Incorporating “Green” into Your Beauty Routine – Part I

What does it mean to be eco-friendly in the beauty industry? From sourcing ingredients grown or procured in an environmentally-responsible way to recyclable packaging to low-impact practices such as using energy-efficient appliances, there are a lot of opportunities to incorporate earth-friendly beauty practices. If you’ve thought about greening your beauty routine, here are a couple of examples of eco-conscious style:

Green Beauty At Home

1) Use and love products that are good for the earth, and good for you! Some of the ingredients that are used in high-end make-up, skin, and hair products are synthetic compounds that actually have associated health concerns and in turn, environmental impacts. Check the list of 100 cosmetic ingredients to avoid so you’ll know what to avoid to feel healthy, beautiful, and responsible.

2) Eat clean. We can’t say this enough. There are so many phrases that apply to this situation – from “Beauty starts from within” to “You are what you eat.” A vegetable-based diet, preferably organic, will limit ingestion of hormone-disrupting chemicals and keep your body’s functions at peak performance. Want radiant skin, shiny hair, and strong nails? You know what to do – eat the rainbow – of fruits and vegetables for optimal absorption of nutrients. And, by eating responsibly, you’ll be living a lower-impact lifestyle since the animal processing industry is a major contributor to our carbon footprint.

3) Conserve (your) energy! Looking beautiful and polished does not need to be energy intensive. Saving water by taking shorter showers (hello dry shampoo!) and using energy-efficient appliances is the next wave of home beauty. We’ve found energy-efficient hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners. If you’re in the market for a new tool, recycle the old one and purchase a low-wattage appliance. You’ll save money on utilities, too.

Stay tuned for Part II – where we review “greening” tips for beauty businesses!