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Step 1
Think out with the old, in with the new. It's easy to get attached to certain brands and products, but most mainstream options are as far from eco-friendly as you can get. Visit Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database (see Resources) and research your current choices. Operated by the Environmental Working Group, Skin Deep "pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind." After visiting this website, you'll be certain which products will work into your new green lifestyle.
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Step 2
Be skeptical. The first step to becoming a true environmentalist is separating fact from fiction, and there is a lot of misinformation out there—especially in the beauty industry. Just because it says it is made with natural ingredients doesn't mean it's environmental, mainly because there is no official definition for what "natural" means. One tip is to keep an eye out for the Burt’s Bill Natural Standard seal, a joint effort by Burt’s Bees and the Natural Products Association to ensure ingredients are at least 95 percent renewable and free of synthetics.
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Step 3
Read the label. Keep an eye out for the USDA label before purchasing your beauty products, since all valid certifying agencies must comply with USDA standards in order to be officially labeled organic. There are four categories of organic to be aware of: 100% Organic, Organic, Made With Organic Ingredients, and Some Organic Ingredients. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the various levels so that you buy a product that's up to your standards.
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Step 4
Fall in love with fair trade. Most of the world's farmers are treated unethically, but fair trade on your product's label means just that—fair wages, fair working conditions and fair treatment of the environment. You are guaranteed that workers received the minimum payment plus an additional premium for certified-organic products, and they are also eligible for pre-harvest credit. Fair trade also allows farmers to enjoy freedom of association and safe working conditions with no forced child labor permitted. And even better? The farming practices omit toxic chemicals and GMOs in favor of environmentally sustainable methods.
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Step 5
Limit your water and energy use. By simply putting down the hair dryer and curling iron, you can save on energy costs. If you feel like you can't possibly do your hair without them, ask your hair stylist for advice during your next visit. Your stylist will have plenty of tips for how to style your hair without heat. And remember to turn off the water when you're not using it. It's easy to get distracted when getting dolled up, but letting the water run is wasteful and expensive. Also, it never hurts to take shorter showers.
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Step 6
Bigger is better. Buying your products in bulk will cut down on waste while saving you money in the long run, and some containers are even reusable so you can keep filling up as you need to. Lotions, shampoos, conditioners and soap are easy to buy in large quantities. However, it's still true that less is more. Cutting back the number of products you use will have even more benefit.
Comments
lkcooper said
on 8/10/2008 Good tips!