coconut to the rescue - Conscious Coconut

Using Conscious Coconut could solve ALL of your problems- well, almost. It’s the ultimate multitasker. It’s a moisturizer, teeth whitener, and you can even tame your frizzy hair with it. The list goes on! It’s also cold-pressed, 100% organic and comes in a squeeze tube so it’s perfect to toss into your bag.

When Danielle Conte founded Conscious Coconut, she knew she had to give back. The company partners with Feeding America to provide food for hungry children so they can get the proper nutrition they require because no child should ever go hungry.

Totally Smitten!

be bold - The Lipstick Lobby

I like to think of my lipstick as my everyday war paint. And their Kiss My Pink shade from The Lipstick Lobby is just that and more. It’s made in the U.S., cruelty free, long-lasting, and flatters every skin tone. The biggest payoff? 100% of all net profits go to Planned Parenthood to help men and women have access to healthcare and sex education. 

Davida Hall is the activist behind The Lipstick Lobby. She created a brand that stands for social justice. Featuring campaigns that target different social issues and injustice, each one has their designated lipstick shade. The bolder, the better.

How smitten <3

polish your lips - French Girl

Polish up those lips for a perfectly pretty pout - and benefit others too. $1 from every sale of Rose Lip Polish goes to a charitable organization. 

Contains yummy ingredients:

Organic Shea Butter & Coconut Oil - deeply moisturize and soothe dry lips.

Mint & Rose Geranium Organic Essential Oils - create a mild plumping effect.

Organic Sugar - exfoliates without irritation.

a big yes to cruelty-free polish - ella + mila

The founders of ella + mila wanted to create an eco-friendly product, and that they did. They also wanted to keep it high-end and fashion fabulous, which they also did. Bright, colorful, chip-resistant...and uncompromising. 

Quick-dry and high-shine, ella + mila nail colors contain no Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP), Xylene or Camphor, making it a seven chemical-free product.

ella + mila polishes are PeTA certified, vegan, cruelty-free, and proudly made in the USA! 

And sweet and fun fact: the name is inspired by the twin daughters of one of the founders. 

Go get this lacquer - so good, so Smitten!

soft and soothed skin naturally - Honest Beauty

With my husband working in the movie industry, I travel a lot! This fall we have been fortuitous to spend it in the very friendly, bohemian, rustic little town of Manitou Springs, at the base of Pikes Peak. It's positively stunning here...and with an elevation of 6,035 feet, very drying to the skin. After a week here, my face was thirsty, and needed some attention. I sincerely scored when I (finally) stumbled upon Honest Beauty's Magic Balm...it is pure greatness in a 5g/17oz. compact.

Honest Beauty is made without: parabens, gluten, silicones, petrolatum, synthetic fragrances, or dyes - they have created an incredible product line. I've been using the balm morning and night, and my skin feels like I've been hanging in Hawaii!

Jessica Alba is the beauty behind The Honest Company and Honest Beauty, and both are devoted to healthy products and the education of our girls. Both ideas notablySmitten supports wholeheartedly!

"Your purchase helps fund access to safe products and advances in research and education that support healthy, happy lives for all."

...am totally Smitten with Honest Beauty!

love blooming...josefina pouch - Mercado Global

This gorgeous pouch pops with color and texture! I love the hand-embroidered traditional pattern against the modern black leather found on the Josefina Pouch! 

Sparked by an idea when working with artisans in rural Latin America, founder Ruth DeGolia began Mercado Global while still a student at Yale.  In 2004, Mercado Global recieved a start-up grant from Echoing Green, and has exponentially grown over the last 11 years into a globally recognized company with a powerful mission: empower indigenous women to overcome poverty and become agents of change in their communities.

Mercado’s mission is two-fold.  First, it provided business education to talented female artisans so that they can grow their skills into a business.  Secondly, it connects these indigenous women to global markets to sell their products on a large scale, which in turn empowers them to support their families and provide more opportunities for their children. Over time, this model pulls entire communities out of the poverty cycle.

Mercado Global has partnered with over 400 women across Guatamala!  This hard work translates into beautiful products supporting a beautiful cause.

Totally Smitten!

luscious lashes - Josie Maran Mascara

I've written about Josie Maran Cosmetics in the past...her entire line is outstanding!

The way that she has infused this exquisite oil into her cosmetics is superior to any company I know of.

Here, I introduce her highly nourishing and natural, argan oil treatment mascara. Lengthens, adds volume, lifts, and curls lashes for 24 hours.

The unique formula: 100% argan oil mixed with black iron mineral pigments, infused with the lash strengthening properties of bamboo.

The argan creates a lash-softening effect, hence it being called a treatment. Creamy, and delivered by a five-ball brush that reaches every lash.

Josie Maran Cosmetics favors fair trade practices, sustainably harvested ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

Beautifully Smitten.

right-sized, go-to make-up bag - All Across Africa

This is just a simply perfect gift for any pal in your life that deserves a little pick-me-up. It's bright, colorful, chic, and functional. Would make a divine gift for bridesmaids as well...filled with all their favorite beauty effects!

