Earth First
Consider these easy ways to "green" your routine.
Clockwise from top: Napoleon Perdis loose dust in emerald and leaf, $28 each; M.A.C pigment in golden olive, $39
While many companies are working to reduce their impact on the environment, pioneer brands like Aveda and Jurlique are leading the green movement. This year, Aveda received the gold-level Cradle to Cradle certification for producing seven products with no environmental impact. Meanwhile, Jurlique harvests all its natural ingredients on a biodynamic, organic farm in South Australia.
Best buys: Aveda Green Science Firming Face Creme, $129.95; and Jurlique Love Balm, $15.
Where possible, opt for buys made from recycled, biodegradable or eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo, which thrives without fertiliser and needs little water.
Best buys: Be Genki Tranquility Face Mist, $24; Almay Pure Blends Volumizing Mascara, $21.95; Garnier Fructis Style Elastic Power Fix Hairspray, $6.95; Lady Jayne Bamboo Essentials Headband Multi-pack, $8.99; and Brushworx Be Natural Ceramic Brush, $21.95.
Consider the electricity used by your hair straightener and blow-dryer. By choosing energy-efficient appliances, you can consume around half the amount of power, without sacrificing performance.
Best buy: VS Sassoon Eco Dry Ionic Conditioning Blow-Dryer, $36.95.
Have you ever suffered pangs of guilt as you toss away an empty cosmetics bottle? Well, worry no longer: more companies are helping to save the earth (and your purse) by offering a refillable service for a fraction of a product's original price.
Best buys: Thierry Mugler Angel Shooting Star, $158; SO Salon Only Hair Repair Treatment, $26; and Dior L'Or de Vie La Crème Yeux, $370.
Reduce landfill by choosing products with less packaging, and always recycle. For plastics, look for the revolving arrow symbol, usually with a number inside: most councils will accept numbers one to three, and some will accept numbers four to seven. For more information, visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au.
Best buys: BOA Soothing Foot Scrub, $12.95; and L'Oréal Professionnel Série Nature Abondance de Cacao Shampoo for Fine Hair, $27.
Benevolent Buys
For a truly feelgood purchase, consider these charitable choices.
Revlon Nail Enamel in Fuschia Fever, $13.95.
Help beat breast cancer
All profits from The Body Shop Limited Edition Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream, $13.95, will be donated to Child Wise to help in its fight against child sex trafficking.
Support international animal conservation organisation WildAid by purchasing David Babaii for WildAid haircare. We recommend Amplifying Whipped Mousse, $23.50.
Pure & True Organic Beauty will donate five per cent of all profits to aid women in war-torn countries through Women for Women International (and The Nature Conservancy). We like Balance Aromatic Antioxidant Toner, $61.98.
Protect Australia's rich biodiversity by buying Endota Spa Organic Skincare. One per cent of all skincare profits are donated to Bush Heritage Australia. Try Organic Kakadu Plum Face Mask, $55.
Fair Trade Finds
Discover ancient beauty secrets that benefit underprivileged communities, too.The use of fair trade materials, harvested by indigenous communities, provides sustainable development and income, as well as keeping education and healthcare in developing nations.
- Kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil, $22.95, contains 100 per cent certified organic wild sweet briar roses that grow abundantly in Lesotho and are harvested by the local community.
Known to boost metabolism and slim your silhouette, Columbian green coffee can be found in Pevonia Botanica Smooth & Tone Body-Svelt Cream, $130.50.
De Lorenzo Prescriptive Solutions is packed with native fruits and plant extracts, collected and cultivated by Indigenous Australians. Try Control Intense Conditioner, $25.95.
Rich in anti-oxidants, argan oil is used by the Berber women of Morocco, who harvest and press it for its soothing and protecting benefits. Find it in Naturelle d'Argan Pure Argan Elixir Face, Body & Hair, $48.95; and Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil, $70.
Community trade pioneer The Body Shop purchases cocoa butter used in many of its products from more than 30,000 small-scale farmers at a co-op in Ghana. Shown above: Cocoa Butter Hand & Body Lotion, $21.95.
Trilogy Everything Balm, $29.95, contains organic marula oil, from the PhytoTrade co-op in Namibia, which promotes financial development and ecological conservation in southern Africa.
Like Madagascan women, you can benefit from the nurturing katafray bark in Clarins HydraQuench Cream, $78. A partnership with local communities provides funding for vital projects.
Natural Selection
Botanical-based beauty products are developing mainstream popularity.
No longer just feelgood oil blends, scientists are turning to Mother Nature's bounty to find breakthrough active ingredients and chemical-free alternatives.
Natural vs organic
While they both contain plant extracts, at least 70 per cent of the ingredients used in organic formulations must be from plants grown without the use of pesticides, and produced under strict conditions.
Know your labels
Many products claim to be organic or natural, when they only contain a small proportion of plant-based ingredients. If you're unsure, check the label, and remember that ingredients are listed in descending order by volume or mass, and organic additions will be identified with an asterisk.
Botanical beauties
These natural alternatives use plant extracts to nurture your hair, face and body:
- With zero-sulfates and 100 per cent vegan formulas, treat your tresses to the botanical blend in Pureology Serious Colour Care EssentialRepair SplitEnd Correcting Treatment, $54.
With at least 80 per cent natural ingredients, rejuvenate a tired complexion with Korres Materia Herba Nourishing Night Cream, $74.95.
Grown Camellia & Geranium Blossom Facial Moisturiser, $48, contains organic camellia and rosehip seeds to rehydrate and nourish.
A spritz of L'Occitane Organic Olive Tree Extracts Toning Face Mist, $39.95, hydrates, protects and invigorates the complexion with its 99.6 per cent natural formula, which is enriched with nourishing olive tree leaf extract.
Smooth and detoxify your body with the mix of sea salt, lemongrass, coconut and sandalwood in Sodashi Awaken Organic Lemongrass Salt Therapy Exfoliant, $48.10.
Organic matters
Sourced from the purest of natural ingredients, consider these chemical-free choices:
- Made from organic cotton, we love Apple & Bee Medium Make-up Bags in Delicious Dove Pink, $28.95.
Getting a sun-kissed glow has never been better for you thanks to Inika Purely Bronzed Certified Organic Tinting Bronzing Mousse, $39.95.**
For a "green" clean, try TIGI Love Peace & The Planet Eco Awesome Cranberry Orange Mint Moisturizing Shampoo, $32.95, which is packed with 71 per cent organic ingredients.
The Juice Beauty range is made with powerful, organic fruit juice bases and a minimum of 84 per cent certified organic ingredients. We love Green Apple Mousse Body Cleanser, $46.
With 98 per cent organic ingredients, MV Organic Skincare Gentle Cleansing Bar, $31, is perfect for purifying all skin types.
Campaign runs from September 14-27. **Available from September 1 to December 31.
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