Turning Your Beauty Routine Bright Green

When the Light Turned "Green" for Me:

I had been hearing about the potential dangers hiding in my makeup and beauty products for years, but in an effort to "keep it simple", I ignored the articles, news reports, and eco-beauty campaigns so I could continue on with my comfortable routine, purchasing my name-brand cosmetics, applying daily, and looking like myself. Ignorance was bliss; as long as I didn't know just exactly what was lurking in my lip-gloss, I would be just fine.

This approach didn't last too long. As I became aware of more articles on just exactly what toxins and metals some of my favorite beauty products contained, I decided that it was time to make a change. I came to learn that there was lead in my lipstick. While the FDA has stated that these trace amounts of lead are not safety concerns, are they considering women that apply lipstick 20 times a day, or children that want to put on mommy's makeup? (See what the NYT has to say). While these "traces" of lead may be non-dangerous for some consumers, why take the slightest risk on one's own body when there are greener and healthier alternatives? There were also parabens in some of my favorite beauty products. While it is not my intent to be an alarmist about the potential dangers of toxic parabens, I do wish to be someone that encourages others to be conscious about the goods they consume. While it is our prerogative to choose what beauty products are perfect for us, it is best to be well informed about the contents of the products we use daily. I have chosen to apply products to my body that are less risky and more eco-conscious. It just feels better.

Helpful Tips:

This blog post is not about scaring you into the world of green cosmetics, it's about encouraging you to learn what is in your makeup and beauty products. If you choose to live a little greener, I have some cost-conscious and helpful tips to help you along the way. For me, turning my beauty routine green was a long process. It is something that I am still figuring out, as you'll see in my reviews below. I've been lucky enough to get some tips from eco-conscious friends, and was directed to a great website called "Project Green Prom." Don't be fooled by the word "prom" or by the fresh-faced 15 and 16 year olds on the homepage. If you are 16, 26 or 70, there are some great tips on the site on how to be more conscious about your beauty routine. The following tips are my contribution to the ever-growing movement:

I will start by saying that you do not need to overpay for your green cosmetics. While some eco-friendly cosmetics can be a little pricier, there are some cost-efficient options sitting right on the shelves of your nearest Whole Foods. This face wash by "Desert Essence" gets the job done. It contains tea tree oil, licorice root extracts, sea kelp and many other unexpected and natural ingredients that leave my face feeling clean.  Also, looking for the "leaping bunny" picture on the labels of your products, which means that there has been no animal testing of this product. 

This ShiKai "all natural" shower gel was also found on the shelves of my local Whole Foods. It contains a good combo of oatmeal and aloe, and is certified organic, with a cute little "leaping bunny" on the back. The cucumber melon is my favorite so far.

 Another cost- friendly way to go "green" is to use Burt's Bees products. While it is hard to find 100% all natural Burt's Bees products, most of their products are 98-100% all natural, which works for me. The daily moisturizing cream for sensitive skin has been a great replacement for my paraben packet previous moisturizer.

I had also switched to using Burt's Bee's 100% natural lip gloss and 100% natural honey lip balm, but while doing some last minute research for this blog post, I found that I had been remiss. Apparently Burt's Bee's lip gloss does contain trace amounts of lead, even more so than some of your more name-brand items! What's a girl to do? 

Here are some seriously cost efficient options that you can find at your nearest drug store. I picked up Physicians Formula Organic Wear bronzer/blush and mascara. The bronzer/blush goes on even and light. It will get the job done as long as you're not preparing for opening night at the Met. You might want to purchase a higher end product for a special night out. The mascara is perfectly fine as well. It has a good brush that separates lashes well. It is not the longest lasting, though, and if you plan on wiping your eyes with your hand for any reason, this might not be the mascara for you. I am still in search of the perfect eco chic mascara. Suggestions welcome!

 Now we get to some of the items that I admittedly splurged on. I am in love with RMSbeauty. If they are selling it...I'm probably buying it. I did not want to get al of my products from this great company as this would be sure to break the bank, so I picked up some essentials instead. I purchased this amazing "un"cover-up, which is perfect for highlights around the eyes and as cover-up for imperfections. While it is a bit pricey, it has lasted me three months already and I'm about half way through it. The secret is only to use it where and when you really need it.

The bottom product is raw coconut cream, which is pretty magical. I use it mostly for makeup removal or as a moisturizing face wash when my skin is very dry. I would warn against using it too much if you have oily skin, as it seemed to add a little more moisture than I was looking for at times. Coconut is a super-product, and this anti-oxidant can be used on face, hair and sunburn! 

Next we have one of my favorite, and slightly more expensive brands, Dr. Haushka. I went on a wild goose chase to find the perfect liquid foundation, and Dr. Haushka's translucent make-up was the solution. Firstly, I've never encountered a foundation that smells amazing. Perhaps it is because among the first five ingredients are carrot, avocado, and macadamia seed oil. Further down the list of ingredients are shea butter, apricot, jojoba and beeswax. Sounds good to me! It goes on almost sheer, but with enough weight to even out your skin-tone. If you're like me and don't want to purchase a pricey item every month, the advice of my pre-school teacher during craft time will go a long way: "A little dab will do ya." Now we are referring to makeup, and not paste, but you get the gist.

I am also a big fan of the volume mascara by Dr. Haushka. It is not waterproof, but it goes on dark and dramatic, and is great as a more high-end counterpart to the OrganicWear mascara featured above

Lastly, we have the Dr. Haushka eyeliner. This is the only product on the list that gets a seriously negative review. While it goes on dark, even and beautiful, even the slightest touch of your eye leads to the eyeliner crumbling and coming off into pieces on your cheek. It is definitely not worth the price, and I am on the hunt for a liquid eyeliner that delivers.

While it was relatively simple to find some great products when switching to more eco-friendly and health conscious bath and makeup products, I have had some trouble with hair products. This "Intelligent Nutrients" hair spray was my best find. It smells like...a field of daisies? Whatever it smells like, it's sweet and subtle, and the spray produces a good hold. Where I ran into issues was with the PureLuxe shampoo and conditioner. While they smelled great and felt pretty "luxe", it was impossible to completely rinse them out of my hair, resulting in a "greasy" look that nobody thought was cute.
That being said, my husband uses the shampoo and conditioner and he loves it...and his hair looks great. Perhaps it is best for shorter, drier hair, as opposed to longer and more moisture prone hair.

While the shampoo did not work for me personally, I still greatly respect this company. Take a look at their philosophy on safe and nutritious product.

 I have tried a few body lotions, and so far, this product from "Nourish" is my favorite. The "fresh fig" scent is pretty delightful, and the price is even better. It is a thicker cream, which means you are getting a lot for your money, and the front of the product says it all: "Organic food for healthy skin."

 After having hand surgery this summer, I was in need of a seriously effective hand cream that would get my skin healthy again. Nubian Heritage's Coconut and Papaya Hand Cream did the trick. Found on the shelf of my local Whole Foods, this product smelled great, was sustainably produced, and boasted a no animal testing policy. Its' first ingredient is coconut oil, which I knew was a good thing, and the certified organic label on the back of the product was the icing on the hand cream...cake.

Lastly, I topped off my eco-beauty mission with a great nail polish. Zoya is free of some seriously dirty ingredients, such as formaldehyde, and there's a large variety of colors to choose from. While you are at it, pick up a Zoya top coat and nail polish remover to make your entire nail routine a healthier experience.