 ·      Approximately 5” X 4”

·      African cotton print fabric with plastic liner

·      Made in Burundi

These right-sized, go-to bags are made with pride by youth from the north of Burundi, trained to create income for their families and future. 

All Across Africa is a Benefit Corporation. A new, revolutionary class of corporation, working to create a positive impact on society and the environment without losing sight of their bottom line.

It's a healthy, sustainable business model, which does not rely solely on fundraising and donations.

Their work reaches deep into rural villages in the under-served areas of rural Africa, providing artisans with a "market bundle" that includes education, finance, materials, training and market access.

While financial aid has many benefits, All Across Africa believes providing jobs and promoting self-sufficiency, creates a true partnership between the artisans and the market.

"It allows us to offer training to create the highest quality product so that each season there is a market for their outstanding workmanship."

Smitten again!!

beauty basically - LUSH

So the brightly colored, delectable smelling party that is LUSH (created by Mark Constantine and Liz Weir) has been going strong since 1995. At that time I was addicted and dedicated to another product line and could not be swayed. But as my concern for our environment, our animals and our planet has exponentially increased over the last several years...LUSH has landed smack dab on my radar!

I feel particularly concerned about the amount of materials companies continue to use to package their merchandise. Plastic wrappers around tubes of product, that are then boxed, then sealed again with a much harder plastic...ridiculous! It's a problem, one that LUSH has been addressing for years with their innovative solid beauty products. Sold like produce at an open market, with ingredients and aromas to heighten the luxury.

Today I shine a light on their artful shampoo bars. Long lasting, concentrated, packed with active ingredients and essential oils (with 14 different flavors to choose)...and will do the job of 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo!

No packaging whatsoever, it sits in a soap dish on the side of the tub. Perfect.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.  The bars last for up to 80 washes for lavish locks every time.

LUSH products are 100% vegan.

LUSH are against animal testing and are supporters of animal rights and welfare.

LUSH are charitable and support environmental conservation and human rights.

LUSH works tirelessly to leave a small carbon footprint behind.

Smitten!!

fragrant integrity - The 7 Virtues

So I am a little late to this party...but currently completely mad for Canadian Company, The 7 Virtues. Make Perfume Not War is their mission...creating perfumes using raw materials sourced from communities in Afghanistan and other war-torn areas, including Haiti, Rwanda and the Middle East, that are working to rebuild themselves.

Creator and CEO Barb Stegemann wanted to offer farmers in Afghanistan a financially viable alternative to growing illegal poppy crops, that create hazards both in their communities and our own.

So, The 7 Virtues sources all essential oils from their supplier/farmers in Afghanistan, who then are able to provide seasonal employment for their tribes and communities, to create Afghanistan Orange Blossom and Noble Rose of Afghanistan.

As the company has grown, they have found suppliers in Haiti (where the Vetiver oil is considered the best in the world) to create Vetiver of Haiti.

Patchouli of Rwanda combines soothing green hibiscus, red grapefruit, cedar flower and freesia notes to compliment the earthy patchouli harvested by adult orphans and widows of the genocide.

The Middle East Peace fragrance, which blends the sweetie grapefruit essential oil from the Sharon Region of Israel with lime & basil essential oils from the Fars Province of Iran, was inspired by the wildly successful "We Love You Iran/Israel" campaign.

All fragrances are vegan, phthalate and paraben free.

Brilliantly Smitten.

girl power - Josie Maran Cosmetics

I first met Josie Maran on a Nestle commercial back in the 90's. She had just started modeling and I was working (for a heartbeat) as a hair and make-up artist. She was in her late teens...and a completely engaging young dynamo! I have been thrilled to watch her grow into this giving, compassionate, powerful woman.

I started using Josie's products not because of any past connection, but rather I knew the benefits of Argan oil. She has created a line that is pure and delicious. She is also dedicated to the empowerment of women...which happens to also be number one on my list as well. Josie Maran Cosmetics get all of their Argan from all- female cooperatives in Morocco.

These co-ops were set up by the Moroccan government in 2002 and give women of rural Morocco a steady income, fair wages and proper working conditions. The co-ops also offer literacy and other education classes that provide freedom and options in a traditionally male-dominated society.

The brand strives to enhance the natural beauty of their customers, while endeavoring to support the natural world and care for the planet.

Love. this.

Smitten with the way my face and body look after using Josie's products for the last four years...congrats sweetness for all your good work!

put your money where your lips are - Yum Balms

Who knew that an attractive little tube of delectable shiny lip balm could do so much good in the world? Jody Weiss did! 

In 2002 Jody created an all-natural cosmetics line called PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, the first cosmetics line to donate 100 percent of all profits (after taxes) to women’s health and human rights organizations.

Their focus is to help bond the exceptional, fortuitous women of this country, with the women who by chance of birthplace, have been born into a world with challenged resources and opportunities. 

Jody’s own personal journey is a potent and inspiring one!

She’s also conceived an efficient way to participate effectively as a philanthropist with PeaceKeeper, and help end the cycle of poverty and exploitation for millions of women and girls around the world for just a dollar a day!

Please check out the rest of the Cause-Metic line: Mega Balms, Lip Sticks, Glosses and Nail Polish. 

Smitten.