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Elle made waves by dressing its annual Green Issue in a resplendent shade of aqua. (How's that for trendsetting?) The fashion plate's first Blue Issue, which was printed on recycled paper and features actress Drew Barrymore pouting winsomely on the cover, is an ode to the one element that ties everybody and everything on the planet: water.
Bathing beauties seeking to look green and gorgeous need look no further than Elle's 2009 Green Stars Awards, which have anointed 28 of the best and brightest all-natural and organic cosmetics and skin and haircare products with the help of a panel of 24 professional makeup artists, dermatologists, and hairstylists.
Whether you decide to pucker up with lipsticks you can compost, tame that troublesome mane with the power of organic flaxseed, or hold back the tide of time with extracts of green and white tea, going au naturel has never been more replete with options—or more complicated. Gone are the days when there was only one brand of organic soap; store aisles are now bursting with products that tout all kinds of eco-friendly credentials. We recently sat down with April Long, Elle's senior beauty editor, and Maura Lynch, associate beauty editor, to discuss the changing face of beauty and how to weed out the true blues from the greenwashers.
Here are some of their top tips to find real deal eco-friendly beauty products:
- Educate yourself and don't take anything at face value. Navigating the quagmire of certifications and labels—which are getting to be a dime a dozen at the rate they're getting churned out—can get dicy. Read your labels, Lynch says, and scrutinize the list of ingredients. "You need to know what they mean," she says. "Some of them aren't as stringent as others. For instance, 'made with organic ingredients' doesn't necessarily mean that you won't find toxic chemicals in the products. If something says it's 85 percent organic, you always need to look at what the other 15 percent is."
- Green doesn't have to mean expensive. Money-pinched recessionistas who want to make the switch to greener cosmetics and beauty products should start gradually instead of throwing everything out, suggests Long. "Start with things that are more likely to absorb into your skin first, like moisturizer and foundation before you do a blush," she says, instead of overhauling your beauty bag in one fell swoop, which can be costly. Then begin replacing your existing products with greener versions as they run out.
- Go deep, Skin Deep, that is. Lynch and Long both recommend the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep site as the to-go place to find out how toxic your product stash is, as well as where to find safer, greener alternatives.
- Do a background check on the company. Does the beauty company embrace sustainability at all levels? Or is it performing mere lip service when it comes to the environment? Some quick research on the company's Web site can usually supply those answers. If not, ringing the customer service line won't hurt.
More on eco-friendly beauty:
How to Go Green: Skincare
Know Your Cosmetics Ingredients: Toluene
Know Your Cosmetics Ingredients: Aluminum Chlorohydrate
Know Your Cosmetics Ingredients: Parabens
Know Your Cosmetics Ingredients: Top Five Ingredients to Avoid
