Green Your Beauty Routine

Firstly, ask yourself if you truly need all the products you currently use. Simply buying less and being more careful about purchases (also known as "precycling") to reduce your consumption is an important first step. More tips:

- Try using multi-use products such as color that can go on eyes, lips and your cheeks. Three Way Color by Kiss My Face is nice.

- Curl your eyelashes and skip the mascara. To get maximum curl, warm the eyelash curler a bit by blasting it with a hairdryer for just a second.

- Keep your eyebrows groomed. It makes your eyes pop without makeup.

- Buy bar style shampoo to avoid plastic containers. 

- Keep your skin healthy from the inside with a diet high in healthy natural oils, and use natural moisturizers that won't clog pores, so you can skip the allover foundation. Most women only need a little around their nose and under their eyes anyway.

- Adopt a natural look for your hair, don't fight what you've got.

- Use coconut oil as a moisturizer for your dryest spots like lips, heels and elbows.

- Don't overwash your skin and hair. Daily usage of soap on your body leads to dry skin, and most hair care experts say daily washing is unnecessary and counterproductive to an attractive style anyway.

- Reject the current trend of disposable facial cleansing products. A clean washcloth with a little cleanser on it is more effective, provides gentle exfoliation and can be used over and over. Microfiber cloths are especially nice for cleansing the face.

- Instead of cotton balls and foam makeup applicators, use a natural sea sponge to apply makeup or facial toner.

- Try making your own skin care products with simple ingredients like salt, sugar, oatmeal and olive oil. There are many wonderful books with recipes, or search online for them. Making your own means no packaging to dispose of.

- Buy the beauty products you do use in recycled containers such glass and be sure to recycle them after use.

- Support companies with eco friendly business practices.

- Buy recycled toothbrushes and reusable, not disposable razors.

- Remember to use your reusable shopping bag!

With a little thinking, you can shave minutes off your beauty routine and do a favor for the earth too.