Photo: Getty Images

From deodorant to body wash -- whether you're wearing lipstick or foundation or not -- you're exposing yourself to the nebulously-regulated world of cosmetics, according to Julie Gabriel, author of "The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup and Fragrances." In an interview with AOL Health, she talks the best ways to become ingredient savvy, deodorant types to avoid and her 10 commandments for green beauties to follow.

Are you an organic beauty -- buying and consuming organic-only beauty products and foods? Why or why not?

I've said it before, and I'll say it over and over again -- looking good and feeling good really do go hand in hand. I don't mean that dressing in cute clothes will make you happy (although I promise it won't hurt). Rather, if you feel good -- healthy, happy, optimistic -- it'll show.

Photo: shop.fila.com

I always feel better when my purchases support my beliefs, so when I heard that Fila had teamed up with AmericanForests.org, I was intrigued. Then, I found that not only had Fila made a one-year commitment with the nation's oldest and most respected non-profit dedicated to tree planting in the U.S. and globally, but they were also using eco-conscious fabrics in their Women's Personal Performance line. Sold!

The brand has incorporated the use of sustainable and recycled fibers, like soy, bamboo and recycled Polyester into their women's line. Initially launched in 2008, the line has proven that fashion, function and eco-friendliness can go hand in hand (uh, in hand). Don't even try to tell me you're not into the Fila Twist Back Yoga Tank ($58), or the Flower Sleeveless Muscle Tank ($50).

And yes, I realize that $50 for a top is more than you'd pay at, say, Target. And I know that's hard right now. But, consider this -- would you rather have one piece that supports a company that's incorporating sustainable practices and donating money to get more trees planted, or three pieces that don't?

Source

Organic clothing has had a bit of a bad reputation -- I know my mind used to immediately go to scratchy fabrics, dull colors, and baggy, unflattering styles. I might live the hippie lifestyle in some ways by trying to be as green as possilbe, but I don't want to look ... crunchy. You know?

Enter Danskin Prima Organics. They sent me a couple of pieces to try out, and let me just say that my mindset has definitely been adjusted. Each piece is made of earth-friendly certified organic cotton, dyed and printed using non-toxic organic dyes and finishes. And that's not all -- each garment comes with a recyclable hangtag made from 30 percent post-consumer waste, attached with an organic cotton string.

The website describes the collection as "feminine and contemporary," saying it "offers you fashionable functional looks created in the spirit of dance style and yoga chic. Sumptuous soft, lightweight quality fabrics and sensational lines wrap you in comfort ... Pose flex and move with ease in gorgeous pieces to wear alone, layer, and even add to your casual wardrobe for a cool highlight."

I'd have to agree with them.

Source

Nike is well-known for lots of reasons -- high-profile athletes as spokespersons, the swoosh, and possibly the catchiest catch phrase ever. But now, Nike Inc. is hoping to become known for something else -- eco-friendliness.

The company's initiative, Nike Considered Design, focuses on having all aspects of the business meet specific goals, starting with footwear, then apparel, and finally, by 2020, equipment. The Nike crew intends to cut waste and raise the use of environmentally-friendly materials, eventually recycling all used products. And, it will streamline the supply chain, which will reduce the amount of oil and other materials used.

As you probably guessed, the Nike Considered Design initiative won't just help Nike go green, but will also make a little green in the process. Using fewer materials will lower their costs -- something they've already learned since reducing their shoe production waste by 50 percent.

Source

Want to be like Halle Berry? Then grab a green yoga mats. Well, not actually green but, you know, green.

Berry has been toting around Yogamatic's floral "Arum" mat to her yoga classes. The mat is eco-friendly -- made from biodegradable materials and some profits go to the environmental organization Global Green -- and you can even customize yours with images found on the Yogamatic website.

Got a yoga mat you like? Tell us all about it.

Source

Most of us are adamant about keeping our bodies and minds healthy. But what about our surroundings? Doing your part and pitching in to help save our earth is just as important -- after all, what's the point of being fit if we don't have fresh air to breathe?

Now you can look good and save the earth at the same time. Prevention magazine recently assembled a list of their top eco-friendly fitness gear finds -- from wicking shirts made from coconut shells to shoes with recycled rubber soles, you're sure to find something that suits your workout and your budget. Check the list out over here.

Source

I've been carrying my reusable water bottle around with me for quite some time now. I fill a pitcher with tap water and keep it in my refrigerator so I always have nice, cold water, and I really try to do my best to avoid drinking bottled water. However, a lot of people stick almost exclusively to water from a little plastic bottle, and while there are a multitude of reasons for this, a lot of these reasons don't have much basis in fact.

Marie Claire recently exposed six of the most common bottled water myths -- even if you're not a bottled water devotee, some of these busted myths might surprise you.

Source

Fitness isn't just about body fat and muscle mass. For many of us, being fit inside counts, too, which means trying to make the best possible choices from day to day -- best for ourselves, our families, and our planet. And it can get tiring sometimes, trying to determine whether you're better off purchasing sustainable Product X from Company A or slightly-used organic Product Y from Company B, but sustainable shopping just got a bit easier with WorldofGood.com.

WorldOfGood.com is an Ebay community that strives to be "your source for everything People Positive and Eco Positive." They want to provide a place where people can "create positive change through commerce, as part of a global community."

