Sprig: Your Green Style Guide
Green Beauty and Living

Jeanie Pyun and Megan O'Neill
Sprig Editor and Sprig Beauty Contributor
Thursday, August 7, 2008 1:00 PM

Looking to make your makeup bag and bathroom shelf a little greener? The experts from Sprig are here to offer advice on finding eco-friendly cosmetic and grooming products, and on everything else to do with living a life that is both stylish AND environmental. At Sprig, you'll find tips on green shopping, fashion, entertaining, decorating and more.

Sprig's editor Jeanie Pyun and beauty contributor Megan O'Neill were online Thursday, August 7 to take your questions and suggestions about green beauty and style. (Check out Megan's video for Sprig on finding the good, the bad and the ugly at any drugstore!)

Jeanie Pyun is founding editor of Sprig. She was the editor of Organic Style magazine back when "organic style" was considered an oxymoron, and co-editor of InStyle Home magazine, where celebrity and style unquestionably and always go together. She thinks that shopping and doing good can be uttered in the same sentence. Megan O'Neill is a former editor at the magazines Organic Style, Natural Health and Health. She writes for various publications and believes that women can be beautiful without relying on chemical-filled products.

A transcript follows.

For all the latest on environmental science, policy and living, visit washingtonpost.com's Green Section.

____________________

Jeanie Pyun: Hi, everyone! Jeanie, here. Thanks so much for all your green beauty questions -- there are so many good ones! Megan is really your go-to girl for many of these...but I'll try and bring somethin' to the table....

_______________________

Megan O'Neill: Hi! I'm Megan O'Neill, Sprig's contributing beauty writer. I've been a green beauty girl for a while now, so hopefully I can share some of what I've learned along the way. I'm looking forward to answering your questions!

_______________________

Cherry Hill, N.J.: Hi Jeanie and Megan!

I'm in search of natural/organic baby care products. Any suggestions?

Thanks! Mommy in NJ

Jeanie Pyun: Hi, Cherry Hill! It's so great that you're searching those out -- baby skin, as you must already know, is thinner, more delicate and more permeable, so the accumulation of unhealthy ingredients like phthalates and parabens can start early. To find safe cosmetic products for your baby (and for you), you can visit safecosmetics.org for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' list of companies that voluntarily emphasize organic ingredients over chemicals. We also did a story recently on baby care products. A link is coming right atcha....

_______________________

McLean, Va.: I like to shop at my regular drugstore and I don't think they have fancy organic shampoos, etc. What are some keywords I can look for in cosmetics to make sure they are eco-friendly if I can't find specific products?

Megan O'Neill: You might be surprised at the number of green beauty brands now sold in drugstores! Many carry some of my favorites, like Burt's Bees, Alba Botanica, and the Christophe hair care line. These brand don't always call attention to themselves as being green, but they do have some labeling that lets you know they're natural. Look out for paraben-free products, that don't contain this questionable chemical preservative. Products made without mineral oil or petrolatum (to petroleum-derived moisturizing agents - yuck!) are great, too, and very green.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Do you or the readers have any suggestions for a green way to clean wood laminate flooring? I read a recipe for vinegar and water that was recommended for this type of floors, but when I used it with my Bona microfiber wet cleaning pad, I just got really, really streaky floors that seemed to take forever to dry and had a haze in addition to the streaks. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Jeanie Pyun: Hi, D.C. The one thing I know about wood laminate floors is that you want a cleaner that is a no-wax floor cleaner, and you don't want to use anything scrubby on it, or it will damage the surface. Now a green no-wax floor cleaner is a little tougher. I'm afraid I'll have to add that our list of things that are not yet green (that we know about right now): fishnet stockings, non pareils, Wellington boots and cellphones (well, solar cellphones).

_______________________

New York, N.Y. : I am looking for a water based moisturizer -- something really pure and organic. Any recommendations? Thanks

Megan O'Neill: I'm guessing that you're looking for a water-based moisturizer because you have oilier skin and want something very light? That's all well and good, but keep in mind that any product that contains water requires preservative ingredient to keep bacteria out. And preservatives are often made from harmful or irritating chemicals. Natural moisturizers made with botanical, plant oils are much safer and are actually less likely to clog skin than you might think. That's because plant oils are similar to the body's natural oils, which means they're better absorbed and tolerated by your skin. The purest and more organic moisturizer I've seen a while, though, is from Dr. Alkaitis. It has an aloe vera base.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: While this isn't about beauty products, it IS a green question I've been struggling with for a while. I'd like to stop using plastic food storage containers completely, for environmental and health reasons, but I still need to bring food to work in containers that are lightweight and securely covered. Is there such a thing as aluminum Tupperware? Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!

