2. Unplug your blow dryer
after using it. Appliances
like this suck up energy
even when they're off,
so you'll save energy and
money by unplugging.
3. Install a low-flow shower
head. You can save up to
750 gallons of water a
month (meaning a
cheaper H2O bill) and
new versions of them
still feel luxurious.
4. Take a canvas bag with
you shopping, and not
just to the grocery
store. You'll use less
plastic bags.
5. Precycle (as in recycle before
you buy) by looking for
products with less packaging.
If you're feeling ambitious,
send an e-mail to your
favorite brands and ask them
to use less packaging.
6. Always look at any
containers you have to
see if they can be
recycled, even your
beauty products,
before trashing.
7. Try some eco-friendly beauty
products as alternatives to
your standard products; you
may even like them better.
Aveda uses many natural
ingredients and limited
packaging and there are plenty
of organic beauty brands.
8. Look through your current stash
of beauty products and check for
these ingredients:
Diethanolamine, 1,4-Dioxane,
Formaldehyde, Hydroquinone,
Thimerosol, Toluene, Parabens,
Petroleum and Phthalates. All are
known to potentially harm your
health and the environment.
9. Try an organic mouthwash
instead of your regular one.
Many mouthwashes contain
formaldehyde and sodium
laurel sulfates which aren't
good for you or the
environment.
10. The next time you buy a
toothbrush, try to find one
that's recyclable. And re-use
the one you're done with by
using it to clean around the
house, or even brush your
eyebrows (just wash it
thoroughly first).
11. Skip dryer sheets when doing
laundry. Most contain harmful
chemicals. Instead, put a few
drops of your favorite essential
oil on a cloth and toss it in with
the dryer load for clothes that
smell great and aren't coated
in chemicals.
14. Try mixing hydrogen
peroxide and baking
soda for an eco-friendly
whitening toothpaste
(just don't swallow it
and rinse after using).
15. Do your kids have lice?
Instead of using an
expensive and potentially
toxic lice shampoo, try
using a spoonful of tea tree
oil poured into a spray
bottle of water.
16. In the shower, shut off
the water while
shaving your legs and
you can save 300
gallons of water a
month.
17. Try using a sunscreen with
physical blockers (like zinc
oxide or titanium dioxide)
instead of a chemical one.
Many sunscreens contain
chemicals that can be
harmful to you and the
environment.
18. Steer clear of antibacterial
products that contain Triclosan,
because bacteria are becoming
resistant to these products and
stronger bacteria are developing.
This can lead to worldwide health
problems. In most cases, soap
and water is just as effective.
19. Find out which brands are
committed to producing safer
products.
20. Switch from a petroleum-
based lip balm (which is
made from oil, a non-
renewable resource) and
try one made from
beeswax or shea butter
instead.
21. Are you allergic to a variety of
products? Try using fragrance-
free options. Currently, the
FDA allows brands to classify
many ingredients (some of
which are known irritants or
allergens) under the term
fragrance.
22. Turn off the water
while brushing your
teeth and you can
save 25 gallons of
water a month.
23. Didn't like the peach blush
you bought? If you can't
return it, don't throw it out.
Give it to a friend or mix it
with other colors to create a
whole new shade (try this
with nail polish and lip
products too).
24. Don't just toss last-
season's nail polish in the
trash. Take it to a
hazardous waste disposal
so it doesn't get into
ground water and harm
the environment.
26. Keep a bucket or large
bowl in your shower
to catch the water as
it warms up. You can
use it to water plants.
27. Instead of buying chemical-filled
products, try natural homemade recipes.
28. Find a salon that uses proper
ventilation and green beauty
products to protect yourself
from harmful chemicals.
Chemicals from aerosol
hairsprays, hair dye, perm
solutions and nail polish can all
be dangerous.
29. Try buying organic produce
and meat whenever you can
(or skip the meat entirely),
you'll help lessen pesticides in
the environment and be
healthier. And better overall
health means you'll have
better-looking skin and hair.
31. Buy less. Sure, it's fun to
have a different lip gloss for
every day of the week, but
buying only what you need
or use regularly saves
packaging and products
from ending up in the trash.