More and more people are interested in the effects their purchases make -- knowing you're buying items that meet your philosophical needs can bring you great peace of mind. If you want to see just how big an impact simple spending habits make on the world at large, check out the Smart Cart quiz. You'll be amazed (and slightly horrified, if you're anything like me!).

Source

Taking care of our personal health is always a priority, and now taking care of the planet's health is a growing one too it so seems only natural to combine the two.

Source

Healthy fast food? Could there really be such a thing? A West Hollywood restaurant in California called O!burger seems to think so, and they're not talking cold sub sandwiches either. Burgers, fries, and shakes make up a good part of their menu, along with veggie burgers, yogurt smoothies, and salads.

Their main claim to fame (and health) is that they're 100% organic and striving to be eco-friendly in every way they can. They do have a healthy sounding veggie burger made of spinach and corn, but no mention of fat grams or calories. Is being organic enough to make such a broad claim like "healthy?" Unfortunately I don't live in the area and can't go try it for myself but if you do then give it a shot and let us know what you think!

Source

It's funny how different people are about their bath time routines. I have plenty of friends who like nothing more than to soak in a hot bath for half an hour, while others want to get in and out of the shower as quickly as possible. I fall somewhere in between -- there are times when my muscles are screaming for a hot shower, and I take a little longer than normal, but there are quite a few times I'm in and out in very little time.

What doesn't change, however, is my love of good products. What's a shower (or a bath) without a shampoo that smells amazing, or a soap that's totally invigorating? And, of course, it has to feel great on my skin.

Lately I've been hearing a lot about Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. The company has been around for 60 years, though only recently have they gone from being a cult favorite natural food store brand to being embraced by the masses. The products are completely eco-friendly and certified organic as well as fair trade certified. Besides all that goodness, there are over 30,000 words written on the labels of all the products epitomizing the founder's beliefs -- makes for good reading!

Source

I love participating in races. I love the training (well, most of the time), I love the adrenaline, I love the camaraderie. Probably I'd love winning, if I ever did, but as it is, I just love being a part of the event. However, I don't love the impact these events generally have on the environment.

Think about it -- races create a large amount of trash (paper cups, water bottles), cause large numbers of people to travel, and what do you do with all that swag? Maybe you keep it and use it, but lots of people just throw it away. Races can be really wasteful.

Fortunately, they don't have to be. Event organizers have a couple of options if they're hoping to "greenify" their event. Both Athletes for a Fit Planet and the Council for Responsible Sport have several ways to help organizers make their races more environmentally responsible, plus they provide information to athletes who want to make informed choices about their races.

Source

Be honest: Do you ever take a moment to think about what your food packaging does to the environment? I do, and I cringe a bit when I head to my favourite salad bar, where the only takeout option is a non-reusable plastic container. Hey -- at least it's not Styrofoam. But if you don't think about how much waste that lunch of your is producing, you should. By now, I don't think any of us can feign ignorance towards the fact that we're destroying our earth piece by piece.

CHOW recently rated popular brands of take-out containers by their eco-friendly factor. Not surprisingly, Styrofoam came out on the bottom of the list, meaning it's the worst thing you can take your food home in. Not only is it bad for the earth -- it's bad for your health too. In fact, many cities are trying to pass laws to outlaw Styrofoam. Maybe it's time you considered banning it from your own home or workplace.

Want to know where other containers ranked? Click here for the whole story.

Source

I am currently looking to get rid of an old sofa I have, as I think I'm well overdue for a new one. However, I've been struggling with how to get it out of my house. Not how to physically remove it (trust me, by this point I'm amenable to the idea of just dropping it out my damn window), but what to do with it once it's out. I want the thing out of my house, but I don't want to add unnecessary waste to the local landfill.

I'm trying to make an eco-friendly decision. The way I see it, throwing away my sofa requires fueling a truck, emitting carbon dioxide while driving that truck, and then adding to the collection of waste at the landfill. But what else am I supposed to do? And it was while trying to work out a solution to this quandary that I came upon FreeCycle.org, a network of five million Americans who have joined community groups around the globe to give and get free stuff from neighbors. Freeclycling -- which is sometimes also referred to as freesharing -- helps keep unwanted items out of landfills, helping the environment and confirming the validity of the "One man's trash ..." saying in the process.

So, if you happen to have some items you are looking to unload -- and would like to mitigate the affect their disposal has on the environment -- maybe FreeCycle is right for you, too.

Source

Have an hour to spare each day? Looking to drop a few pounds? And help the environment? If you said yes to all three of these questions, you're the calorie-burning, eco-friendly person that a recent Men's Health article was obviously written for.

Slim down and tone up your muscles while doing your part to save the world; here are five ways to make yourself a green superhero.

1. Running (1 hr at a 9-min.-mile pace)

• 902 calories burned on a treadmill
• 943 calories burned running outdoors with hill sections
• Energy Saved: Running for 30 minutes on a treadmill a day uses about 2,000 watts a year and costs around $50
• Go the Extra Mile: Add stairs to your run. You'll burn an extra 308 calories in just 15 minutes

2. Trimming Trees and Hedges (1 hour)

• 287 calories burned using an electric trimmer
• 369 calories burned using a hand trimmer
• Energy Saved: Besides the electricity used to run the power trimmer, you can go a step further to help the environment by using watering cans instead of a sprinkler -- which loses most of its water to runoff or evaporation. You'll also burn an extra 123 calories in the process.

Source