I try to choose cosmetic products that are made from natural, chemical free ingredients and recycled goods.

It can be difficult to make the ‘green choice’ when staring down a drugstore aisle with seemingly endless options of shampoo and face wash. But if you familiarize yourself with some of the greener cosmetic companies, you’ll find there’s a good array of affordable, environmentally conscious selections out there.

Here’s the rundown on a few of my favorite eco-friendly cosmetic lines:

Aveda: One of the most environmentally conscious product lines around.

• In 1989, Aveda was the first privately held company to sign the CERES Principals (Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Companies.)
• Recycling iniatives: most Aveda stores will take the tops of your old bottles and recycle them into shampoo caps.
• In fact, the majority of their products are made from recycled materials.  Aveda uses polypropylene for most of their packaging (polypropylene contains only hydrogen and carbon atoms so it’s friendlier to the earth than other plastics when disposed.)  Their goal is to use the cleanest post consumer recycled materials possible. Recently they started using 25% PCR in their products with disc top closures.
• In 2007 the WWD Beauty International recognized Aveda as the first beauty company manufacturing with 100% certified wind power.  Check out details here.

Aveeno: Another company that’s aligned its brand message to the eco-conscious consumer. (Their foaming facewash is a part of my everyday routine.)

• They use natural ingredients like soy, shea butter, jojoba oil, oatmeal, and so on in their products instead of chemicals and animal tested ingredients found in many cosmetics.
• They’ve sponsored worthy green projects across the country.

Burt’s Bees: marketed as an all natural line. I’m a big fan of their chapsticks (a staple during the dry winter!)

• Instead of using potentially toxic ingredients like the sodium lauryl sulfate found in many other haircare products (which is lethal for fresh water fish) they use fennel seed and green tea.
• Their product researchers and developers are touted as ‘natural chemists’ who constantly look to develop greener products.

And, a few noteworthy products for the vegan consumer:

• TheraNeem Shampoo and Conditioner from Organix South Inc are made without sodium lauryl suflate. Their haircare products are especially beneficial for gals and guys with sensitive scalps.
• Lavera offers everything from face wash to self tanner and moisturizer, and most of their products are vegan.
• I’ve also heard positive things about the Good for you Girls skincare line.

Posted by Beth

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Beth is a Health and Wellness expert who believes sustainability goes hand-in-hand with self care. She’s the girl whipping up kombucha cocktails at parties, and extolling the benefits of canning vegetables to anyone who will listen. View all posts by Beth Funari