The Basics on Green, Earth-Friendly Skincare

So you’ve been hearing non-stop about products being ‘green’ and earth friendly, yet you don’t know what the heck that means. I didn’t either – all I knew was that ‘green’ products are good for the earth and ourselves. It was not until my best friend sent over a book on natural/organic skincare that I learned how great green products really are, so I thought I’d share what I know today!

What is green skincare?

Green products are any beauty products that are made from natural, organic or biodynamic farmed ingredients. This means that common skin irritants like sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrances and parabens are not present, so the products will be kinder to your skin. Furthermore, green products are considered earth friendly due to their biodegradable packaging.

What ingredients are never found in green products?

Like I wrote in an older post, How to Spot Natural Products, any ingredient that can cause allergies or irritant the skin are normally banned from green products. Some common ones that are banned are parabens, sulfates, silicone, synthetic dyes, fragrances, animal-by products and preservatives.

What’s with all the new vocab?

Green products claim a lot, from being “vegan”, to “natural”, to “organic” and uses terms such as “biodynamic” and “biodegradable”. Say what? I was always sleeping-awake in Science class, so if there was one thing that confused me about green products, it was all the big words! Here are some of the popular terms and what they mean:

• Green - Anything considered environmentally friendly.
• Natural - Considered natural if no man-made or manufactured ingredients are in it.
• Organic - Certified to not be genetically modified, and have been grown without fertilizes and pesticides.
• Vegan – Cruelty free, does not test on animals, and does not use animal-by products.
• Biodegradable – A material that is capable of creaking down and decaying due to microorganisms.
• Biodynamic - A system where someone harvests crops at their peak, according to cycles of the sun, moon or soil.

How Do I Start Going Green?

Last year I wrote a general post on some simple steps you can take in being a green beauty. This time we’re talking skincare, so if you’d like to give it a try, here’s how to start using green skincare products.

First, source out products that claim to be organic and natural (remember, sometimes they can claim something but not be it!). Next, check out the ingredients list. It shouldn’t have any of the ingredients I listed above. If it does, it’s probably just partially organic. (But as I wrote in my older post, anything that is at least 95% organic is considered organic.)

Here are some natural and organic products that can give you a head start. Some I’ve tried, some are recommended by my organic-obsessed best friend, and some are well-known natural brands that you could check out.

1. Aubrey Organics Sea Buckthorn & Cucumber Facial Cleansing Cream

A mild and hydrating cleanser that leaves skin feeling refreshed, clean and lightly moisturized. It clears away impurities and makeup with a protein-enriched castile soap base.

2. Josie Maran Argan Oil

This organic line, started by supermodel Josie Maran contains its star products, Argan Oil. A lightweight oil that can be used as either a skin treatment or a daily moisturizer, it is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Organically grown in Morocco, it contains many skin benefits such as hydrating, nourishing, firming and toning.

3. Ole Henriksen Sugar Glow Face Scrub

A fellow Dane, (I’m so proud!) Ole’s line is known for its wonderful products. This particle products is a deep-cleansing facial scrub containing African sugar and red tea. Said to brighten and awaken your complexion, the scrub purifies, smoothes, refines, and polishes the skin. With it’s natural ingredients, (pomegranate seeds, pumpkin, citrus, essential oils) it’s sure to be a treat for your skin!

4. The Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Mask

A weekly deep cleansing mask that works in 10 minutes, this mask from TBS’ latest organic skin care line helps boost the appearance of your skin. It contains a range of smoothing, protective and moisturizing ingredients such as babassu oil from Brazil, organic sugar from Paraguay and organic olive oil from Italy – talk about being international! I’ve tried this one out and quite like it, so look out for a review coming soon.

5. Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Milk

One of the most popular organic companies, Dr. Hauschka’s Cleansing Milk is a gentle cleanser formulated for extra sensitive skin. My friend loves it and recommends it! It not only cleans and smoothes the skin but also removes makeup.

6. Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist

Another popular natural brand that I’m quite interested in, though haven’t personally tried yet. Said to restore, tone and hydrate skin in one spritz, this is the go-to organic product for that midday refresher. Enriched with rose and marshmallow living energy (what the heck?), this product provides the skin with “balancing, moisturizing refreshment.”

I hope I’ve given some basic information to get you started on green skincare. Will you be giving green skin care a try? And for those who has tried it in the past, what are your thoughts? Do you find them to be better than ‘normal’ products? I’m currently trying some organic skincare line, so look out for a review on that soon. :)

Images: Vogue Nippon, IStock.