With the exception of a few plastic surgery-obsessed celebrities we are not synthetic. We are natural. We are organic. We are 100% preservative-free. For those of us who would prefer to keep ourselves that way, the beauty world has finally responded. Over the last few years green beauty has gone from a small time cottage industry to a market-transforming phenomenon.

Whenever an entire industry makes moves to jump on a bandwagon, it’s easy to dismiss all the claims of improvement as nothing more than marketing hype. And with good reason. As with any widespread marketing shift, there are many pretenders mixed into the legitimate claims of organic and natural products. Instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater as the eerily morbid saying goes, take a look at the companies behind the claims, the ingredients on the labels and, most importantly, how   well the products live up to their marketing claims.

Here are some ingredients to look for and how they can work with your skin instead of simply working on top of it. First of all, when it comes to natural makeup products, look for products that contain botanicals and antioxidants. Antioxidants are good wherever you can get them. Whether it is through eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, drinking white tea or, in this case, using a natural makeup, antioxidants can not only help your body fight off life-threatening diseases like cancer, they can also help your skin fight the signs and effects of aging. As your skin ages, you begin to lose collagen and elastin. Antioxidants help to slow that process and may also help foster production of new collagen cells. The presence of antioxidants in your beauty products may also be an indicator that organic plants and minerals went into the production of the product – and that’s good news for you and the planet.

Here are some more natural ingredients that are making waves in the beauty world and also in the real world where the rest of us live. Look for skincare products that include pomegranate and green tea as well as essential vitamins and certified organic botanicals. These ingredients can be found in a variety of products from moisturizers to eye color.

And don’t forget your lips. Some popular natural lip products are derived from honey, sweet almond oil and natural citrus oils. Other lip-friendly natural ingredients include white grape and pomegranate juices. And sunblock can be chemical free as well – you just need to read the labels to be sure.

Packaging is another area where you can make green choices. Some products come in packaging with post-consumer content. Others use packaging made from corn (if you can use it to power a car, then why not use it to hold your lipstick?). Others use recycled paper packaging and one company even includes wildflower seeds that can be planted to help beautify wherever it is you call home.

Related Articles
	What are Botanicals and How are They Used in Skincare? When it comes to skincare and anything dealing with beauty, you’ll hear the term “botanicals.” But what are they exactly and why are they so commonplace in the majority of products we buy? There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to botanicals, especially when it comes to our skincare products   ...Read more		How to Go Green in Your Fashion and Beauty It’s hard to do anything without thinking about what impact it will have on the environment. With everyone jumping on the green, eco-friendly bandwagon, you may be wondering what you can do to contribute. Luckily, the fashion and beauty industry is also getting in on the movement so now you can   ...Read more