It's Easy Being Green: Eco-Chic Beauty

Besides things like, vintage housewares, clothing, and crocheted projects, I'm also pretty into being kind to my environment and my body.

I think I'm going to do a series of posts about using natural products to love your planet and yourself.

We'll begin with beauty products. That's the fun stuff!

Here is my favorite shampoo/conditioner combination.

The shampoo is Natures Gate Organics chamomile and lemon verbena moisturizing formula. It's perfect for colored or chemically processed hair. Marshmallow and witch hazel soothe, and wheat protein and b-5 smooth and shine. I love it!

One thing that is very important to remember the first time you use eco-chic shampoo, it won't suds up. The suds are not necessary to clean your hair, it's a detergent additive in products like shampoo, liquid hand soap, and toothpaste that we've begun to associate with the feeling of being clean.

The conditioner is the Burt's Bee's "More Moisture" conditioner that uses raspberry extract and honey to moisturize and brazil nut oil to nourish and protect.

All Burt's Bees products are packaged in 50% post consumer recycled plastic and are all recyclable. Remember, if you're not buying recycled, you're not recycling.

Let's move from hair to face, shall we?

Below is my favorite cleanser and toner made by Origins. I have oily, acne prone skin, so their mint was is perfect. Spearmint stimulates your skin, and your sinuses, while other natural ingredients that unclog pollutants, debris, and makeup from pores. When you rinse it off, you feel like your pores sigh.

I follow up with Origin's oil refining toner. Phlorogine (from seaweed) swiftly stops excess oils from welling up on skins’ surface. Tourmaline disperses trapped dirt and debris. Salvia cools and refreshes. And white china clay leaves a poreless matte finish that feels fresh for hours. Of course, less oil can lessen the likelihood of breakouts and blackheads. Used regularly, overall oiliness subsides and stabilizes. Mm-mm good.

Origin's is jumping on the recycling bandwagon, too.
Starting March 29, 2009, you can bring your empty cosmetic tubes, bottles and jars, etc. - regardless of brand - to your nearest Origins retail store or department store counter nationwide.* All returned packaging will be sent back to a central location where products will be recycled or used for energy recovery. Love it!

I also swear by Burt's Bees for lip care, too. On the left is their original beeswax lip balm. It also opens up the sinuses. It's very refreshing. On the right is their replenishing pomegranate lip balm. The's little tubes of goodness are also made from 50% post consumer recycled plastic and can be recycled with the rest of your #7's.


Let's end with our choppers, okay?
Here's my little speil about toothpaste. You know how you can't swallow toothpaste? Why? It's poisonous. Yes, you do have to ingest a lot of it for it to be poisonous, but still. I really don't want that junk in my mouth.

To you, ladies and gentlemen, I present you with the best toothpaste on the planet. Tom's of Maine, whole care anticavity and tartar control plus whitening gel flouride toothpaste. It tastes different from "normal" toothpaste, so don't expect it to. It's free from artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, or flavors. It hasn't been tested on animals and doesn't contain any animal ingredients. Crest = YUCK! I can't believe I ever used it.


There are many other products from natural origin beside what I've listed here. They work differently for everyone. These are the ones that work best for me. Find the ones that work best for you! You'll never go back!