Today we’re featuring a guest post by Caitlin Sacasas, creator of Rebel Heart Beauty. Caitlin is a natural beauty, fitness, wellness, and nerdiness blogger and content writer. When she’s not writing, she can usually be seen training her young Padawan in the ways of the Force.
Are you ready to make the switch to green living? Looking to find health and beauty products that are also eco-friendly?
Switching to healthy, natural, and eco-friendly alternatives is easier than ever before. And while it can feel overwhelming to get started, it doesn’t have to be! Start slow, and take it one step at a time. Every step towards going green improves your wellbeing and our environment.
If you start with these steps, you’ll be well on your way to improving your health and removing thousands of toxins from your life! A lot of it has to do with simple lifestyle changes that take seconds. Once you know what to avoid and what you’re looking for, the process becomes quite quick.
Things to Look for in Green Products
A lot of products get “green-washed,” meaning they claim they’re green but actually aren’t. Many words like “natural,” “all-natural,” and “eco-friendly,” aren’t regulated, so it’s best to look for products that are certified. Some certifications to look for include Energy Star, Green Seal, and USDA Organic.
You can also look for products that are recycled and recyclable, handmade or repurposed. Think like the Jack Johnson song, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Bonus points if the company also uses sustainable energy to make the product.
You also want to find products that use the most natural ingredients. Avoid ingredients like parabens, phthalates, DEA, sulfates, and triclosan. Do your own research, but if an ingredient is hard to pronounce, it might not be worth using.
The last tip: look for products that are biodegradable. Waste is a huge problem, so if the products will decompose themselves, that helps cut back on landfills of garbage.
Green Living Tips for Your Health
Switch to Glass
Ditch plastic! It’s not biodegradable, it ends up in the ocean killing animals, and it contains cancer-causing chemicals, like BPA. Even when the bottle is labeled BPA-free, it’s still usually replaced with BPS, which isn’t safer.
So your best option is to switch to glass! Buy glass bottles instead of plastic ones, and switch to glass food containers instead of plastic. They last longer because they don’t melt or get worn from the heat in the dishwasher, and glass never leaves a taste in your bottle. It’s the cleanest option.
Buy Local and Organic
While eating organic can be pricey, there are ways to save on organic products. One way to do that is to buy local.
Not only are you cutting down on the emissions of your purchase because the food doesn’t have to travel as far, you’re supporting your local community while gaining the freshest food. The fresher the produce is, the more nutrients it has. And most local farmers use better methods of growing their food, and a lot of it is organic. Because you’re paying them directly, the produce is usually cheaper than at the grocery store.
By eating organic, you can cut out so many pesticides while gaining more nutrition!
Eat Less (or No!) Sugar
Sugar is addictive and toxic to the body. White sugar is bleached and stripped with animal bones, making it hard on the body and not eco-friendly. It’s been linked to causing cancer and worsening cancer because it’s a highly inflammatory food. And it’s in everything!
So cutting back where you can, or giving it up, will help improve your health immensely. I follow the Trim Healthy Mama plan, which uses stevia instead. Not only has my brain focus and memory improved since giving up sugar, I also have less bloat and more energy! I also find when I do sometimes eat sugar, I get joint pain in my knees and back — and I’m only 27.
You should aim for less than 40g of sugar a day. One frappuccino from Starbucks or a candy bar pretty much blast through that in one sitting. If you have a hard time figuring out your sugar intake, try keeping a food log for a few days and track how many grams of sugar are in your food. You may be blown away by the result!
Create a Fitness Routine that Works for You
Creating a fitness routine that works with your health and fitness level are key to maintaining your strength and health. But it’s important to understand your fitness routine to see results and not get burnt out. You also want to avoid fad diets and supplements that are packed with toxins. I wrote an article on my blog Rebel Heart Beauty explaining this in detail here.
The other thing to keep in mind is how to make your routine green. Buy sustainable workout clothes and plan to use them for a long time. Bike to the gym instead of driving there, if possible. Workout outside for fresh air and sunshine!
Green Living Tips for Your Beauty Routine
Switch to Organic Skin Care, or DIY Your Own
It’s easy to create a natural, sustainable skincare routine from ingredients in your kitchen. You can DIY your own body scrubs from ingredients like salt and coffee. Use coconut oil as both a cleanser and moisturizer. Coconut oil can even be used in place of shaving cream!
But if you’re looking to switch to organic skincare, 100% Pure is as green as they come. They have no toxic ingredients and their products are organically, sustainably made and packaged. Most of the ingredients come from fruit, and they’re considered to be some of the best green products out there.
Switch to Sustainable, Natural Makeup Products
Green makeup has come a long way. You can find better alternatives almost anywhere without breaking the bank, from the drugstore to the indie boutique. Even Sephora sells green beauty brands like RMS Beauty and Ilia!
My favorite sustainable, natural brand is W3ll People. You can now find their products at Target. Their products are free of parabens, fragrance, silicone, phthalates, talc, nanoparticles (bad ingredients tiny enough to penetrate into the skin and body), and more. They use sustainable wind energy, and they’re cruelty-free. Most of their products are vegan as well, except their mascara which uses beeswax.
Try Dry Brushing
Why should you try dry brushing? Dry brushing is a great way to shed skin and remove toxins. It also helps remove build-up on the skin and in the pores, which helps your body eliminate waste through the skin more effectively.
Dry brushing is easy and quick to do: before you shower, brush your entire body using upward strokes. Make sure to get an eco-friendly brush with soft, natural bristles!
Get Your Green On
You’re ready to start living your best, green life! Start making these tiny changes to improve your health, beauty, and well-being while leaving a smaller environmental footprint. You got this!
What are you best green living tips? Share them in the comments!