The little things add up and making small adjustments to our everyday routines can equal big changes in the end. It seems we are all more conscious of the foods we eat and where they come from, our household cleaners and the energy we consume. What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in them, but somehow making changes to our personal care routine can seem like the biggest challenge of all. There is no reason to fear it though, you don’t have to clear out your medicine cabinet, go bare faced or even unshaven, there is no tree hugging required (unless you want to) just start with 5 small things and see how they can add up!
1. A Pretty Pedi – Instead of a whole palette of nail polish hues to get you through flip flop and sandal season try picking just one signature color. Choose a polish that is 3 free (no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBT)) and wear it all season long! Whether you paint your piggies yourself or head to the salon, take your polish pick with you and make it your own. (A few pretty polishes can be found here and here)
2. Choose Better Packaging – By choosing products that are packaged in containers that are easy to reuse or recycle you can simply cut down on waste. Avoid products that are packaged in pvc (plastic #3), look for bottles that are easy to recycle (#1 or #2), buy in bulk and refill/reuse packaging with products you can make yourself.
3. Shop Local – That’s right, there are plenty of people (myself included) in your area (or state) who are making products which utilize fresh and local ingredients, are free of synthetic fillers and contain no “junk” in general. Whether you seek them out at local art, craft, and green events, peruse their websites or use the “shop local” function on etsy, choosing products that are made in closer proximity to you can go a long way in greening your routine.
4. Choose products that multi-task – So you may not be ready to give up your liquid shampoo for a solid shampoo soap yet, and that’s okay, there are plenty of other things to try that have mulitple uses. Use your bar soap to shave with – soaps with clay added to them can make for a great shave because the clay helps your razor glide smoothly. Pick a body oil that can be used as a massage and bath oil too, or a body butter that you can soften cuticles with and can double as a lip balm in a pinch.
5. Do it yourself – In trying to avoid many of the chemicals and synthetic ingredients that are so common in today’s marketplace we have learned that sometimes it’s just as easy to try a DIY version. Whether you need a quick scrub or a shot of moisture, often times you need not look further than your kitchen cupboard. Some quick fixes that can be found at home are: coarse sea salt or raw sugar for exfoliation, olive oil can double as body oil or eye makeup remover (you can also use grapeseed or jojoba oil), ground whole oats are a soothing bath additive as is powdered milk or brewed green tea. Get creative and see what products you can re-create or replace!
(image by D. Sharon Pruitt)
