Tips on Keeping an Eco-Friendly Beauty Routine

Though many people today are very aware of the problems facing our planet, not everyone does enough to help solve the problems and prevent more damage from being done. We throw away containers still filled with chemicals, and into the trash instead of the recycling no less! People toss their cigarette butts out the window and leave trash in our national parks. There will always be those sorts of people that are just too darn lazy to make a difference. But fear not, ladies! We can pick up the slack and start really caring about how much our daily routines effect the planet, starting with our morning beauty rituals!

You can start, of course, by making sure that the products you purchase and use are biodegradable, and do not contain exfoliates that are made of some type of plastic. You also want to stray from products that have harmful substances, like sodium lauryl sulfate, alpha hydroxy acids, and pretty much anything with the prefix "poly". It might cost a bit more, but it's worth it. Eventually, we can weed out the companies that refuse to use safe practices. Besides, there's plenty of ways to keep beautiful using things right in your house, so don't worry if you can't afford the very best organic face masks and body scrubs. You can still use good old sea salt, citrus, and seaweed!

Throwing containers away that still have product left in them is never a good idea. Even if you buy the most organic products, the containers are difficult to be recycled if they're covered in oily, chemical filled substances. (Perhaps they can not even be used at all!) Also, if you don't recycle (Boo on you!), it's even worse to put those chemicals with your trash that will just end up in a landfill and further aid to air, ground, and water pollution.

Vegetable soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and other cleansing products are a great alternative to many soaps on the market today. Many companies are too preoccupied with making their soaps smell like new and interesting things, rather than making sure they are safe for your skin and the planet. Once or twice a week, try making your own face scrub using things you have in your own home. Not only does this save and prolong the use of any products that you do end up purchasing, but it keeps your skin healthy the natural way without harming the earth.

Stick to brands that are known to use organic ingredients. Also, remember that just because a brand says they're "organic", does not mean that they are! Always read the ingredients! Brands that are currently available that are known to have organic ingredients are Aveeno, Burt's Bees, Vegan Essentials, SunLeaf, Aveda, and a new organic line from TIGI.

When it comes to cosmetics alone, mineral makeup is obviously a better choice when considering the planet. True mineral makeup is literally made of minerals, and contains none or very little of the chemical ingredients that could potentially harm our planet. Mineral makeup is also better for your skin, so you're being doubly productive!

Remember to spoil yourself the natural way, and never forget the plethora of goodies that are hiding in your own kitchen and bathroom that could make you feel like you've spent a day at the spa! Make a sea salt food rub, use a sugar face mask, take a milk bath, even soak your nails in orange juice! The natural world of beauty has always been -- and always will be - the best way to go for both your skin and our planet.