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Top Toxin-Free Beauty Brands

Save Mama Earth without sacrificing gorgeousness

Now's prime time to green up your beauty product stash. Why bother? Start by taking a look at the ingredient lists on your current faves ... see unrecognizable scientific names? Parabens? Sulfates? Switching to cleaner, purer options means a cleaner, purer you (60 percent of what you apply gets absorbed). The following products and brands will help you do just that.

Andrea Manitsas is the co-editor of Ecofabulous.blogs.com

By Andrea Manitsas

Aveda

Beauty giant Aveda, with an extensive repertoire of plant-based products including hair, body and skin care, makeup and "pure-fume" lines, is the first beauty company to manufacture using 100 percent certified wind power. They're also one of the largest purchasers of organic ingredients in the world, with 90 percent organic ingredients packaged in post-consumer recycled content. Aveda's so staunch in their resolution that "beauty is as beauty does" that they're pursuing Cradle to Cradle certification, which means everything they produce would be either completely biodegradable or infinitely recyclable.

TotalBeauty.com top rated Aveda products:

Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer

Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo

Aveda Petal Essence Eye Definer

Aveda Smooth Infusion Conditioner

Aveda Brilliant Universal Styling Crème

Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15

Aveda Hand Relief

Juice Beauty

A company that's constantly trying to better themselves, Juice Beauty has a no holds barred attitude when it comes to making healthy skin care for your face, your body and the planet. Not only do they source local, organic ingredients, they use packaging that's 100 percent recycled and recyclable, and print everything with soy-based inks (which create far less fumes and toxins than their petroleum-derived counterparts). Free from unsound chemicals like pesticides, petrochemicals and phthalates, Juice Beauty's range of skin care can fully clean up your skin's act. The SPF 20 Antioxidant Body Moisturizer smells like delicious green apples and feels silky smooth.

TotalBeauty.com top rated Juice Beauty products:

Juice Beauty Green Apple Body Peel

Juice Beauty Green Apple Mousse Body Cleanser

Juice Beauty Green Apple Nutrient Mask

Juice Beauty Green Apple Cleansing GelJuice Beauty Hydrating Mist

EO

With their company motto "Love Life. Live Clean," EO is certainly doing their part. Their bath and body elixirs take EO into pure, unadulterated territory. As a certified Green Business and organic manufacturer ascribing to a triple bottom line (people, planet and profit), their products are gentle yet outperform their chemically laden counterparts. If you're a shower gel user, conventional products likely contain toxic fragrances, detergents, preservatives and penetration enhancers all of which have been linked to skin irritation and even cancer. EO's range not only smells amazing, but they leave those unhealthy ingredients by the wayside.

TotalBeauty.com top rated EO products:

EO Sanitizing Hand Wipes

EO Hand Soap

Jane Iredale

Void of oil, talc, parabens and many chemicals generally associated with skin sensitivities, Jane Iredale's makeup is perfect for the most delicate of skin types. In fact, all products have been tested to prove there's virtually no allergy risk. Its minerals actually contain anti-inflammatories that help soothe and calm irritated skin. Falling asleep with a face full of Jane Iredale (though not recommended in general) isn't a big problem as the products are non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and use inert minerals that can't support bacteria. Available in many shades, there's one for every skin tone.

TotalBeauty.com top rated Jane Iredale products:

Jane Iredale Mini Dome Brush

Jane Iredale Twice Blushed

Jane Iredale Pure Lash Extender and Conditioner

Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Eye Shadows

Jane Iredale Eye Shadows

Jane Iredale Multi-Gloss Kit for Lips 2

Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust in Green

Jane Iredale More Lip -- Lip Plumper

Jane Iredale Lip Drink SPF 15

Nude

Nude is more than just another beautifully packaged, sleek line of skincare products. Backed by humanitarians Bono and wife Ali Hewson, it's not surprising that Nude's formulations are void of ingredients that are irritating to the skin or potentially harmful to the body. The minimalist packaging utilizes post-industrial recycled plastic that is recyclable, paired with non-GMO biodegradable cornstarch sleeves. And they do zero testing on animals. Let the look of this brand seduce you because Nude's insides -- filled with antioxidants, probiotics, peptides, phytoactives and bioactives that treat signs of aging and protect the skin from environmental damage -- live up to its outsides.

TotalBeauty.com top rated Nude product:

Nude Cleansing Facial Oil

Next slide: More brands that are doing their part ...

More brands that are doing their part ...

Alaffia

Pomega5

Buddha Nose

Jurlique

Burt's Bees

Weleda

Trillium Organics

Terressentials

Care by Stella McCartney

John Masters Organics

Huiles and Baumes

Aubrey Organics

Alison Raffaele

Sheerin O'Kho

Pangea Organics

Dr. Bronner's Magic "All-One!"

Lush

24 Celebs Who Will Save The Earth

Quiz: Are Your Beauty Products Killing the Planet?

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Products Mentioned in This Story

Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer
Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer

Average Member Rating: 7.1

Buy it for $73.50

Aveda Hand Relief
Aveda Hand Relief

Average Member Rating: 8.5

Buy it for $63.50

Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo
Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo

Average Member Rating: 8.3

Buy it for $7.50

EO Hand Soap
EO Hand Soap

Average Member Rating: 9.8

Buy it for $5.73

Jane Iredale Eye Shadows
Jane Iredale Eye Shadows

Average Member Rating: 9.3

Buy it for $17.50

Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15
Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15

Average Member Rating: 8.8

Buy it for $14.00

Nude Cleansing Facial Oil
Nude Cleansing Facial Oil

Average Member Rating: 9.0

Buy it for $52.00

Member Comments

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just tried, odacite the first organic skin care freshly made and delivered to your door. Finaly a product that does not sit for years on store shelves! What a difference...

by MadeleineVinsonJuly 20, 2009 at 05:55PM Report as inappropriate

I wonder why Shaklee was not included in your green cosmetics. Shaklee has been green before green was even cool. Otherwise it is a great article.

I rated this article: 9 out of 10

by SkinCareTherapyFebruary 06, 2009 at 10:30AM Report as inappropriate

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