Green beauty

Published : 13/05/2009 | Author: Hestelle Robinson | HOMEMAKERSonline

Going green is a phased process, we usually start with small steps doing isolated good green deeds. Gradually we take bigger steps, transforming from an environmentally aware person with a slightly green conscious to a mean-green-eviro-caring-machine.

You might start off by recycling, the first step for most, then move on to energy saving activities and then only graduate into green personal care or cosmetics. And as a girl I get that, but as a gentle persuasion to start greening your cosmetics sooner rather than later, here are a few facts;

25 million kg of toothbrushes wind up in landfills every year.
Each year 2 billion disposable raisers end up in landfills.
98% of all cosmetic products contain parabens (a nasty product that disrupts the hormonal balance in your body, an ingredient linked to breast cancer.
38 000 animals are tested every year for new cosmetic products
Less than 20% of personal care products have been tested for immediate adverse effects and less that 10% have been tested for long-term effects.

So where to start when you want to green your personal care? Keep 3 concepts in mind Earth-Friendly, Animal-Friendly, People-Friendly

Earth-friendly

Remember that all the cosmetics and personal care products you use eventually return to the ecosystem, it is either washed down the drain, to become part of groundwater or thrown into you dustbin to land up in a landfill.
Many of the ingredients used in cosmetics originates from non-renewable sources eg petroleum.

Animal-friendly

Avoid animal-tested products and go for the ones that are organic and free of petro-chemicals and preservatives.

People-Friendly

Surely if it was bad testing it on animals it is bad for you too. 33% of all cosmetics contain ingredients that are linked to cancer. Need more convincing?!

Okay! Chemicals applied to the skin, hair or nails go straight to your bloodstream, without passing through your liver, so not getting the benefit of being detoxified. In your lifetime you will probably absorb about 5kg of toxic ingredients!

So what to do?

Shopping for cosmetics is like shopping for groceries… read the labels.

Look out for labels that state:

Sulfate Free,
cruelty-free, and
contains no parabens, petroleum, animal fats, alcohols, artificial colours or fragrance, no acetone, no asetate.
You do not want to buy any of these products.

Be suspicious of vague general labels

That state….all natural, hypo allergenic, organic (unless it states “certified”).

Top five ingredients to avoid in your cosmetics

Formaldehyde
Parabens
Phalates
Petroleum
Toluene

What you do want to buy:

Certified organic products,
Biodegradable products
Botanical products,
Products that come in recycled containers,
Buy from suppliers who will take back (exchange) their cosmetic containers.
Always opt to buy something from recycled rather than virgin plastic.
Try to buy fragrance free products, if you like nice smelling stuff look out for fragrance derived from a truly natural source such as essential oils.

Top green beauty tips

Do your research, read the lable visit the company’s website.
Switch to a green toothpaste – if you really want to be dark green baking soda is s great natural alternative to toothpaste
Use a razor from recycled plastic, or alternatively use the type where you only have to replace the razor head and not the entire razor.
Buy a toothbrush that has a changeable head.
Do no shave your legs in the shower this waste way too much water, rather use a small basin for this
Wear sunscreen everyday, opt for a chemical free sunblock or those that use titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as sunblock.
And remember … less really is more!

Tip:

Make your own facemask from your expired yogurt, you get a great beauty product and you reduce your waste!

Your will need.
•    Too-old-to-eat Yogurt
•    Cucumber
•    Honey

Blend a medium sizes cucumber, so you have 1 cup of blended cucumber
Combine 1 cup of yogurt with 1/2 cup of honey.
Mix in 1 cup of blended cucumber.

Leave this mixture on your face for 15 minutes then remove. Enjoy better skin and less waste simultaneously.