Five Ways to "Green" Up Your Skin Care Routine

I've been recycling religiously for over 20 years. For me, it's one of the easiest things I can do to prolong the life of our planet. But more recently, I've made serious efforts to "green" up my act in other areas of my life, specifically my beauty routine. Years ago it was difficult to find quality eco-friendly beauty products, but these days, more and more companies are making the shift to producing green beauty products.

Today, on Earth Day, my friends at Earth's Care are sharing 5 tips for greening up your beauty routine in small but impactful ways.

1. Skip long ingredient lists!  Remember that your skin is your largest organ! Anything you put ON your skin gets absorbed by your skin and ultimately goes IN your body. Choose products with a short ingredient list that don’t contain many chemicals. Keep an eye out for products that list Parabens, Artificial Fragrance or Colors, Petrolatum, Phthalates, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate on the ingredient panel. If a product contains any of these ingredients, it is likely you are absorbing toxic and unnecessary chemicals into your body.  2. Choose a natural product that can do double-duty.  Most of us have a different product for each skin care need. Separate products for skin, hair and body not only mean you are applying numerous chemicals on your body, but it also increases waste from multiple tubes and bottles. Switch to a versatile product like natural Avocado Oil: a single bottle can be used as a deep conditioner for hair, a nourishing moisturizer for the face, and a fantastic source of moisture for the skin. I love using coconut oil as a moisturizer, as a makeup remover, and as toothpaste. One product. Many uses. No chemicals. 3. Support companies who share your “green” values! For a product to be truly green, look beyond the ingredient list. Is the product packaged with recyclable materials? Does the company believe in giving back? Many companies make a “green” product line, but continue to make products filled with chemicals or materials that are hard to recycle. Earth’s Care believes in nurturing the body and the planet, which means they are member of 1% for the Planet, use 100% recyclable packaging materials, and print their boxes using wind energy. 4. Cut back on your water consumption.  Earth’s Care is based in Long Beach, California, which means the company is acutely aware of how water consumption affects the environment. When using tissues to apply make-up or to wipe off excess product, be sure to dispose of the tissue in the trash! Every time you flush a tissue, 5-7 gallons of water gets wasted! BONUS TIP: Skip the harsh chemicals in typical make-up removers and try natural Sweet Almond Oil instead. It is a superior natural make-up remover, which results in fewer tissues used in the first place! 5. Swap in natural alternatives.  Benzoyl Peroxide isn’t the only way to combat acne. Earth’s Care Acne Spot Treatment utilizes maximum strength Sulfur to clear stubborn blemishes, pimples and breakouts. It contains no parabens, phthalates, artificial colors or fragrances which means harsh chemicals aren’t being placed onto your body!