I’ve been slowly looking at every area of my life and incorporating a more sustainable way of living to each. It’s been a process, but an enjoyable one. An area that I knew needed big time help, was my beauty “routine”. I somehow knew that the make-up I was using on my face probably had unpronounceable chemicals and preservatives in it. Actually, I didn’t really want to know, but then again I did. So, I went over to my trusty Google to begin my research.
So, I typed in “green beauty products”. When the results came in, I sat there, my mouth agape, it said there were 418,000,000 listings for green beauty products, all on the Internet! Saddened that I had waited this long, the first one that caught my eye was The Environmental Working Group’s “Skin Deep,” Cosmetic Safety Database.
The first thing I found out from Skin Deep was that manufacturers aren’t very much regulated when it comes to what they put into personal care products, including beauty products. Further, these big biz companies didn’t care how much plastic they waste and often choose not to use environmental friendly containers for their products. I think of myself as a green person, but, I never really thought about my beauty products or the lotions I used.
So, I explored the world of the organic beauty products. First, I needed to know what makes a product organic. Most of it does require reading the ingredients on the label because manufacturers can claim their product is organic, hypoallergenic, animal cruelty free and even fragrance free—which can mean anything or nothing. The ingredient label tells you what you need to know!
A good first tip I found was to look for a product that has the Eco-Cert label or the USDA Organic seal label—both are used and recognized in almost eight countries and these products ensure the ingredients meet the standards to call themselves organic. Determined to be educated, I found out quite a bit about green beauty products and knew I needed to switch!
Finding the products was easy. I found eco-friendly beauty product companies that revealed how they tested their products, what packaging they used and what ingredients their products contain. If they were open about it and comparing the competitor’s not-so-good product, I felt pretty safe these types of companies were safe, effective, and good for my skin and body parts. I also found that organic beauty product producers often recycle their containers!
Botanic beauty products were recommended by some companies—they use plant botanicals and extracts to create their products. Other ingredients were essential oils such as ylang-ylang. I learned to avoid petroleum-based products or any beauty items that contained formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances. Companies that used ingredients like coconut and mango and other plant extracts were not only saving the environment, they were better for my skin.
Before you say, “but I can’t afford those green beauty products,” think again. Many of the ones I searched were priced at the same price or lower than the products I got rid of (in an environmentally friendly way of course). Going green and being green, I realized has to be part of each element of our lives, including what we use as beauty products. Think of what you are using for skincare, makeup, and lotion. Is it environmentally safe? Unsure, do some research. You’re sure to get results!
{ 0 comments… add one now }