Get a green makeover (From Halesowen News)

Get a green makeover

7:00am Saturday 6th September 2008

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Give your beauty routine a green makeover with our organic guide.

Confused about what's really in your beauty products? What's perfectly natural and which products contain more chemicals than your bathroom cleaner? You're not alone.

The demand for 'green' products is growing. Over 2,260 ethical cosmetics and skincare products were launched in Europe last year, according to Mintel research - a five-fold increase on 2006.

But going green isn't enough for some beauty sticklers who want to know precisely what they're putting onto their skin.

Korres is the first brand in the beauty industry to lift the lid on exactly what is in their products.

Scheduled to hit shelves in November, the packaging on skincare will feature a 'Formula Facts' rundown with simple 'yes' or 'no' answers to customers' need-to-know questions.

With consumers becoming more inquisitive about their products, it's little wonder the grass is looking greener for organic beauty.

Co-authors of The Green Beauty Bible, Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley, explain how to do green beauty and reveal their top tried-and-tested products.

:: GOING GREEN Switching to green beauty doesn't have to mean sweeping out the contents of your bathroom cabinet and starting again. You can ease yourself into organic mode with a few key products, Fairley says.

"Simply buy yourself a multi-tasking tube of an organic balm such as the inexpensive BalmBalm (www.balmbalm.com), which won the Soil Association Organic Beauty Award," she suggests.

"It works as a cleanser, moisturiser, cuticle treatment, heel softener, lip gloss - and much more. It's also a wonderful way to streamline and simplify your beauty regime and have time - and money - for other things."

But if you do want to stock up on organic beauty, Fairley has this advice: "The important thing is to look for a certification symbol such as the Soil Association symbol, or the Ecocert symbol.

"These guarantee that the ingredients are sustainably produced, without pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, and with minimum environmental impact."

Stacey and Fairley recommend organic newbies try websites like www.victoriahealth.com and www.lovelula.com, both all-under-one-roof green retailers.

:: BODY Swapping some of your bodycare products for eco-friendly buys is a great way to make the gradual move to green goddess.

"I am a really big fan of the Neal's Yard Remedies organic range - which is growing all the time as they convert their existing range as well as launching new organic products," Fairley says.

"Origins Organics body products, including deodorant and body powder, are superb too. It's great to see such large companies coming into the organic market."

FAIRLEY AND STACEY'S TOP GREEN BODY BUYS: Liz Earle Naturally Active Energising Body Scrub, £12 (www.lizearle.com); Trilogy Botanical Body Wash, £15.94 (www.lovetrilogy.co.uk); Ren Wild Yam Omega 7 Firming Body Repair Cream, £32.50 (0845 2255 600); Neal's Yard Remedies Rose Body Cream, £24 (www.nealsyardremedies.com).

:: HAIR Ditch the heavy chemicals and turn your tresses into flowing green-friendly locks. Even trips to the hairdressers can be turned into a green affair.

"You can go greener even if you go to a salon that isn't - yet - green itself by taking your own natural products and asking your stylist and shampoo-er to use them," Stacey suggests.

"You can also seek out salons that are unabashedly green and even totally organic. Over in Manhattan, green beauties head for John Masters, known as 'the organic hairdresser' and a big hero of ours."

FAIRLEY AND STACEY'S TOP GREEN HAIR BUYS: Logona Gingko Repair Shampoo, £8.50 (www.logona.co.uk); Origins Clear Head Mint Conditioning Rinse, £10 (www.origins.co.uk); John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor, £28 (www.johnmasters.co.uk); Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid, £19.50 (www.aveda.co.uk).

:: MAKE-UP Thinking of revamping your make-up bag to go greener?

"Colour wise there's much less choice, although a small avalanche of new brands and products falls through our doors almost weekly now," Stacey says.

"Dr Hauschka have some lovely products - particularly their mascara - also Bare Escentuals and Inika mineral cosmetics. There's a range from France called Couleur Caramel which is just appearing on the British market and has some fabulous products."

FAIRLEY AND STACEY'S TOP GREEN MAKE-UP BUYS: Philosophy The Supernatural 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup, £32 (www.hqhair.com); Logona Duo Compact Blusher, £14.25 (www.logona.co.uk); Aveda Lip Tint SPF15, £10 (www.aveda.co.uk); Palladio Herbal Mineral Eyes, £6 (www.beautynaturals.com); Origins Fringe Benefits mascara, £11 (www.origins.co.uk).

:: TRIED AND TESTED Skin feeling the effects of summer? Scrub away those dead cells and see in the new season with revitalised skin.

:: Liz Earle New Energising Body Scrub, £12 (www.lizearle.com) This scrub leaves your skin feeling polished and soft. It's great for dealing with patchy fake tan and is full of essential oils so you really do feel refreshed after using it.

4/5 :: Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy Distillations Clarifying Body Scrub, £23 (www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk) A purifying scrub that's great for waking up your skin in the mornings. On damp skin, the grains disappeared before I'd worked them into my skin but it's much more intensive on dry skin for rough patches like elbows or feet.

3/5 :: Jo Wood Tula Exfoliating Salt Scrub, £24 (www.jowoodorganics.com) Heaven in a tub. It's not too tough on the skin but leaves it feeling completely revitalised and smooth. The gorgeous fragrance makes this scrub a luxurious weekly skin treat.

5/5 :: BUY IT NOW There's no hangover with Le Vin antioxidant wine therapy. This delicious new organic skincare line, containing Chardonnay grape seed extract, offers anti-ageing prevention and protection. Check out the skin cocktail Face Serum, £90, available at Harvey Nichols.

BEAUTY BULLETIN :: BAG IT Who says designer bags have to be break the bank? Hot foot it down to Boots and spritz on DKNY's new Energizing EDP, £35 (50 Euros). You'll also bag a free DKNY print black shopping tote to carry it home in, while stocks last. Available exclusively at Boots stores from August 27.

:: BEAUTY BARGAINS Don't let the credit crunch scupper your beauty routines. Buy your product indulgences at reduced prices and free delivery at www.feelunique.com. The site is also offering 80% off selected products for a limited period only.

UPCOMING :: Sep 5: BEAUTY Sugababes: Keisha, Heidi and Amelle reveal their Sugababes beauty secrets. With pictures.

:: Sep 12: BEAUTY Spa: Celebrate National Spa Week (September 20-28) by recreating top treatments at home. With pictures.

:: Sep 19: BEAUTY Fashion Week: Check out next season's hottest S/S hair and make-up fresh from the catwalks. With pictures.

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