, I came across Michelle Pearson from Bakersfield, Calif. Michelle got her start in the world of photography in February 2007; she originally took children and family shots before turning on to the new Trash the Dress trend. Some of her favorite places to shoot are urban settings and anywhere different with “texture.”

Some of the places that Michelle took me on my Trash the Dress photo shoot were: a Bakersfield bar called “The Alley Cat,” a construction site, and the river. During our wild day of running around to catch several hot spots to photograph, one of the local news stations came out to interview and film us.

My photo shoot was on several local news stations as well as CNN! Talk about exciting. Besides my picture here, you can check out my coverage from the Bakersfield local news!

Even though the word “trash” sounds a little extreme, most dresses are good as new after the photo shoot with the help of dry cleaning (if, of course, you’re not completely covered with mud!)

If you are interested in scheduling a Trash the Dress photo shoot, you can visit Michelle’s Web site. Although she is too sentimental about her wedding dress to trash her own, preferring it be hung up and preserved in her closet, Michelle believes in something that I couldn’t agree with more:

Letting go of your inhibitions, while having fun with the wedding dress that held so much importance on your wedding day!!

Would you trash your wedding dress?

~ Jennifer   

Photo Credits: Michelle Pearson