I was shopping at my local drugstore a few days ago and, as usual, made a point to pass up the perfunctory plastic bag for my own cloth one. I have to admit, every time I do this, I cast a smug look around me, proud of the barrels of oil and landfill waste that can’t be attributed to me. This time, though, the pert little cashier who rang up my items peered at my smug face through her thick black glasses and then at the bottle of Vaseline lotion I had just bought. Though I initially balked at her audacity, she had made a valid point. The petrolatum in my lotion—not to mention the parabens, lanolin, PEGs, and other chemicals in all of the skin care products I had purchased—is not only harmful to the environment, but potentially harmful to me. I realized that what I put on my skin goes into my body, and makes as much of a political statement as my cloth bags or vegetarian diet.
So after many frustrating attempts trying to make sense out of the ingredient lists on my drugstore’s products, I headed online to see how I could make my skin care more natural.
Mod.Skin Labs
Mod.Skin Labs’ slogan is “deny excess, embrace modesty,” and that immediately appealed to my mission. The makers of mod.skin products do not use any parabens, synthetic detergents or fragrances, superfluous packaging, or animal testing. I found the site incredibly easy to navigate, with a full directory of skin care products and ingredient lists. The ingredients themselves are self-explanatory; there is no guessing, as beeswax and avocado oil mean exactly that. Prices are a little on the higher end; I was interested in a 0.15-ounce tube of lip balm that cost almost nine dollars, but you get what you pay for. Mod.Skin Labs also has store locations in eleven states, including New York and California, for those who prefer not to purchase online.
Aveda
Aveda has committed itself to environmental leadership for thirty years and is the first beauty company to manufacture using 100 percent certified wind power. Not only are its products completely natural, Aveda also helps to build sustainable community-based businesses around the world by sourcing its ingredients from indigenous and depressed populations. The site offers a full range of hair care, skin care, and cosmetics for men and women and the site is easy to use, with a section that offers styling advice and a complexion guide. Prices are moderate.
Yes to Carrots
Yes to Carrots is a new concept in skin and hair care that combines vitamins and minerals from the orange produce groups with Dead Sea Mud. Dead Sea Mud has world-renowned detoxifying properties; combined with beta-carotene, it helps protect skin and make it glow. The site has a handful of products, all of which are paraben-free and well-priced through Walgreens, the company’s retailer. Yes to Carrots has also created a seed fund with its profits, which provides developing communities with equipment, vegetable seeds, irrigation support, and technical instruction so that they can have their own self-sustaining, organic food sources. How wonderful to know that there are far more benefits to your moisturizer than what you see on your face!
Stem Organics
I learned on the Stem Organics site that you can absorb up to 60 percent of what you put on your skin! The company is committed to its belief that “everything you touch, or that touches you, matters,” as well as to biodegradable ingredients, creating vegetarian friendly products, and supporting programs like the World Wildlife Fund for Nature. Items are expensive, but you can purchase a sample kit of cleansers, serums, and moisturizers for all skin types for $13.90 before you commit to see if it works for you. Stem Organics also has several retail locations in the United States, mostly in New York and southern California.
