Green-minded gals carefully consider their purchases, big (Prius or Vespa?) and small (stir fry or salad greens?). But living greenly and healthfully is more than just eating well and keeping a manageable carbon footprint. Here are five reasons why you should put just as much thought into what goes on your body as you do what goes in it, whether your mission is to help keep yourself—or the Earth—healthy

Safety. Your skin is your body’s biggest organ, with over a billion pores. More than 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body, and the beauty industry is not regulated. (No joke.) There’s a glut of products on the market containing ingredients like parabens, which has been found in elevated amounts in breast tumors, and propylene glycol, a preservative commonly used in antifreeze and brake fluid, which according to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, may be linked to birth defects and infertility.

Environmental impact. Natural and organic products make for a less toxic Earth; they avoid chemical preservatives and synthetic colors and fragrances in favor of natural ingredients, which are better for the environment when they’re rinsed off your face, down your drain, and into your wastewater.

Effectiveness. Organic products have higher levels of natural nutrients and antioxidants than non-organic ones, making them just as effective, if not more so. And, as an added benefit, natural ingredients have fewer irritants for sensitive or allergy-prone skin.

Energy-conscious. Not only does it take less energy to produce natural or organic beauty products, they are frequently sold in recycled, minimal packaging, which makes for less waste all around.

Enjoyment. Going organic stimulates a mind/body/nature connection you just can’t get otherwise. Plus, the essential oils and natural scents included in organic and natural beauty products make you feel good and smell good.

Making sure your makeup isn’t harmful is top of mind for many these days—you can get even more insight from Beautorium.com’s own British bloke, Barry, who was recently interviewed on the subject, or find out more about what it means to call a product “organic,” here. 

Article courtesy of Beautorium.com

>> Check out "Top Healthy and Ecofriendly Moisturizers for Spring: We've Tried Them!" for more green beauty tips!