CoutURe contributor Lynn McMahan with Brenda Sexton, Kristina McGrath & friend

I recently attended a launch party for Karyn Calabrese’s new holistic line of make-up. If you aren’t familiar with this Chicago icon, you should be. Karyn is the owner of Karyn’s Raw Restaurant and Spa at 1901 North Halsted. She is the founder of the raw food movement in Chicago and has taught thousands of people how to incorporate raw foods into to a daily regime.


Health Mogul Karyn Calabrese & Irene Michaels

Because some of Calabrese's clients wanted to become healthy without taking the leap to all raw foods, Karyn opened Karyn's Cooked at 738 North Wells St. In addition to Karyn's Cooked, Calabrese has just announced the opening of At Home, a great choice for healthy food delivered to your door.

Calabrese's dining spots and spa are popular with customers who seek a refuge from a busy urban environment. Karyn's always seems to be filled with ageless, thin model types who shop, dine and detox there.

Karyn is a media darling and the walls of her store are lined with framed articles written about her from numerous magazines and newspapers. She has also been featured on The Oprah Winfrey show and has been a guest on many local television programs. She is an intriguing woman not only because she is an expert on the raw food lifestyle but a living example of glowing health. She has retained her youthful beauty, and smoking-hot body at age 62!

Apparently she doesn’t come from a genetically blessed background and her parents and close relatives were overweight and had many health issues. Karyn claims that genetics have not determined her future and by making the proper choices she has not been sick in 25 years and she maintains her striking physique easily.

Karyn has spent years of planning to create her new make-up line and her dream has finally come to fruition. With the help of fab event planner Brenda Sexton, the store was packed for the make-up line launch party.

Fashionistas Kristina McGrath of McGrath Lexus, Jet setter Jan Flanagan, Toni Canada HR expert and consultant, Dori Wilson PR extraordinaire, Rochelle Smith restaurant consultant, Irene Michaels I on the scene blogger, and our own UR fashion editor Terrence Chappel flocked to this event.

Many of the party goers had never visited Karyn’s before and were curious about the boho vibe. Newcomers perused a variety of products from salt lamps to psyllium husks and they pondered what these items were used for. The raw foodists and holistically enlightened people felt knowledgeable and right at home.


Kristina McGrath & Toni Canada

Attendee’s grazed on delicious appetizers prepared by Karyn’s chef and sipped wine as they anxiously waited for the queen of raw to arrive and spill all her beauty secrets.

Once she made her entrance, she briefly mingled with the crowd. She then welcomed everyone and asked them to take a seat. She shared some of tips on she has stayed so beautiful and healthy. Her secret is simple and just an extension of her discipline and her overall philosophy. If we fuel our body with the right food and don’t slather chemical/petroleum based toxins on our skin we will all be better off. I wholly agree with that! She then described how the idea for this new cosmetic line was conceived.


Lori Meltzer & Toni Canada

Karyn’s new make-up line was developed with advisor Lori Meltzer, who is a renowned international makeup artist. Lori is a twenty-year veteran in the makeup industry and has seen many trends come and go. She consulted with Karyn and brought in her knowledge and expertise. Working together, the queen of raw living and Lori have created this winning make-up line.

Lori and Karyn believe in using the purest ingredients available. This line is 100% mineral based and it’s filled with anti-oxidants and has the sweet smell of aromatherapy. A natural sunscreen is derived from the minerals to protect skin from damage and leather inducing rays.

The pure and gentle ingredients make this makeup line good for all skin types. There is a wide color palate that works well for all skin tones. The packaging is recyclable, which is rare, even with some of the “green” lines that you find in department stores.

It’s earth friendly and makes the skin luminescence; Finally a line that looks great and doesn’t contain the toxic five: parabens, artificial color, fragrance, Propylene Glycol and Talc.

Make-up artist Lori provided a demonstration (featuring some of the attendees as models) and showed how the make-up transformed their faces from ruddy to a warm glow.

She applied the new mascara containing artichoke fiber. It made the models eyelashes appear longer and thicker immediately.

The crowd was convinced and there was a long line waiting to scoop up these products after the presentation. The prices are reasonable and range from $12.00 to $40.00 dollars.

This is a very discerning group of woman and they are not convinced easily but seeing is believing. And all I can say is “I believe” and I have tried just about every green make-up line known to mankind. Let me know if you are a believer too. - Lynn McMahan