How to Go Green: Natural Skin Care

The Fabulous Beekman Boys know the importance of homemade quality skin care. Watch as they make a business out of goat milk soap.

Our skin is our largest organ. Yet, almost 90% of the 10,500 known cosmetics and skin care ingredients have not been evaluated for safety by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, the FDA, or any other publicly accountable institution. To do more than scratch the surface, we got the skinny at Planet Green's "How to Go Green: Natural Skin Care."

Top Tips for Greening Your Skin Care

Back to Basics: Every few months or so, we're treated to the emergence of some new skin care "breakthrough." Don't believe the hype. Planet Green's advice: "All you need is a basic cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and broad-spectrum sunscreen to keep your skin in tip-top shape."

Say No to Fossil Fuels: The notorious "petroleum-based" designation is omnipresent in the world of skin care products. Know your ingredients and remember to check your oil.

Consider the Package: Unnecessary packaging is common with cosmetics as are plastic containers, tubes, bottles, etc. As always, you can never go wrong with glass because it's recyclable and doesn't leach toxins into the product contained within.

Did You Know?

- The average amount of lipstick a woman will ingest over her lifetime is 4 pounds

- Only 11% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal-care products have been documented and publicly assessed for safety by the U.S. government

- $160 billion is spent annually on skin- and hair-care, makeup, cosmetic surgery, fragrances, health clubs, and diet products

For more on Natural Skin Care Tips check out Planet Green's Guide, How to Go Green: Natural Skin Care. For more on Going Green, check out the Planet Green How to Go Green Archives.