"A New Earth" and earthy makeup

The big O: yes, the Oprah seal of approval. It turns any book whose cover it graces into an instant bestseller, at least with a certain female demographic. I have had some hit or miss experiences with Oprah bookclub books but in general I love the woman and her empire, and when I saw her passionately promoting a very different (i.e. not chick-lit) book, Eckhert Tolle's "A New Earth", I was intrigued, albeit skeptical. Eckhert Tolle is a softspoken, quirky New Age guru whose book is, according to Oprah and some enthusiastic show guests, life changing and earth shattering. Looking to do a little spring cleaning of the soul after a mini health crisis, I caved. While some of the chapters are repetitive and the imagery a little hokey (we are born in stars, we are beautiful blooming plants etc etc) the concept is great. And for Christians, the biblical references give it spiritual significance, although they might turn off some other denominations. Tolle doesn't preach religion though, he merely references the bible in a textbook manner. Most of his writing is very calming and reassuring for anyone at a crossroads in their spirituality and life. I recommend this book to anyone with an open mind or a mind that needs some relaxation and reassurance. It may not be life-changing for everyone but definitely leaves you with a peaceful, easy feeling and a new outlook, much like spring itself.

Now if you're into the trend of (new) earthy makeup this spring, mineral makeup seems to be the way to go. Some of you lovely readers have expressed interest in natural and mineral makeup lines, and kudos to you, because in my experience, many brands are good for your skin as well as the earth. The brand Philosophy has a mostly mineral-based line called the Supernatural that works well for drier skin. Their formulations like the Supernatural airbrush canvas (a full coverage foundation) are more light reflective (almost sparkly) due to the mineral mica, and give a dewy look. For oilier skin, Bare Escentuals has a matte formula foundation which is my absolute favorite, and their All-over-color products feature sheer shades with mineral shimmer that look natural on any skintone, in particular the shade Bare Radiance is an earthy neutral that works on anyone. And finally, for the sensitive soul, er, skin, Pur minerals are not only gentle and pure skin-friendly formulas but eco-friendly too.