and herbs, it’s impossible to organically certify water, vitamins, and minerals. Still, whenever you
buy an organic beauty product, double-check the ingredients list for synthetic chemicals. You will be
surprised to find them in many forms, often hiding behind perfectly natural names and neutral-
sounding abbreviations. Nobody should get away with false claims.
Are the green claims relevant? Sometimes a beauty product may display an environmental
certification mark to show that this manufacturer powers its facilities with renewable energy, which
is clearly a beneficial environmental feature. However, it doesn’t make the ingredients any cleaner or
healthier. You could easily be misled by the certification mark to believe that the product is safer or
uses safer ingredients than its competitors, when that may not be true.
Does the packaging back up its claims or green theme? Try to see more than the natural-looking
design of the bottle. “See if the packaging is made of recycled plastic or glass, and if the instructions
are printed on recycled paper,” recommends Morris Shriftman, one of the founders of Avalon
Organics, now a consultant with the brand. “Many companies replant trees that were used in
packaging, or otherwise restore the forests.” So when you see a new “green” product hitting store
shelves, wait a second and ask: does it ring true and sound authentic, or is it obviously hype? Be a
vigilant shopper—your own scrutiny of green marketing claims must be one more item to add to your
shopping list.
Do the benefits outweigh the negatives? The company may use organic aloe vera or donate a
percentage of their profits to eco-friendly charities, but this doesn’t make paraben preservatives,
silicones, mineral oil, and other synthetic ingredients in a greenwashed product any less toxic. A little
selfishness won’t hurt: always consider if the product makes you or your children healthier, and only
then start worrying about global warming. Make the planet healthier by caring about your own health
first.
Going GreenWithout Going Broke
The idea of organic beauty products as dusty bottles sitting on the lower shelves of health food
stores is very outdated. Just because the treatment is labeled as natural or organic doesn’t mean that it
has been cooked in a country kitchen. Organic creams today can create an adrenaline rush similar to a
pair of designer jeans—and sometimes cost just as much.
Some organic lines were created with pure luxury in mind. JoWood, the wife of Ron Wood, the
guitarist for the Rolling Stones, developed her line of organic fragrances after years of blending her
own oils. In 2005, she came up with an African-inspired line of fragrant oils and mists, Amka and
Usiku, whose musky and woody scents captured the hearts (and noses) of celebrities worldwide.
JoWood’s sumptuous creations are a far cry from humble vials of essential oils stocked by health
food stores!
Not happy with the selection of organic beauty products in your local health store? Many
department stores are becoming greener, stocking Origins, which launched an organic line of
products, as well as semigreen Caudalie and Aveda. Some of them have phased out parabens or phe-
noxyethanol preservatives but still have a few safe chemicals on their labels. Sephora carries Boscia,
Korres, and REN seminatural brands.
Another excellent source of new organic skin care lines is eBay, where many spa and organic