Jeanie Pyun: Hi, D.C.! Here's a lunch container that's made out of aluminum (and comes in cute colors): http://www.reusablebags.com/store/sigg-snack-boxes-aluminum-midi-small-p-230.html

I think it's great that you're doing that. You're saving a lot of money, hundreds of dollars per year per one of our video hosts, David Bach http://www.sprig.com/videos/be-green-save-money-series-tip-2

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Your Baby's Diapers and Skincare (sprig.com)

Jeanie Pyun: sorry a little time-synch snafu there...here's the link I promised.

_______________________

Vienna, Va.: I'd like to comment that if women want to be "green" in terms of cosmetics, cleansers and other beauty products, the first step should be to USE UP WHAT THEY ALREADY HAVE. It's foolish to keep on buying more stuff and pretend to themselves that they're being eco-aware.

Jeanie Pyun: I totally agree! I'm a bit of a fanatic in terms of using up products, green or not, perhaps like yourself. I will swish out shampoo bottles till they're squeaky clean, using the sudsy water to wash my hair one more time before recycling the bottle. Or not buying a new shade of shadow or lip color till an old similar color is all scraped up and used. However, there is one thing to consider -- some of this stuff will go bad after a while. Longer than what the manufacturers say, but still, you don't want to keep stuff for longer than a year. (Liquid eye makeup, 6 months and mascara even shorter -- 3 months.) Blushes, eyeshadows and face powders can go up to two years. Then you really should chuck it -- or at least not use it as makeup. Maybe you can use them to paint rocks with your kids -- crush and mix up with water....

_______________________

Howell, N.J.: I've heard that some long wearing lipsticks may contain lead. Is this true? Are there any long wearing lipsticks that are safer to use and dispose of than others? Thanks.

Megan O'Neill: Actually, it's not just long-wearing lipstick that's been found to contain lead, but other lipsticks as well. There's a great article on the topic on Sprig, at http://www.sprig.com/News_You_Use_How_to_Avoid_Lead_in_Lipsticks. To find lipsticks that are lead-free, check out brands that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics at http://www.safecosmetics.org/. For great long-lasting lip color that's lead-free, I like Lip Ink, which is also free of parabens and wax.

_______________________

Healthy hair: I try very hard to be conscientious about what is in my beauty products and food (and LOVE Sprig, by the way!). But I keep having the same problem - I have long, fine (but a lot of it), dry hair and I have a really hard time finding healthy shampoos and conditioners that make my hair soft, smooth and shiny. I hate buying drugstore brands, but I also don't want to keep spending money on products that simply don't work (I work at a non-profit!). Help!

Jeanie Pyun: Hi, Healthy Hair! We have an upcoming story on green shampoos and conditioners. We tested over 50 of them and found some that our testers loved for all kinds of hair. I'm digging through the notes for you, but I think the last one may be the best one for working at a non-profit (right on!)...Okay, for fine hair, Amazon Beauty's shampoo and conditioner has this Rahua nut oil, a local remedy used by Amazonian women to strengthen and repair fragile hair. Our auburn-haired tester loved the "spicy" scent and said it made her hair very soft.

Okay, here are some recommendations for dry hair: John Masters Organics gentle Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing shampoo and Hair Reconstructor contains linolenic and hyaluronic acids, which apparently is found in "young hair." We also loved the softness that Ojon's Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating cleanser and conditioner brought to brittle ends. Our drugstore favorite, and it's vegetarian: Alba Organics Gardenia Hydrating shampoo and conditioner.

_______________________

Pennsylvania: Thanks for the chat. I was really disappointed when Burt's Bees took its makeup line off the market (Wings of Love). It was fun and --gasp -- affordable. What other options would you recommend? Thanks!

Megan O'Neill: I used to love Wings of Love, too! Right now, though, I'm really enjoying the Physicians Formula Organic Wear makeup line that launched earlier this year. The mineral makeup is made with organic ingredients and comes in very eco-friendly packaging that's completely biodegradable and recyclable. It's also sold at drugstores and I think most of the products are well under $10. Best of all, it actually looks great. I love the tinted moisturizer and the new eye shadows.

