In honor of Earth Day on Saturday (4/22) we decided to go green, rounding up products and treatments that nurture consumers without harming Mother Nature. Along the way we found that what's good for the Earth happens to look beautiful on us, too.
Preservative free
Synthetics and preservatives in the products we use reportedly take a toll on the environment. The jury is out on how these same ingredients may affect our skin, not to mention our health. When in doubt, go natural.
Lush, a bath and body collection from across the pond, offers largely preservative-free products. At the Lush Web site, www.lush.com, ingredients are clearly listed, categorized and denoted by color as either "safe synthetic products" or as "natural and/or organic products."
Our favorites include Karma Soap, scented in part by patchouli oil and gardenia extract; Rehab Shampoo, ideal for those in need of serious hair care help; and the Happy Pill Bath Bomb, which leaves body, bath water and bathroom smelling deliciously clean, thanks in part to a touch of grapefruit and mandarin.
Stylishly green
Have you ever taken a look at the list of strange-sounding ingredients in your favorite lip gloss or eye shadow? Say hello to Nvey Eco, a luscious line of cosmetics that combines ingredients we can actually pronounce with the color and performance we need to stay faithful to any cosmetic collection. The line is free of chemical ingredients including parabens, petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances. Plus, every Nvey Eco product is cruelty free and created from the finest organic ingredients.
Try the Eco Moisturising Mascara, formulated with vitamin B5 and horsetail herb to strengthen and condition lashes. Another favorite is Eco's Moisturising Fluid Foundation, a product that serves up flawless skin thanks to key ingredients such as chamomile, cucumber and organic calendula. Shop online at www.nveymakeup.com.
Organic hair care
The folks at Simply Organic set out to create a line of hair care products that serves up soft, lustrous hair minus potentially harmful chemicals. Olive leaf extract is the key ingredient.
Simply Organic's Bangs & Ends Crème is among my favorites. This product combines a deep conditioner with ingredients that define and style, eliminating the need for multiple products. Plus the list of key ingredients - olive leaf extract, honey, and essential oils - is impressive in its simplicity and effectiveness. Browse the collection online at www.haircareusa.com.
New naturals
Crabtree & Evelyn's new Naturals collection combines botanical body care with exotic fragrance blends (not a single floral in the bunch.) Sixty-eight botanical extracts, oils and essential minerals set this new line apart from similar bath and body lines. Plus, the entire collection is free of paraben preservatives, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, mineral oil and synthetic dyes.
The Naturals lineup includes Botanical Body Scrubs ($26), Botanical Body Butters ($26), Botanical Shower Mousse ($16), Botanical & Mineral Body Mists ($20), and more. Visit www.crabtree-evelyn.com for retail locations.
- Carolyn Brundage is founder of TampaBayBeauty.com, a guide to all that's hip in local beauty.
