Grasshopper New Media Presents...

These days, the hottest color in beauty is green and many beauty companies are setting an eco-friendly example. Here are some things for you to consider as the consumer:

Eco Friendly Packaging:
Try and buy cosmetics or other beauty products that come in recyclable packages or that come in packages made from recycled materials. The company Cargo has a lipstick line called PlantLove. The lipstick tube is made entirely out of corn - a renewable and abundant resource. This environmentally-friendly innovation also emits less greenhouse gases, which many scientists believe to be the major cause of global warming. The outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. Simply moisten, plant, and wait for a bouquet of wild flowers to grow!

The company M.A.C Cosmetics rewards environmentally thrifty customers by handing out free lipsticks to those who return five empty product containers.

Other care products can easily be recycled too, such as razors and toothbrushes. Preserve Toothbrushes were developed by dentists and engineers to be a high performance brush and the brush and its packaging are designed to have minimal impact on our Earth’s resources. Through an innovative recycling partnership with Stonyfield Farm, at least 25% of the handle plastic comes from recycled yogurt cups. The Preserve’s packaging is not only a reusable carrying case, but the materials are wood-based plastics from renewable forests. When you are finished the toothbrush, you can use the postage-paid mailer to recycle your used Preserve and case into plastic lumber products, like park benches.

The Preserve Razor from the same company is similar. The handles of this razor are made from 100% recycled plastics. 65% of handle plastic is recycled yogurt cups. The innovative, one-piece handle design reduces resources consumed in manufacturing. The handle is completely recyclable in communities with #5 plastics recycling or with Recycline’s postage-paid mailer.

Eco Friendly Ingredients:
Buy products from companies that use environmentally friendly ingredients without toxic chemicals. Miessence is one such company that uses certified organic ingredients and no toxic ingredients or preservatives. They are healthier for the planet and better for your skin, too. Also, if you use cotton balls try and buy from companies that use certified organic cotton.

Eco Friendly Initiatives:
The Global Exchange is your source for socially conscious bath and body products. You can find soaps, bath crystals, pumice stones, cosmetic bags, and even eye pillows all from a company that implements the principles of socially and economically responsible business by operating according to Fair Trade Criteria.

Your Green Beauty Tip for Today: Pick one beauty product from your home and decide to switch to a more environmentally friendly alternative using the criteria listed above.

Photo graciously provided by K e v i n via flickr, used under a creative commons license.