Model turned makeup maven Josie Maran created a cosmetics company that does more than just help make you pretty.
By Fabiana Santana
Josie Maran wants you to look your best, but only if you’re doing something good for the planet at the same time. That’s why she started Josie Maran Cosmetics.
The eco-conscious model—who likes to think of her beauty line as “chicological”—began modeling at age 12 after being discovered at a family friend’s barbecue. At 17, she signed with Elite in Los Angeles, and her career as a model has been in overdrive ever since. She has graced the covers of glossies like Glamour (six times!), Vogue, and Elle. In 1997, her childhood dream came true when she became the face of Maybelline, a title she held for nearly a decade.
“When I was really little, I saw Christy Turlington filming a Maybelline commercial on the streets in New York and I had no idea what modeling was, but I knew wanted to be in that commercial. Every night when I went to sleep I would think, I want to be the Maybelline girl, and 10 years later I was the Maybelline girl and was living that commercial.”
Josie became a mom in 2006, and it was that life change that prompted her to start Josie Maran Cosmetics. “Becoming a mother inspired me to take a look at my life and ask, ‘What can I do for the world? How can I contribute?’” Josie Maran Cosmetics launched in the fall of 2007 and is now regularly featured in the pages of the magazines that Josie once posed for.
All Josie Maran products are packaged in recycleable materials and made from biodegradable plastic or corn. The outer carton is a 30% post consumer waste product.
“I want to contribute to making positive change, and I also want to create something fun, beautiful, and luxurious,” Josie says. “My dream is to build a brand with so much influence and popularity that my customers and I can work together to make the world a better place.”
So how can you make the world a better place? By knowing what to shop for. Here are Josie’s tips on shopping green when it comes to cosmetics:
1. Always read labels. “Look for ingredients you can pronounce,” Josie says. And the simpler the ingredients, the better. “Our Argan Oil is just one ingredient, so it is super simple and something I am really proud of.” The oil is organically grown in Morocco, housed in a recyclable glass bottle, and purchased from women’s cooperatives in Morocco to support their social and economic welfare. Oh, and it’s rich in vitamin E, so it’s also great for your skin.
2. Consider packaging. The packaging for all of the products in Josie’s line is biodegradable—the cute compacts are actually made of corn!
3. When shopping at Sephora, look for their new green seal of approval. “They’ve basically done all the work for you. Just look for the Naturally Gorgeous logo on products and displays.”
Josie recently helped her fans shop at various Sephora locations around New York. See the photos here.
Want Josie’s date night makeup look? Watch here!
