Creators of Clean: Rose-Marie Swift, makeup artist to supermodels and activist for safe cosmetics

Name it and she has done it.

Made up top runway models, including the Victoria’s Secret angels? Done.

Created makeup looks for cult campaigns, like Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, Dianne Von Furstenburg, and Calvin Klein? Done.

Shot for the world’s top glossies, including pretty much every edition of Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Glamour, Elle, and Allure? Done.

A portfolio that includes every famous face in existence (think of the likes of Gisele Bündchen, Miranda Kerr, Sophia Coppola, Celine Dion, Isabel Rossalini, Milla Jovovich, and Demi Moore). Done.

Worked with the best fashion photographers such as Hedi Slimane, Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier, and Annie Leibovitz? Done.

So, yes, there’s not much that Rose-Marie Swift has not achieved. Right from beginning her career with the totally OTT makeup world of burlesque dancers to creating an organic beauty brand that defines the less-is-more, lit-from-within aesthetic.

And to top it all off, she’s also an astrologer of repute.

So, what brings together all the dimensions of this super-multifaceted woman? Answer: Her mission to educate women about the toxic chemicals they are unknowingly feeding their skin on a daily basis.

For Rose, it all began with one question, from a lab technician: “Do you work in the cosmetics industry?”. Preceded by a barrage of blood tests to try and diagnose the reason behind serious health issues, including hair loss and a weakened immune system. The lab results – toxic levels of heavy metals, pesticides and other chemicals in her blood – coupled with this question, led her to rethink everything she knew about beauty.

The result, after years of research into the ugly, toxic side of the beauty industry, was the creation of RMS Beauty, which not only eschews chemicals but also over-processing. Because heat, steam distillation and other extensive forms of processing strip away all beneficial nutrients and enzymes, rendering even the best natural ingredients useless.

It’s not an easy process but RMS Beauty’s products are often described as “alive”, with the highest quality ingredients in their natural state, straight through from cultivation to manufacturing. This allows their life force – which includes enzymes, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants – to remain fully intact, so it can actually nourish and heal the skin.

And all those cold-pressed organic jojoba oils, raw coconut creams, wildcrafted buriti oils and rosehip oils make for fabulous textures, which blend beautifully, creating a luminous, lit-from-within glow that’s impossible for synthetic chemicals to replicate.

RMS Beauty has also set the benchmark for packaging organic beauty. There are no hemp-and-chia-seed vibes here. Instead, the glossy balms and glowing highlighters (all packed in recyclable glass and aluminum) are the very definition of cool minimalism.

So, it’s no surprise that cornerstone products like the Living Luminizer (a dewy balm) and “Un” Cover-Up (a lightweight, luminous foundation that allows skin to breathe freely) are forever staples with beauty editors and makeup artists everywhere.

It’s also no surprise that Rose-Marie has more knowledge about clean beauty than almost anyone else I have ever met. So, when I got the chance to pick her brain, here is what was learnt.

What’s your definition of ‘clean’ beauty?

Beauty products that stay away from questionable ingredients. Some of these ingredients have been banned in other countries but are still in use in the USA. They are linked to many problems, ranging from irritation to hormone disruption and possibly cancer. ‘Clean’ describes avoiding these questionable ingredients and opting for healthier and safer natural ingredients.

What are the three cosmetic ingredients you would never use?

That is a hard question because combinations of these synthetic chemicals can also cause problems. The first would be synthetic chemical sunscreens (which are a lengthy list), second would be emulsifiers (which are chemicals that join oil and water together) and next anti-aging products due to their use of nano-particles. More information on these questionable ingredients can be seen on my site www.beautytruth.com

Is there any favorite beauty DIY that you can share with us?

Use coconut oil to remove all traces of makeup, cleanse the skin and also moisturize the body (that’s why I created the RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream). Jojoba oil adds a great moisturizing highlight to the skin due to its yellow color. Less is more when applying makeup and cream color is more youthful and beautifying for the skin, hence our formulations.