BEAUTY AND FASHION GUIDE TO GREEN LIVING

Admit it: You already spend a good chunk of time picking out just the right beauty products and clothing. Why not take a fraction of that time to make sure your style must-haves stay green? Check out these simple solutions.

Ø  Be on the lookout for hazardous ingredients in your medicine cabinet and makeup bag. Cosmetic ingredients are not regulated by the FDA or any other government agency and often contain harmful ingredients that have not been adequately tested. For example, parabens are synthetic preservatives that can disrupt hormones but can still be found in many of our beauty products. Check the ingredient lists on your moisturizers, soaps, bath products, makeup, sunscreen, toothpaste and deodorant, and replace anything that includes any of the following ingredients:

o   mercury

o   parabens

o   thimerosol

o   lead acetate

o   formaldehyde

o   toluene

o   petroleum distillates

o   ethylacrylate

o   coal tar

o   dibutyl phthalate

o   potassium dichromate

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group are two non-profit groups working to monitor the beauty industry. You can even check your beauty products online at www.safecosmetics.org to see how they rate!

Ø  Although we don’t eat our clothes, we should care about the pesticides and herbicides used to create them. Most commercial growers of cotton use a tremendous amount of pesticides and herbicides that pollute the soil, air and water—and endanger the farmers, birds, bees, insects and animals that come in contact with the crops. So look for clothing made with organic cotton (which is different than 100% cotton), hemp, linen, bamboo, soy or wool; designers to watch for include American Apparel, Linda Laudermilk, Under the Nile, Patagonia, Nau, Lululemon, Pendelton Ecoganik, Loomstate, Edun, Del Forte and Boll Organic. And keep an eye out for clothing dyed with low-impact or vegetable dyes, which keep our water from being polluted with synthetic dyes. Finally, remember that buying clothing at a vintage or consignment shop is a good form of recycling.

Ø  Most conventional nail polish brands include harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, toluene, and phthalates, which have been linked to problems ranging from skin irritation in people to birth defects in animals. Purchase safer alternatives at your local health food store; Brands to look for include No Miss Nail Polish, Sante Nail Polish, L'Oreal Paris Jet-Set Quick Dry Nail Enamel, Provida Organic Nail Care and WaterColors Nail Enamel.

Most hair dyes use ammonia, which can transfer into the blood stream via the scalp. As an alternative, you can use herb- or vegetable-based hair dyes that are free of ammonia. Coloring products to "dye" for include Born Again henna, Changes henna, Giovanni, HerbaVita, Light Mountain, Logona henna, Naturtint, Rainbow Research, Surya henna, Tints of Nature, Jason Natural, Nature’s Gate, Mill Creek and Aveda. You should feel free to bring your own ammonia-free hair color to your stylist if she doesn't provide these products—it's your hair, and your health.

Ø  Olive and jojoba oils are great natural moisturizing alternatives for skin care, hair conditioner and even massage. Oils transfer through your skin very easily, so be sure to use only natural oils that were produced organically.

Ø  Try shopping in vintage and consignment clothing stores instead of always buying new. When you're ready to clean out your closet, give your clothes to a charity. Or organize a quarterly clothing swap with your friends and family—it’s a great reason to get together, and you'll come home with a few new outfits without spending your hard-earned money.

Ø  Here's an excuse to shop around: Check out boutiques and listings in your town for clothing made by local designers. Buying your clothes locally helps support artists in your community, and also avoids the pollution associated with shipping products from across the country and overseas. An added bonus: Your clothes will be much more unique than the mass-produced stuff at the mall.

Ø  You don’t have to sacrifice style to have a pair of shoes you can feel good about. Many new designers have stepped up to fill the need for hip, comfortable, affordable shoes made from materials other than leather. Some of the same companies also incorporate recycled materials, use non-toxic glues and commit to responsible labor practices. A few brands to look for: Ragazzi Vegan, Moo Shoes, The Vegetarian Site and Alternative Outfitters Vegan Boutique.

Ø  The sun does just as good a job as a clothes dryer, and uses no electricity. Drying clothes on a rack or line not only saves energy, but also makes your clothes smell far better than any artificially scented dryer sheet can. (Try drying your sheets outside, and see for yourself.) Besides, clothes shrink and wear out faster when dried using a machine.

Ø  For the past 50 years, 80-90% of fragrances found in beauty products have been synthesized from petroleum—not from natural sources, as some labels might lead you to believe. Beauty product labels can be confusing—or worse, misleading—because the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate how companies use words like "fragrance-free," "unscented," "natural" and "hypoallergenic." Look for products that include natural fragrances in their ingredients, or no fragrance at all. Your best bet is to choose products from trusted cosmetic and body-care companies that use only natural, certified organic, non-toxic and non-synthetic ingredients.

Ø  Conventional dry cleaning almost always uses a toxic agent called perchloroethylene, or "perc," which has been shown to cause cancer. States like California have begun to phase it out and replace it with healthier options. The best alternative is called wet cleaning: It costs about the same as dry cleaning, but the process uses biodegradable soaps instead of harsh chemicals to clean your favorite clothes. Ask your local dry cleaner if they offer wet cleaning. (If you happen to live in California, there is an online listing of wet cleaners near you.)

Ø  Choose organic wool and cotton yarns for hand knitting, weaving or machine knitting. Also look for yarns that are unbleached, unprocessed or colored with low-impact dyes. While you're at it, pick up a pair of bamboo knitting needles.

Ø  Because most wedding gowns (and bridesmaid and flower girl dresses) are used once and never touched again, consider your eco-friendly options:

o   Look for a style made from natural fibers such as organic cotton, linen or hemp/silk charmeuse blends. A few online boutiques offering natural fiber gowns: GetConscious.com, ThreadheadCreations.com and Rawganique.com.

o   Purchase a pre-owned dress, or reuse a friend or family member's dress.

o   After the wedding, sell or donate your dress to the I Do Foundation, which donates the profits of your dress sale to the charity of your choosing.