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  • 30 Ways to be Eco-Friendly -- Birkenstocks not Required

  • Posted by Sarah on April 7, 2009 at 05:30PM
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  • I want to be all granola-y and mother-earth like, I really do, but I'm not about to give up my lip gloss or heavy-duty zit fixer. That's why I'm loving these 30 eco-friendly tips. They're so easy and they actually will make a big impact on the planet -- no wearing hemp or recycling toilet paper necessary.

  • Tip 1: Unplug your blow dryer after using it. Appliances like this suck up energy even when they're off, so you'll save energy and money by unplugging.

  • Tip 2: Install a low-flow showerhead. You can save up to 750 gallons of water a month* (meaning a cheaper H2O bill) and new versions still feel luxurious.

  • *Source: wateruseitwisely.com

  • Tip 3: Take a canvas bag with you shopping, and not just to the grocery store. You'll use less plastic bags and look tres chic.

  • Tip 4: Precycle (as in recycle before you buy) by looking for products with less packaging. If you're feeling ambitious, send an e-mail to your favorite brands and ask them to use less packaging.

  • Tip 5: Always look at any containers you have to see if they can be recycled, even your beauty products, before trashing.

  • Tip 6: Try some eco-friendly beauty products as alternatives to your standard products; you may even like them better. Aveda uses many natural ingredients and limited packaging and there are plenty of organic beauty brands like Pangea Organics and Aubrey Organics.

  • Tip 7: Look through your current stash of beauty products and check for these ingredients: Diethanolamine (DEA), 1,4-Dioxane, Formaldehyde, Hydroquinone, Thimerosol, Toluene, Parabens, Petroleum and Phthalates. All are known to potentially harm your health and the environment.*

  • *Source: Ecostiletto.com

  • Tip 8: Try an organic mouthwash (like Tom's of Main Natural Cleansing Mouthwash, $4.99, or even just a salt water rinse) instead of your regular one. Many mouthwashes contain formaldehyde and sodium laurel sulfates -- which aren't good for you or the environment.

  • Tip 9: The next time you buy a toothbrush, try to find one that's recyclable. And re-use the one you're done with by using it to clean around the house, or even brush your eyebrows (just wash it thoroughly first).

  • Tip 10: Skip dryer sheets when doing laundry -- most contain harmful chemicals. Instead, put a few drops of your favorite essential oil (try Body Shop Essential Oils, $20) on a cloth and toss it in with the dryer load for clothes that smell great and aren't coated in chemicals.

  • Click here for 20 more green tips.

  • • Are your beauty products destroying the planet? Take this quiz and find out.

  • • You can feel good about buying any of the brands on this list.

  • • Don't get suckered in by that "all-natural" label. Shop smart with this guide.

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