Much like the Material Girl herself, there are beauty products high and low that make their way into our collective consciousness (and makeup bags.) Classics for formulation, color or payoff, this month, we salute these must-haves by asking the experts – makeup artists – and the companies themselves what exactly makes these icons so special.

MAC Prrr Lipglass
What They Say: “Prrr has become a classic because it never goes out of style: One of the originals out of the ‘Lipglass’ line-up; It’s that perfect natural pinky-peach that works on every skintone, and blends beautifully with a handful of lip pencils to switch it up from time to time. Prrr is also timeless texture wise; it sparkles just the right amount, giving the perfect glossy pout without trying too hard…” - Bianca Alexander, Director of Makeup Artistry, MAC

What the Expert Says: “Everyone loves a gloss! MAC Prrr Lipglass is a pretty universal color that can be worn as a full on wet, high shine lip gloss if you choose to load it up or as a soft sheen if you just dab it over the lip using only a touch of product. Icon status worthy!” – Jenna Menard, Makeup Artist, www.jmenardstudio.com

They’re chic, intelligent, always in motion, and most important: they’re loving mothers.

Can Cynthia Rowley do any more in a day? Ms. Rowley is an innovative fashion and accessories designer, home and entertainment expert (her line Swell is fabulous), author, reality show judge (loved her on Project Runway), AND will appropriately launch her first collection of fragrances for Avon on Mother’s Day.

One of media’s movers and shakers, Lesley Jane Seymour is a groundbreaking Editor in Chief of magazines that have motivated millions of women –from teens to women 40+. Lesley Jane is the former Editor in Chief of YM, Redbook, and Marie Claire and now brings her talents as Editor-in-Chief to More, which recently ranked #5 on Adweek’s Hot List.

Both of these dynamic women attribute a key ingredient to their professional success is motherhood. Ms. Rowley and Ms. Seymour each have two children, prefers stilettos to sneakers, and balance a hyper-drive professional life with quality family time. How do they do it? They share their secrets and personal frustrations and joys in this Beauty News exclusive look at two ‘hot’ metro mamas.

Lesley Jane Seymour, Editor in Chief of More magazine

BN: Would you be where you are today without being a mom?
LJS: Being a mom means I can do any high-powered job, period. Without the support system from my family (even if my daughter is constantly berating me as a typical 12 year old), I wouldn’t be where I am now, since I rely on them for love and care. The job is a job. A great one, but having my true loves in my life at home—my kids and husband—means I can keep the job where it belongs, in its place.

BN: You have been at the helm of a teen magazine, a young women’s fashion magazine, a magazine for young moms and are now you are spearheading a magazine targeted to women over forty. Is this path parallel to your own life stages?
LJS: My career has moved from talking to teens (I even wrote a book for them: I Wish My Parents Understood) to young moms when I was one, and now to women over 40 (I’m one!). It’s nice to progress with your age and interests. For More, I can roll out of bed and have ideas. I can go to lunch with a friend and get a spin on an article. It’s really delicious when your life and your work are so in sync.

Organic, earth-friendly, and natural. All words that induce feelings of crunchy, granola-obsessed, heath fantasism found only in local whole food stores hidden on side streets or in posh, upper-class, overly-priced fad boutiques. In recent years, people have come to realize that the movement toward a healthier lifestyle is more than just a fad. It’s the growing understanding that everything affects our health, looks, and the environment. Organic obsession began with foods – fruits, vegetables, and meats. Consumers began to realize that what they put in their body had a direct relationship with health and environmental sustainability. But, it’s more than what we put in our bodies – it’s also what we put on it.

Each day our skin, the body’s largest organ, absorbs layers of makeup, grit from city streets, and even our “skin care” products. Meant to make us more beautiful, mainstream skincare regimens contain preservatives and synthetic chemicals that toxify skin. So, what makes us appear healthier, fresher, and younger is the root of what will eventually age us. Without realizing it, we’ve put our skin and our health at risk – and we’re all part of the problem. Now, with the “green” movement in full force, it’s the perfect opportunity to rework your skin care to help yourself and the environment.

With 40 percent of the world’s industrialized emissions, the United States is the leading emitter of greenhouse gases. Aiming toward a harmonious relationship that both utilizes and gives back to Mother Nature, today’s companies are taking skincare to the next level. What started with the use of 100 percent organic ingredients has transcended to include company-wide integrations. These strides consist of biodegradable and recycled packaging, sustanibly harvested ingredients, and donations from proceeds to like-minded, forward-thinking organizations working for a healthier tomorrow. We’re worked through piles of products, and found a few choice products that epitomize eco-friendliness. Take a chance and “go green” with these revolutionary skin care products.

The epitome of eco-chic, UK brand Nude has evolved as a leading product bringing together health consciousness and beauty. A high-end luxury brand founded by Fresh & Wild’s (the UK’s whole foods market) Bryan Meehan, Nude’s natural ingredients work to protect the skin from external damage and rebalance its moisture levels. The Cleansing Milk removes makeup and leaves skin clean with an organic blend of baobab oil for moisture, licorice to soften, iris and juazeiro extracts to cleanse, as well as other probiotics and peptides, derived from milk, to strengthen the skin’s defenses. For added protection, the Replenishing Night Oil utilizes Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9, as well as raspberry, cranberry, avellana, and kukui to work as antioxidants against free radicals. Tahitian vanilla oil and rose absolute create a calming natural fragrance. In an effort to refrain from polluting, the company, itself carbon neutral, packages products in recyclable bottles and jars made with 40 percent post-industrial recycled plastic. This extends to boxes, gift bags, stationery, and non-toxic inks produced with green energy that accompany orders.

Available at Barney’s New York, select Whole Foods and www.nudeskincare.com

Naturopathica’s giving back and now you can, too. A portion of the proceeds from their Environmental Defense Mask will go to www.stopglobalwarming.org, a non-partisan effort geared toward demanding a solution for, and to fight global warming. An aromatic concoction of red wine’s anti-oxidant qualities, wild cherry bark to reduce inflammation, wild black cherry puree to soothe, and red grape seed extract, the environmental defense mask is rich and revitalizing. The use of sustainably harvested ingredients without petroleum-based ingredients and paraben preservatives, recycled paper contents, and minimal packaging to reduce waste add their eco-friendly effort. Even with a thin layer, the mask creates a slight tingling of the skin, but it goes away quickly. Once rinsed away, it reveals glowing skin. Your skin will go from tired to luminous in less than 10 minutes. This pick-me-up can be used twice a week. Not only does Naturopathic give back financially, the company is also making strides within the business. The company is enrolled in the Green Choice Utility Program to offset 100 percent of their electricity usage and reuses all packaging and materials received by company warehouses.

Available at Great Jones Spa, 29 Great Jones St., or www.naturopathica.com