include ingredients that are not only ineffective, but harmful to health and damaging to hair and skin. That’s why green living expert Renée Loux, author of Easy Green Living, makes environ- mentally friendly choices. “If it’s toxic for the Earth, it’s probably toxic for our bodies, too,” she believes. Complex ingredient lists often make it hard to know what we’re apply- ing. Fortunately, consumer advocates like Loux (ReneeLoux.com) and the Environmental Working Group (ewg. org) have done our homework for us. When choosing products, Loux’s rule of thumb is, “plants over petro- leum.” In other words, if the primary ingredients—listed in descending order by percentage in a shampoo, condition- er, gel, serum or mousse—are botanical or plant-derived ingredients, you and the planet are probably safe. Petroleum and petrochemicals—which are com- monly used in many hair care products and are derived from a non-renewable resource—don’t break down well into natural components in the environ- ment and may be harmful to human health. Loux also pays special attention to the, last few ingredients listed on the label because this is where innocuous- sounding toxins often hide, perhaps as a fragrance or colorant.


In the shampoo category, Loux likes low-sudsing versions, because suds are typically created by synthetic- foaming agents called sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate is common) that may ir- ritate skin and poison the environment. With hair color, look for a stylist that uses low-ammonia dyes, or buy them yourself in health food stores and natu- ral pharmacies; temporary colorants are safer than permanent dyes. “The deeper the color, the more important it is to look at the ingredients,” counsels Loux.


FACE


With so many products and spa treatments to choose from, I’m


confused about what my skin really needs to look its best. What are the basic necessities for a natural skincare routine?


While the European Union has banned 1,100 chemicals from cosmetics, the United States has banned just 10. Only 11 percent of chemicals used in cosmetics in the United States have been assessed for health and safety.


~ The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (SafeCosmetics.org)


Cleansing (morning and night for oily skin, just at bedtime for dry skin) and moisturizing (all skin types) are the basics of daily skincare, according to dermatology physician Jeanette Jacknin, author of Smart Medicine for Your Skin and founder of the J.J.M.D. Botanical Dermatology skincare line. She says that soaps are generally too harsh and drying for facial skin, so use a non-soap cleanser instead, preferably one that is pH balanced. Oily skin will need a toner after washing to control oil secre- tion, and then a moisturizer, while dry skin can go straight to the moisturizer. “Men’s skin is actually thicker, rougher, and more oily and sweaty than women’s skin,” notes Jacknin. “Also, men have the special challenges of a beard. So, while a man may borrow his wife’s or girlfriend’s lotion, he may also want to find a skincare line made especially for him.”


The next two steps in Jacknin’s natural skincare routine are exfolia- tion, to remove dead skin cells from the skin surface, and facial masks, which deep-clean, nourish and revital- ize skin. These steps should be done once or twice a week, depending on skin type and the strength of the exfo- liator or mask.


Exfoliates come in two forms: abrasives, which physically rub off the dead skin cells; and chemical, which dissolve or peel away the surface skin layer. Natural abrasives include oatmeal and sugar granules, while fruit sugars and fruit acids, from pumpkin, apple or papaya, for example, provide natural chemical peels. Look for prod- ucts with fruit-derived exfoliates or


natural awakenings May 2011 37


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