Healthy and Green Living » Make-Up

Homemade Henna Tattoos

Melissa Breyer — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:00:11 +0000

I’m not sure what it is about kids and their urge to draw on themselves (or is it only mine?!), but there seems to be some primal desire to do it. Smiley faces on the knee, a butterfly on the arm, intricate pirate treasure maps on the tummy, yikes. So there’s skin-drawing, and there’s also [...]

Skin Deeper: Nanotechnology and Cosmetics

Melissa Breyer — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:00:20 +0000

Deeper, faster, further. As if there weren�t enough concerns about the toxicity of cosmetic chemicals, manufacturers are rushing to incorporate nanotechnology that uses particles 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Nanotechnology has been touted as the next revolution in cosmetics and packaging. However, nanoparticles, being so tiny, have the potential to [...]

Yummy Summer Lip Balm Formula

Annie B. Bond — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:00:21 +0000

Protect your lips from the effects of too much sun or seawater with this easy-to-make delicious formula. Mmmm!

Citrus Lip Gloss: How-To Formula

Annie B. Bond — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:00:03 +0000

This make-it-yourself Citrus Lip Gloss tastes lick-your-lips delicious with both tangerine and lemon essential oils offering their benefits and flavors. Tangerine essential oil is a bit of an aphrodisiac, so it is nice to wear out on a special date. The essential oils and honey combined make the gloss a tasty product that will keep your lips soft and moist for some time.

Green Girl Looks Behind the Masc(ara)

Lily Berthold-Bond — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:55:35 +0000

I don't know about you, but when I started using makeup I didn't know what on earth I was doing. I think I started in eighth grade and goodness gracious, was that a disaster. I call it my "goth phase" because, while I certainly did not have the goth attitude, my makeup reflected a different story. Yes, I was a black eye liner and mascara addict. I admit it.

Five years later, I would like to believe that I have a better handle on my makeup. Unlike high school (my high school, at least) where it was social suicide not to wear tons of makeup every day, college is a place where you don't necessarily need to look very put together all the time. This said, most days I do wear some makeup. My choice? Tinted moisturizer (my face gets very dry), chapstick, and mascara. It's the perfect combo: In as little time as possible, I can look presentable.

Mascara, mascara, mascara. I do love you so. Who doesn't? After all, from the instant we see Disney movies with those princesses and their long, dark, beautiful lashes we're shown what the ideal eyelash should be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning stereotypes for women to fall into, but I certainly want my eyelashes to look like that. And there's long lash mascara, no clump mascara, extra volume mascara, and dozens of other styles to give us just those Belle or Arielle lashes.

So, yes, I use mascara a lot. It's my makeup item that I can't live without. But is this a good thing? No, it most certainly is not. Mascara, in fact, might easily be your downfall. Mascara, you say? That tiny tube of black gunk?

Yes, that tiny tube of black gunk. Let's take a closer look at said gunk. As I wrote this I thought to myself, "Hm, I wonder what's in my mascara?" Now, my mother would not be happy at all if she knew that I was using a drug store mascara, but I am: Cover Girl LashBlast. Looking up the ingredients, the ones that stand out to me are: petroleum distillates, polyethylene, propylparaben, and phenoxyethanol. Perhaps the letter "p" denotes "carcinogenic."

Between these four ingredients alone, you have the possibility of cancer, organ system toxicity, neurotoxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and immunotoxicity.

The worst? Petroleum distillates. Banned by the European Union but still used in American cosmetics, these chemicals rank high in terms of hazard to your health and can be found in the majority of drug store brand mascaras (Maybelline, Cover Girl, Max Factor, L'Oreal, Mary Kay). Not my idea of healthy. Maybelline also uses ethylacrylate in at least one of their mascaras—on the Environmental Working Group Web site, this chemical is listed as having the highest hazard ranking possible. It is linked with the same diseases listed above.

So what do you do? Do you give up on those gorgeous lashes? Well, I'm not giving up on them. But I am giving up on my Cover Girl. Instead I'm going to go for Aveda, which I've used in the past. Aveda mascara (or "mosscara") is made from plant-based materials; its main ingredient is carnauba wax (a hard beeswax) (). Sounds a lot better to me. Also, it isn't that much more than drug store mascara (only $12). Note to self: Switch to non-everykindofdiseaseimaginable mosscara.

MORE ADVENTURES OF GREEN GIRL
The Adventures of Green Girl

Splat! Green Girl whacks air fresheners

Green Girl zaps flying fridges

Green Girl's secret power? Tea

Green Girl: Neti pot conquers congestion

Green Girl Quashes Laptop Radiation

Green Girl Waxes The Tea Kettle Electric

Green Girl Fights Food Coloring

Green Girl Turns Her Nose to Perfume

Green Girl Pans Plastic water Bottles

Lily Berthold-Bond grew up in a chemical-free zone and has struggled her whole life to understand and accept this non-commercial lifestyle. Now a freshman at Tufts University, she has embraced her green life and hopes to share its possibilities with the rest of her generation.

Give Lead the Kiss-Off

Annie B. Bond — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:00:57 +0000

Every day, millions of women could be putting their health at risk as they unknowingly expose themselves to toxins.

The laundry list of toxins commonly found in cosmetics goes on and on. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, of all the chemicals used in cosmetics, nearly nine hundred are toxic. In fact, 450 ingredients that are used in the United States are banned for use in cosmetics in the European Union.

Natural Scents for Your Type

Cait Johnson — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:31:14 +0000

My friend Mag always smells so lusciously sweet and spicy, but when I asked her what perfume she uses, she laughed and said, "Oh, I make it myself. Artificial scents make me feel sick, so I don't go near them. Instead I use natural ingredients--and it's really cheap and easy." This all sounded pretty fabulous to me. We came up with these terrific all-natural cologne recipes for every type, whether you are a flowery romantic, a crisp sporty, or a spicy earthy-exotic--and they make great gifts, too.

Quick Trick for Sparkling Eyes

Cait Johnson — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 20:32:40 +0000

Lively, sparkling eyes are a hallmark of beauty, but if you�re reading this you probably spend a lot of time at your computer, and that can lead to tired, dull eyes. Try this super-easy quick trick to rest and revitalize your eyes. It only takes a moment and you can do it right now, while you�re sitting at your computer:

Annie�s Winter Lip Balm Formula

Annie B. Bond — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 17:56:34 +0000

Nothing takes years off our looks like smooth, soft lips. Since lips don�t have their own oil glands, keeping them moist and smooth can be quite a responsibility, especially in winter when chapping and cracking are often a problem.

How to Get Luscious Lips

Annie B. Bond — Wed, 14 Jun 2000 19:03:57 +0000

Here are some fabulously simple, delicious all-natural ways to keep your lips moist, soft, and lusciously kissable. Since our lips contain no sebaceous glands, they can�t moisturize themselves, and the small amount of saliva that reaches our lips via tongue-tip is often not sufficient to prevent our lips from becoming dehydrated.

After all, it�s nearly Valentine�s Day: here are some helpful hints for luscious lips. Pucker up!