Eco-Beauty Care

We all want to do our part and help the environment: we use public transport, plant flowers, recycle, etc. But did you ever think to change your beauty routine? A lot of cosmetics and beauty products are made with chemicals that aren’t good for the body or the environment, so read on to find out how to help our planet and look great doing it!

How can you go green?
Read the labels. Find out what the main ingredients in your beauty products are. Opt for vegetable-based and natural mineral-based products, and steer away from those that have a lot of chemicals (such as aluminium, petroleum, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulphate) on the label.

Do your research. Go online and find out which companies are eco-friendly. Purchase from companies that support community trade, don’t test on animals, recycle their containers, and whose products are certified organic and natural. There are more out there than you think!

Finish your products. Many of us have a tendency to toss out shampoos, soaps and makeup that are not quite finished. Be sure you’re completely done with your products before ridding yourself of them; you’ll save money and consume less plastic. 

Our favourite “green” products

All of LUSH’s bars are made of natural ingredients and most are free of sodium lauryl sulphate, a chemical foamer found in most shampoos and soaps. (LUSH uses an alternative derived from pure coconut oil.) You can also store your bar in a reusable tin. Green Shampoo Bar and Tin $7.95 (55 g) and $4.95 at LUSH

This lipstick is truly an innovation: the tube is made of corn, a renewable resource, to help in the fight against global warming! The lipstick is made of natural ingredients like jojoba and shea butter—not petroleum like most lipsticks—and you can take the box it came in, plant it (the box is embedded with seeds) and watch wildflowers grow!   PlantLove Botanical Lipstick by Cargo $20 at all Cargo Cosmetics counters

L’Occitane en Provence always uses natural ingredients. Made with actual Mediterranean Sea Salts, this body scrub also contains essential oils and lemon and orange extracts to exfoliate and remove dry skin. It sure will leave your skin feeling silky! Verbena Harvest Body Salt Scrub $50 (400 g) at L’Occitane en Provence