Greening Austin Daily

How Green are Your Cosmetics and Beauty Products?

14th July, 2010 - Posted by carsi - 1 Comment

My answer: sadly, not so green. If you’re interested in finding out what kinds of chemicals are in your beauty products, check out the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database. They have descriptions and ratings for tons of products, and I was surprised at the levels of toxicity in some of the items I use, even some that are labeled “organic.” It’s definitely a challenge finding eco-friendly alternatives to the vast assortment of beauty products out there. My process is to replace my old products when they run out with greener, less chemically options. I’ve done this for my shampoo and conditioner (although I looked them up on the database and they’re not as green as I thought!), soap, toothpaste, and deodorant. But I still have eye makeup remover, makeup, and lotion, among other things, that have all sorts of crazy chemicals listed on the back. I don’t want to be wasteful, so I’m trying to use them up, but once they’ve run their course, I’m going to check out the database for some better options. Also, here’s a helpful list of some recommendations for six green beauty products, including makeup remover, mascara, and bronzer.