Greening my petite verde.
It’s never to early to start.
If comparing the list of ingredients on your product labels to this list of questionable ingredients makes you want to swear like a sailor, then this post is for you. Many friends and readers have shown interest in “cleaning” up their health and beauty acts. Interestingly, they have all asked the same following questions: How does one even go about it? Where do you shop? Is it a total pain in the arse? Who has the time for this?
In seeking answers to these questions, look no further, beauties. This blog is all about helping you make more informed, healthy, and natural choices for yourselves and your family members. I want the process to be enlightening, easy, and enjoyable for you. Leave the pain in the arse stuff up to me. So, let’s get verde.
YOUR VERDE PLAN OF ACTION
Do you have to run screaming to your medicine cabinet, donning a hazmat suit to immediately dispose of all your “dirty” products? Absolutely not. Not only would that be wasteful, but who’s got the moolah to do that kind of overhaul? Don’t overwhelm yourself. Here are some tips for cleaning out and cleaning up:
1. Use up what you have. I’m no doctor, but I don’t think using up the rest of your suspect eye cream is going to kill you. Utilize the use-up time to research cleaner alternatives. Once you finish a product up, replace it with a more healthy and green selection.
2. Prioritize which products have the greatest effect on your health:
- Lip products, as you ingest them. Yes, that mass email about lead in lipstick was true. Lip balm, stick, and gloss contain a host of other ingredients I don’t think you’d want on the menu.
- Products which cover a large surface area of your body.
- ANYTHING you use on your kids: wipes, shampoo, diaper cream, etc.
- Products that contain formaldehyde releasers or mercury. Ditch the proven carcinogen and neurotoxin a.s.a.p.
3. Don’t try too many new things at once. Not only would this lead to that thick and hefty credit card bill in the mailbox we all dread (I know you know what I’m talking about), it doesn’t allow you the time to learn which specific natural ingredients and products work best for your skin type.
4. Don’t trust the verbiage on the front of the bottle. The word “natural” means nothing anymore. Nada. Sadly, companies have stripped the word of its integrity. If they can label effing hot dogs “all natural”, just think of all the wonderous natural declarations they can put on your face cream. Also be aware that the effective ingredient a company boasts in its claims ( e.g., “with pure pomegranate extract!”) is often the second to last on their ingredient list. Sneaky bastards. You must read the back of the bottle to know a product’s true contents and quality. Learn to read a product’s list of ingredients the same way you read the nutrition facts label on your food.
5. If a company won’t disclose their full ingredient list, do not buy from them. That’s shady. End of story.
WHERE DOES ONE FIND GREEN BEAUTY PRODUCTS?
Just to clarify, this is NOT what I’m asking you to consider.
And now for the question many think but few verbalize…YOU DON’T EXPECT ME TO DROP MY BEAUTY COUNTERS FOR THE HIPPIE STORES, DO YOU?
There are an increasing number of options for finding green health and beauty products. And, contrary to stereotype, these products are not just sold by and for those who wear Birkenstocks, smell like patchouli, and hug trees. (Disclaimer: I have nothing against hippies. Love the hippies. I too wear Birks. But not the patchouli.) There are lots of skincare gems to be found at your local health food store, so drop your preconceived notions and go have a look around. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some rather chic resources for scoring your green beauty swag, perfect for those who enjoy a little luxe. Here’s a list of resources that will appeal to the crunchy and glossy alike.
Brick and Mortar:
- Whole Foods
- ABC Carpet and Home
- Shop local: Google local green beauty and skin boutiques in your area. They are popping up and make for a nicer, more intimate, and more informed shopping experience than Sephora. Some examples local to New Yorkers include Shen Beauty in Brooklyn, Au Naturel Health and Beauty in Tarrytown (Verde Versace readers will receive 5% off their purchases), and New London Pharmacy in NYC.
Au Naturel Health & Beauty in Tarrytown, NY
What about Trader Joes? I knew you’d ask. I love the place. Who doesn’t? Along the same lines as their chocolate covered potato chips, just because a product is sold by Trader Joes doesn’t mean it’s healthy. I’ve read some product labels in TJ’s that have suspect ingredients, specifically glycols, “fragrance”, and parabens. Read the ingredient label carefully. This advice rings true for any merchant from whom you purchase products.
On the Web:
- Spirit Beauty Lounge (Offers a great sampling program in which you can try before you buy full size! Genius.)
- Beauty Sage
- Nubo Nau
- Saffron Rouge
- Eco Diva
- Vitacost (often has discounted prices)
- Drugstore.com
- Skinbotanica (google a discount code, there’s always one to find)
- Vine
Next post: Green beauty brand suggestions for every budget, Budweiser to Dom. Until then, contemplate your own Verde plan of action. Will you make the switch from conventional products to more green and natural ones? Where will you start?
photos by Carlise Azmita, Anna Cangiano
Thanks for sharing the shopping info…Whole Foods is a great place to start because they have a variety of price points. I like their store brand items a lot. FOr the Chicagoans don’t forget Merz Apothecary in Lincoln Square…LOVE that place for green purchases and for spending the green! (On things like toxic candles…sorry Verde!)
Love Merz Apothecary! I haven’t been there in years so I’d be curious to check out if and what they stock that is green. I’ll have to make it a stop on my next visit to Chi-town. In the meantime, we’ll have to find you some non-toxic candles…Thanks for posting!