Thursday, July 17, 2008

Day 87 of our Green Year: Green Cosmetics

For Day 87 of Our Green Year, we are going green on something for all of us, especially women; cosmetics!
Makeup is something that is used on a daily basis by millions of people, but these products also come with a problem, and it is connected with the ingredients. Many of the ingredients in cosmetics contain ingredients that are dubious at best, most of which are petroleum based. Some cosmetics are tested on animals, and the ingredients in cosmetics can get into our air during the processing, contributing to pollution. So, what options are there for women and men who wear makeup? Plenty!

The first thing is to avoid aluminum in everything, including deodorant. It can cause skin irritation, inflammation and more. Plus, antiperspirants block your pores, which prevent the body from eliminating toxins through perspiration. This then reduces the body's ability to regulate the body temperature. Instead of using deodorant that uses aluminum and blocks your pores, we will be using natural products that do not do this, as well as baking soda and crystal stick, which uses natural mineral salts.

Natural toothpaste is also something you should go after. Does it not bother you that toothpaste labels say 'Do not swallow'? This is something you put in your mouth, its kind of hard not to swallow at least a bit of it. Many toothpaste products contain titanium dioxide, parabens and fluoride. Fluoride helps fight tooth decay and it has been around for 50 years in our toothpaste. However, high doses of this can be poisonous.

No animal tested products. Layla and I love animals and we will not be using any products that have been tested on animals. For our cosmetics, we will only be buying products with the Humane Cosmetics Standard Cruelty Free label.

Lastly, most of the cosmetic care products we buy from now on, from lipstick and mascara to toothpaste and shampoo will be organic. We love how we feel from eating only organic food, and we feel that going organic with all our beauty and cosmetic care products will do the same thing.

Got any suggestions for the beauty and cosmetic products we can wear and use that are healthy for us and the environment? Let us know!