BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Beauty Basics Green Ideas for Beauty Basics

We all want to look beautiful - and we want to help our planet too!

What are some ways to keep yourself fresh and healthy looking, while tending to our planet as well?

I suppose we can use products that aren't tested on animals, to start with!

How about using products that come in packaging that can be recycled?

If you dry clean your clothes, you can go with an eco-friendly dry cleaner, one that doesn't use those harsh chemicals.

What are some other ideas?

Find better ways to dispose of the items.

i did talk about this in detail in the Body Care thread, but i can add more here!

Dry cleaning in general should be avoided. Even using "green" dry cleaners is still a wasteful situation. For myself, I can get away with clothes that are wash and wear - I work at home. I have even given up using a dryer (Arizona is usually dry enough).

It's not necessary to wash everything once it's been worn once. Unlike panties or socks, a shirt, bra or pair of pants are usually ok between several wearings.

I don't shower every day, which saves a lot of water (and also is better for my hair and skin).

Yes I have tried to donate all items I owned that were dry clean requiring.

There are many books at the library or bookstores on how to make natural beauty products. If yu even google the term natural beauty products, you will find a lot.

Many items can be made with ordinary everyday ingredients that you find arund your house.

For example - don't throw away coffee grounds. They can be added to soap to make a scrub for your hands.

Oh, right! never throw away coffee grounds. Compost them, toss them on your garden, or add them to the top of your houseplant soil. You can also make candles from them.

Steeping rosemary to make a kind of tea and then spraying on your hair can help keep hair healthy and shiny. Much nicer and cheaper than adding a bunch of chemical laden conditioner!

I gave up regular shampoo several years ago, usually I go with a completely no poo method (the term for not using shampoo) and clean my hair with a baking soda paste, rinse that out well, then follow with a vinegar rinse and rinse that out with cold water. My hair is healthy and hip length and using this method I only need to wash it every 3 days.
I'm also a big believer in locally made soaps. They usually have minimal packaging. My family loves going out to buy soap from our favorite local soapmakers! My teens sniff bars and pick them out carefully and the small family company we buy most of our soap from sells "moosetakes" which are bags that hold a lb of miscuts, end cuts and mis-scent soaps. We use those for hand washing in the kitchen and bathroom. They also carry shampoo bars that we use as well when we want suds. Also minimal packaging and they smell wonderful.

o, I need to wash my hair every day, especially in the summer, because I have oily hair, it's terrible.

Hey , Thanks for such lovely tips.They can be really useful.