From Modeling to Makeup
Beauty · October 31, 2011 · By Trae Bodge
You probably know the lovely Josie Maran from her modeling days. She was on the cover of Glamour five times, featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue three years in a row and graced the pages of countless other magazines, including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Mademoiselle. She was even a Guess girl for a bit and has acted in movies such as The Aviator and Van Helsing.
But these days, Maran presides over her own little beauty empire, fittingly named Josie Maran Cosmetics. She launched the line five years ago, and her products, dubbed "eco-chic," are a successful blend of luxury and natural.
Maran grew up in Northern California and always preferred pure beauty to a made-up, overdone look. "When I compared the supposedly glamorous women I saw in magazines to my mother, who never wore a stitch of makeup, it was no contest," Maran says. "My mom was and still is a true beauty."
Although Maran's modeling career was going strong, she began to think of different avenues to explore after the birth of her first child. During her modeling days, she had discovered the power of makeup. Before modeling, she says, "I'd never even applied lip gloss, so I was surprised to see how makeup could transform not just my look but also my mood!" Her many years in the makeup chair served as valuable education. Maran gained firsthand experience with the best beauty products and makeup application techniques. She realized that she wanted to offer her own contribution to the cosmetics scene and sought out ways to help women celebrate and subtly enhance their natural beauty. The outcome is an award-winning product line that is good for both the skin and the earth.
Maran founded her brand upon the unique benefits of 100 percent pure argan oil, which is rich in vitamin E and sourced from argan trees in Morocco. She serves as the face of the brand and is the chief product developer. Maran seeks out the safest, most effective beauty ingredients, and makes sure that they are ethically sourced, biodegradable and in eco-friendly packaging. She also pursues charitable partnerships to give back and share her success. Her products for the eyes, lips, cheeks and face are sold on her website, but they can also be purchased at Sephora and on QVC, which called Maran a "rising star."
100% Pure Argan Oil ($48)
This beauty cure-all can be used daily on the face, body and hair to heal, soothe and replenish. Use it to treat acne, split ends, stretch marks and other skin conditions.
Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation ($42)
This vegan foundation uses chameleon pigments, a groundbreaking color-match technology that goes on white but changes to fit the wearer's skin tone.
Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain ($19)
This double-ended double-duty pen deposits a pop of long-lasting color on the lips and cheeks. My favorite shade is Quickstep, which is a rosy violet color.
REM Pens ($32)
This fabulous multipurpose product combines gel liner, mineral shadow and application tools all into one handy pen. My go-to shades are brown/black and amethyst/black.
What's next for Josie Maran Cosmetics? I'm told that there are lots of products in the works, but everything is hush-hush for now. Stay tuned!
(Get Josie Maran Cosmetics coupons.)
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