It doesn't have to be Earth Day for us to do our part to take care of the planet. You already recycle, conserve water and carpool, why not consider making your beauty routine more environmentally friendly as well?
1. Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick
I have used Burt's Bees products for over eight years, but this product may be my favorite. I have used it for over two years now and I have yet to find anything that works as quickly to get rid of blemishes. It is 100% natural, containing 10 herbal ingredients such as Juniper and Tea Tree oil which are known for their natural astringent qualities, Willow bark to gently exfoliate and Vitamin E to moisturize. Added bonus: all Burt's Bees products are leaping bunny certified as cruelty free which means no animal testing! Hooray!
2. e.l.f. Mineral Infused Mascara
e.l.f. is a great cosmetics brand that I recently discovered. All of their products are cruelty free, and insanely cheap! They are committed to empowering women to let their inner beauty shine, without sacrificing their budget. This mascara has a clump free brush, it doesn't flake and its long wear formula makes it perfect for everyday use.
3. Nyx Natural Palette
Nyx is a wonderful option for professional, environmentally friendly products at a great price. Acknowledged and certified by PETA as cruelty free, this palette is a must for creating natural, everyday looks. They have tons of other products to choose from on their website if you tend to go for more dramatic shades, and shipping is free on orders over $25!
4. Ogx Quenching Coconut Curls Product Line
This product line is amazing for curly hair. It contains coconut and citrus oil as well as sweet honey to tame and nourish dry, frizzy hair. I have used an abundance of hair products claiming to enhance my curls, but this is the best natural and cruelty free brand that I have come across. They currently have many other product lines for all other hair types as well, so you can find what works for you! Their products contain no sulfates or parabens, their packaging is 100% recyclable and the company has also recently organized an annual beach cleanup! They coordinate on local beaches in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela in collaboration with local organizations and volunteers to help make our planet a more beautiful place. That's something we can all get behind!
5. Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer
This company started in 1937 and has been committed to natural, clean makeup products ever since. They contain no fragrances, PABA or any known skin irritants so they are great even for sensitive skin. This bronzer is one of my favorites, and it can also be used as highlighter or eye-shadow if you need to stretch your budget. It's not cakey or streaky so it's perfect for a subtle daytime glow.
6. Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant
We don't really think about our deodorant as being part of our beauty routine but if you stop and consider, it's something that we use (hopefully) everyday. This deodorant is my new favorite, its lavender scent isn't overpowering, contains no artificial colors, fragrances or preservatives, is cruelty free and it really works! If lavender isn't for you they also carry apricot, wood-spice and unscented options, as well as men's products. Tom's of Maine is an awesome company to support because not only are their products incredible, their packaging recyclable, and their practices sustainable, they also give 10% of their profits to non-profit, community based organizations and 5% of employee time is spent volunteering!
7. Wet n Wild Contour Brush
Wet n Wild released a new line of brushes in 2016 that are all completely vegan! These brushes have high ratings and plenty of stellar reviews on their website, so at $0.99 this contour/blush brush is practically a steal. All of their products are cruelty free, and if you want to check out their makeup and other products as well they do have a complete list online of exactly which of their products are also vegan (note: it's most of them!).
8. Yes to. . .
I have seen this brand everywhere and finally decided to try it for myself. These cleansing wipes are leaping bunny certified, hypoallergenic and made from 95% natural ingredients, so they're great for sensitive skin. I chose the soothing cucumber type of wipes because I knew they would work well for my dry skin but they have plenty of other options as well; charcoal for detoxifying, grapefruit for brightening, tomatoes for oily and acne-prone skin, coconut for moisturizing and blueberry for combating fine lines and wrinkles. These wipes are perfect for removing dirt, sweat and makeup and are gentle enough for daily use.
