beauty manufacturers have online stores. If you are open for things new and exotic, you can find
amazing natural and mineral-based skin care from Iceland, Hungary, and Israel, as well as herbs and
clays for your homemade cosmetic creations. Always check the ingredients list or request one from
the seller before buying anything. If you don’t have a budget to splash on Jurlique, which has magic
potions as pricey as La Mer or La Prairie, I recommend trying simple, affordable, or homemade
organic recipes that are tailored to suit every skin’s needs.
Another excellent source of new organic skin care lines is eBay, where many spa and organic
beauty manufacturers have online stores.
Already thinking about giving your beauty stash a green makeover? If there’s one organic beauty
product that you can afford to buy right now, buy a moisturizer. They sit on skin longest, and that’s
why they should not contain anything toxic. Try a couple of samples and buy a bigger size of the one
you especially like. Just make sure to use it diligently since it has to be used up according to its “best
before” date. Next, buy a body moisturizer and/or sunscreen. In general, a moisturizer and a sunscreen
should be the most expensive things in your beauty arsenal. For a toner, you can get away with rose
water or witch hazel, or quickly whip up a simple concoction at home. The last thing to replace
should be your facial cleanser. Cleansers should not be expensive to perform well. Ideally, you
should adopt a double-cleansing technique using two cleansers (which we are going to discuss in the
next chapter), but neither product needs to cost a fortune. For hair care, invest in a good conditioner
and stick to an organic baby shampoo. Remember: you don’t need to buy more; you need to buy more
of a good thing.
Keep in mind that when you switch to all-natural skin care, your skin may start misbehaving. This
is because many natural beauty products contain multitasking essential oils that work as spot
treatments, antiaging agents, and natural preservatives. Unless you become extremely allergic to one
particular ingredient (such as coughing, sneezing, or eye watering), don’t quit unless it is absolutely
critical. In a couple of days, your skin will adjust.
MAKING SENSE OF GREEN PRODUCT GUIDES
To help you decide which cosmetic product to choose, you will find a Green Product Guide in
several chapters. These guides are split into three sections.
One leaf is awarded to products that are generally clean and pure, but do contain a few questionable
yet generally safe plant ingredients. The concerns are minimal: it could be an overwhelming smell of
essential oils or plant extracts that aren’t suitable for everyone. Yet none of these products contain
harmful chemicals.
Two leaves indicate that a product is sensibly formulated, contains nothing toxic, and delivers its
promises, yet there’s a little “but.” Maybe a strong fragrance, less-than-convenient packaging, or
maybe the price was hard to justify. In any case, this is an excellent product to try and maybe fall in
love with.
Three leaves are given to the greenest beauty products. If you already recycle, reuse, drive a
hydrogen car, and heat your home with solar energy, then you will go an extra mile or two for that
biodynamic body oil. Solutions in this section are likely to be more time- and money-consuming than
the rest. You will notice, however, that price point is rarely taken into consideration. All that matters
is the efficiency of the product, the purity of the ingredients, and, as a result, the authenticity of the
green claims.