_______________________

Los Angeles, Calif.: Living in Los Angeles, my friends love to tan! The tanning is mostly from sprays or tanning beds. Besides laying out on the beach, are there any other eco friendly options that are beneficial to both their bodies and the earth?

- TheGreenGirls.com

Megan O'Neill: There are some great, green sunless tanners out there. The main ingredient in most, whether they're eco-friendly or not, is a sugar-derived ingredient called DHA, that's actually natural itself. But the eco products will also be free of the more toxic ingredients that you should be trying to avoid in products, like parabens, phthalates, chemical fragrances and dyes, and mineral oil. I've tried a tanner from Nature's Gate that I thought looked very natural, and Organic Pharmacy Self Tan Lotion works well, too.

_______________________

Voorhees, N.J.: I've been searching for natural face care and cleansing products for my husband. Is there anything on the market that is targeted towards men?

Megan O'Neill: My husband loves the Every Man Jack brand (well, I had to force him to try it, but now he's hooked!). The fragrance-free face wash is great for guys who don't like scented products, plus everything they make is paraben, sulfate, and dye free. And of course, all of the packaging looks very manly!

_______________________

Media, Pa.: I am headed to the beach for vacation at the end of the month. Do you have any 'eco' tips/recommendations for sunscreen and moisturizers??

thanks.

Megan O'Neill: It's so crucial to protect your skin from sun damage - the main cause of skin aging. My main piece of advice when it comes to sunscreen safety is to avoid any product that contains oxybenzone. It's found in SO many chemical sunscreens (which absorb UV rays), even though research has shown it to be carcinogenic and a hormone disruptor. Personally, I use physical sunscreens, which contain minerals that block UV rays as opposed to absorbing them. The newer formulas really blend well into the skin (no white chalky look!) and provide the perfect amount of protection, worry free. You can read about Sprig's top 10 sunscreen picks - link to follow!

_______________________

Green Beauty: I like the idea of buying products from more eco-friendly companies that contain as few harmful/questionable chemicals as possible.

However, I can't tell you how much money I have spent over the past year on well reviewed and rated products (EWG and other sites) that just don't work or irritate my skin MORE than just regular old products. The main offenders have been sunblocks that leave me with skin bumps that take weeks to clear, deodorants that are quite unpleasant to wear due to the stickiness, and many products that seem to spoil after only a short period of time. My lessons -- natural doesn't mean non-irritating or even close to it and read all ingredients as many "natural" products are far from.

Just my two cents -- I like the idea but the reality has been less than pleasant.

Jeanie Pyun: We hear you. I have to admit that I have had my disappointments too -- shampoos that made my hair feel like straw, too-heavy moisturizers that made me break out, and cosmetics that faded too quickly on my face, to name a few. But I feel like that would happen in the bigger pool of non-green beauty products, too, and then you have the added disadvantage of all those chems adding to my body burden, and perhaps bringing it sooner or closer to a tipping point of illness. That's sorta why we're doing Sprig Top 10 stories on sprig.com -- to actively test beauty products, compare and contrast, and deliver up the low-downs. It's true -- everything isn't paradise in green beauty-land, but there are always bulls-eye that make life so much better. I'd love to hear people's favorites -- so that we can crib from them! Right now, I'm obsessed with Dr. Alkaitis organic facial cleaners (you only need a little and the bottle lasts forever), Avalon Organics Wild Yam deodorant, Strange Invisible Perfumes Prima Ballerina (smells like old roses -- this is real perfume, not cologne, so just a dab will do ya)....so if anyone wants to crib from that, they're welcome to....

Megan O'Neill: My advice - if you don't like it, bring it back! Many stores will give refunds for unused products. I know they do at CVS and I'm pretty sure Whole Foods takes returns as well. They should do whatever it takes to keep the customer happy, right?

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I like mineral makeup (I use Jane Iredale) and find it works for my skin. That said, is it really better for me or the environment than, say, Revlon or other traditional makeup products?

Jeanie Pyun: I'm a huge fan of Jane Iredale! Okay, this is totally an aside, but the makeup lady says that Julia Roberts is obsessed with JI, too. Anyway, for one thing, Jane Iredale makeup is free of phthalates, which are still present in many traditional makeup products. So what that means is, when you wash your makeup off, it washes down the drain and eventually makes its way into the waterstream. Like prescription medication, e coli and lots of other undesirables, phthalates aren't effectively screened and so have an effect on the environment; in the case of phthalates, they've been linked to the feminization of marine life. Megan will probably have lot more to say....

