Once upon a time, makeup was only worn by those plying the world's oldest profession—clowns. Times have changed, and today's Groupon will keep even non-clowns looking their best. For $25, you get $50 worth of eco-friendly beauty products at Monavé in Fells Point. Monavé's green practices and products won it the 2008 National Beauty With a Conscience Award. This Groupon can be used in-store or online, but shipping and handling is not included.

Monavé's specialty is mineral makeup, a line of cosmetics based in whole, organic, botanical ingredients, with formulas that are 95% vegan and preservative-free. Monavé's makeup is not tested on animals, or plush facsimiles of animals, so you can glow with the knowledge that your radiance is not indirectly hurting any penguins (though your dazzling countenance may injure their self-confidence). The natural ingredients are gentle on your skin, so you also won't need as much makeup for an even complexion, and your cheeks won't feel like a monster-truck course. Monavé will happily give you free samples so you can purchase your product with 100% enthusiasm (see their exchange policy here).

Monavé's massive line of lip glosses, lipsticks, blush, eye liners, bronzers, loose mineral foundation, hair-care products, and more come in all shades to match all complexions, skin colors, and ages. Because of the dizzying array of choices, Monavé recommends that customers arrange a free consultation with one of Monavé's specialists. They'll help you find the perfect shade and will teach you how to apply each product for maximum fabulosity. And if you can't come to Monavé, gather at least five friends and Monavé will come to you.

Reviews

City Paper listed Monavé as having the best local cosmetics, and Natural Solutions magazine awarded the company multiple Beauty With a Conscience awards. The Life of a Ladybug, EcoPretty, and Cool Canucks are just a few of the blogs to have featured Monavé:

• At Monavé you'll find lighter-than-powder mineral foundations to match your skin tone (we're talking exactly matched) for a flawless complexion, with UV protection to boot. Add some rich jewel-toned shadows, made with pure chemistry magic in the rawest form, so a little goes a long way. Don't know what you need/want/look best in? The knowledgeable staff at Monavé can consult, demonstrate, recommend, or even sell you a kit to create your own makeup at home. Now that's beautiful. – City Paper
• The Monave foundation leaves my skin looking slightly luminous, but doesn't add any shine or oiliness, which is awesome for a woman with oily skin like me. The coverage is good, without making me look powdery and, when applied with a concealer brush, it works as concealer, too. – The Life of a Ladybug
• Monavé is a high-quality, yet affordable line made especially for those who most mineral makeup leaves out: African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Middle-Eastern ladies. They offer a spectrum of shades for just about every skin tone, from snow-fair to espresso bean dark. – EcoPretty