Stay Healthy by Greening Your Beauty Routine
In the face of this oddball weather and environmental catastrophes like the Gulf oil spill, you may be considering how you can incorporate friendlier-to-the-environment practices into your lifestyle. And with all the buzz about all things "green," it's increasingly difficult to figure out what's legit in the marketplace and what's not. The beauty industry offers a plethora of products with the words "natural," "green," or "organic" splattered all over the packaging in an attempt to appeal to your environmental consciousness.
If you're an inveterate beauty product shopper, here are some tips and suggestions to help you play your part in protecting Mother Earth.
Before shopping for "green" beauty products, familiarize yourself with cancer-causing chemicals or the Proposition 65 list of hazardous substances. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review program (CIR) is also a resource for information about the safety of ingredients in cosmetic products. Then, when you're in the store, whether you're buying lotion, shampoo, or foundation, examine the ingredient list. PLUS: Protect your kids from toxic toys.
Look at the product packaging. Are the materials made from recycled content? Are they biodegradable? Is there excess or unnecessary overwrapping? Does it feature the recycling symbol? PLUS: Get these great-looking green products.
Check out beauty manufacturers' corporate and social responsibility policies. Do they contribute to charitable organizations? Do they create safe and healthy working environments for their employees? Look for this information on company websites or at the Global Reporting Initiative website. PLUS: Find a rewarding volunteer program that will work for you.
For more information, be sure to check out the list of products that have the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