Megan O'Neill: Jeanie handled most of the science stuff - thanks, Jeanie! But good mineral makeup should also be talc-free (like JI is), as talc is a potential carcinogen. The pigments in mineral makeup are also naturally-derived, as opposed to being made from chemical dyes, which is lots better for the environment, as well as your skin.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Best Green Sunscreens (sprig.com)

Megan O'Neill: Here's that link to the Sprig article on our favorite green sunscreens.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: I would like to use more eco-friendly products, but I don't know where to start... can you suggest some must-have products? thanks!

Megan O'Neill: For those who are new to the green world, getting started can seem super daunting. Don't stress! Just incorporate a few new products into your routine. The best are products that you use on a large area of your body (like body washes and body lotions) or that you use every day (like shampoo or face wash). My #1 must-have - a paraben-free, fragrance-free moisturizer. I've tried tons and my hands down favorite is Alba Botanica's Unscented Very Emollient Body Lotion. You can buy a huge bottle of it (buying in bulk=good for the planet!) at Whole Foods for not much more than regular lotion, and it works extremely well at keeping my super dry skin hydrated, even in the dead of winter. I'd also suggest checking out anything from the Ren skincare line. It's sold at Sephora or online, and their face moisturizers are amazing.

_______________________

What is organic makeup?: I know what organic means chemically and what it means for food nowadays, but what about for makeup? And does this mean it's necessarily safer? I'm all for no plasticizers or preservatives, but just because it's "natural" doesn't mean it's safe. These mineral makeups featuring titanium oxides, etc., tout themselves as safe and natural, but what do we really know about them? Lead, once a popular pigment in makeup as well as paint more recently, is natural, and it's effects so subtle that current FDA testing for cosmetics would never have picked up on it until many years and illnesses later. Plant extracts aren't necessarily better. Even popular lavender is associated with some hormone problem.

I don't want to be an alarmist, and I definitely support green and pure products, but natural does not mean safe. So how do we really know?

Jeanie Pyun: It's true -- oftentimes, the label "natural" is a load of bunk. And yes, as time goes on, we learn more and more about what we manufacture and consume, produce and ingest (oh, the price of progress! better living through chemistry, eh?), and we *will* indeed continue to experience some nasty shocks. We can only work off what we know, right now. Yeah, that was not great to learn that lavender has a negative effect on the development of baby boys. The thing about FDA testing is, it's quite slow. That's why things like the USDA Certified Organic label are so important to keep defined as (and there is a struggle to keep it so), I believe, 95% or more organic ingredients. Look for that label, on beauty products, too, if you want to hold on to something that's certain. For now.

_______________________

Green Shampoo/Conditioner: About a month of go after sticking with Burt's and Avalon for a few months, I found Giovanni--which has been amazing. I use the Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner--it livens the senses and REALLY makes my curly/frizzy hair, as my husband commented the other day, luxurious.

Megan O'Neill: I'm a big fan of that brand, too! And it's so easy to find (at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and some drugstores).

_______________________

Quartz Hill, Calif.: Hi there, My name is Leslie a.k.a. "La Mama Naturale" and I like to consider myself a natural green mom - I've been working on my green beauty routine. One of the popular green beauty routines is the "no-poo" method, which basically means you are no longer using shampoo to wash your hair. Have you heard of this method and can you offer any advice/tips?? What about shampoos that aren't filled with all the toxic chemicals but are packaged in plastic - do BPA free shampoo bottles exist? What are some great natural alternatives??

Megan O'Neill: The concept behind the "no-'poo" method, which advocates skipping shampoo, is great, but unfortunately it just doesn't work for my fairly oily hair. It's a much better way to go for those with dry locks. The idea is that shampoo strips hair of its natural oils, so washing with water (or sometimes baking soda, too) is enough to get it clean once you "detox" your hair from 'poo. Give it a shot if you're curious! As for BPA-free bottles, just make sure what you're buying doesn't have a number 7 on the bottom. And remember that most plastic shampoo bottles can be recycled.

_______________________

Megan O'Neill: It was great chatting with everyone and I hope we answered your questions!

_______________________

Jeanie Pyun: Okay, folks, it's been a super pleasure. Tune in next week, when we'll talk more and answer questions about gorgeous and green living...exact topic to come....Have a great week! :-)

_______________________

Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.