Going Green and Getting Gorgeous

MacKenzie Cotters
Style Editor

Changing some light bulbs and switching to reusable shopping bags is easy and understandable but mess with a girl’s makeup or moisturizer and you have pushed her too far. But fashion divas fear not, green cosmetics are no longer just for the granola girls and eco-friendly is now tres eco-chic.

Beauty may only be skin deep but with increasing frequency studies are showing that the hidden dangers of our daily shampoos and conditioners are sinking in a little deeper. Dangers like aluminum in deodorants, lead in our lipsticks and phthalates (phthalates?) in lotions are the bad news but the good news is that the cosmetics industry is listening to the call for safer, higher quality, environmentally friendly products.

In the past few years, according to the Natural Marketing Institute, the number of organic or natural personal care product lines has risen from 800 to about 2,000.

I’m sure by now you’re only hearing dollar signs and "I’m on a college student budget!" is on the tip of your tongue. Yes, natural products aren’t available everywhere and are going to take a few extra dollars out of your Corner Stone funds but there is a simple and easy way around that.
Instead of wondering what phthalates is and why you are lathering it on to your body try some of these homemade beauty regimes. And there’s no doubt that there 100 percent o’natural considering they are straight from your kitchen (or diner) cabinets.

4-step body scrub
Ingredients:
½ Cup raw sugar
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
2 Tbsp. Honey
1 Tbsp. Lemon juice
Mix your ingredients together, hop in the shower, scrub away and then rinse. As the sugar and lemon juice remove dead skin the olive oil nourishes and smoothes.

Deeper than deep hair conditioner
Ingredients:
1 Avocado
½ Cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. olive oil
After mixing the ingredients together until smooth apply to your hair just like any other conditioner. Let it sit for 20 minutes and if you’re worried about making a mess feel free to use a shower cap. Shampoo and rinse your softer, stronger hair.

Bare minimum face exfoliant
Ingredients:
½ Cup milk
½ Tsp. salt
Thoroughly mix milk and salt together. Dab exfoliant across your face and forehead. Let it dry and reapply. Massage your face in circular motions before rinsing. Your face will be smoother and brighter than before.

Not so interested in cooking up your own concoctions? That’s totally understandable. If you still prefer to buy your beauty products consider some brands that help you save face and the earth.

Tom’s of Main and Kiss my Face are two product lines that offer everything from toothpaste to sunscreen. And the best part? They do it while being natural and environmental. Both lines are available, for completely reasonable prices, at local Trader Joe’s, Whole Food and My Organic Markets.

For a higher end option try Care by Stella McCartney. In 2007 McCartney launched her line of 100 percent organic skin care. The cosmetics, free of any petrochemicals or silicones is a perfect follow up to her overly popular vegan fashion line. Care by Stella McCartney is available at all Sephora stores for $35-$76.