Gorgeously green

Environmentalism can make your world a prettier & more cost-effective place

Is it our imagination or are women getting greener? Don’t worry darling, we don’t mean your porcelain complexion. We’re talking about the way that women are dressing, doing their hair, applying cosmetics and increasingly surrounding themselves with earthy, all-natural and environmentally-sensitive products.

We’d love to say that the trend is fully owing to the weighty matters of global consciousness. There is no doubt that women are concerned with the matters of climate change, water supply and depletion of the world’s natural resources - and are responding by making prudent choices in the health and beauty product aisles. Every little bit of environmental sensitivity contributes to making the world a safer, cleaner, healthier place.

However, there is an ancillary, perhaps slightly more frivolous benefit to all this do-gooding and frankly, it’s about looking good.

That’s right, being green is downright stylish. Environmental consciousness has come a long way, baby. Forget about the hippie soaps and chalky lip balms your mother may have bought in the 1970s. Today’s enviro-movement is all about doing the right thing, while looking and feeling very, very good (and surprise, saving money too).

The following are just a few ways that women are making changes for the ‘green’ while giving their home, their personal style – and their wallet - a healthy, lovely boost.

• Cosmetics – All natural cosmetics have gone luxe. From mineral mascara to argan oil lip glosses, brands such as Korres and Josie Maran have taken the hippie-ness out of synthetic-free cosmetics and injected some serious glamour, for very little additional cost. Check out your current brands at Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database to see how they rate on the scale of toxicity.
• Bed – Given that one-third of your life is spent in bed, wouldn’t it make sense to choose – and invest in - a healthy mattress? Just the idea of ‘off-gassing’ is enough to turn you off, no? Natural organic rubber mattresses are lined with organic wool, which acts as a natural fire retardant, and are then beautifully wrapped in organic cotton. Tuck some dried lavender under your sheets for an extra sweet sleep. (It was worth it, wasn’t it?!)
• Lighting – LED lights will rid you of any toxins and mercury that could be kicking around in your old-fashioned bulbs and fixtures. Equally enticing, switching to LEDs can save you up to 90 percent in energy costs, while also creating a much brighter and more even lighting source for intense work (hmm…such as applying your make-up!).
• Charcoal – Chemical deodorizing sprays often make odours around the home smell even worse by adding a layer of faux-clean scents (“Morning spring dew”? please). Bamboo sachets of charcoal deodorizer absorb odours, moisture and polluted air particles in your fridge, garage, dog room, gym bag or anywhere that smells less than fresh. And they can be used over and over again (usually up to a year). Now that’s savings!
• Bamboo – One of the fastest growing grasses on earth, bamboo is popping up everywhere, from bathrobes to towels to t-shirts. It’s extremely versatile and super soft while being resistant to odour, mold, mildew and bacteria (and it's much softer and far less expensive than the Egyptian cotton you used to crave). Since insects have no interest in eating bamboo, it is grown free from pesticides and fungicides.
• Hemp – Tacky plastic shower liners are so yesterday. Forget replacing them monthly when mold makes its unwelcome appearance. Hemp shower curtains are naturally resistant to mold and mildew and actually get stronger when wet. Therefore, they won’t trap moisture inside your tub and can be easily washed once a month with a capful of vinegar.
• Cookware - You love non-stick cooking, but the idea of ingesting Teflon turns your tummy. Stainless steel is a better choice, but you can also find environmentally friendly cookware with non-stick finishes that are free of toxins such as PFOA. And since for most of us, cookware is an every 10 years (or more) purchase, why not start with sustainable quality.
• Plants – Not only do plants give your home a bright and lively look, they actually clean indoor air and act as a filter by taking in pollutants and giving off oxygen. Experts say that 15 to 20 houseplants will purify an 1,800 square foot space.
• Clean Energy – For the extra ambitious, look to the sun and the wind to power your home. Photovoltaic solar panels and vertical axis wind turbines are sleek, compact, elegant innovations that will lower your household energy bills.

While the growing eco-consciousness of women (and men) may seem like a trend to some, we see it as a natural extension of a world that is growing more aware of the goodness in nature and its benefit to our compassionate, fashionable and fiscal selves. If there’s a way we can embrace a more wholesome lifestyle, while saving money (and looking even better than we already do), why wouldn’t we go green?

 

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