#120: Beauty (Friday, April 17)

One thing is certain: even in times of recession, women still need to feel beautiful. As a result, a woman will do whatever it takes to maintain her beauty regimen. We spend so much time making ourselves beautiful; imagine how powerful it would be if we expended half that energy on doing the same for our planet.

I'm not a big make up person perse, but recognizing that many of the women I know are, this may be a good time to share some eco-friendly make up suggestions.

Use products that have not been tested on animals. The Body Shop is known for its proactive stance against animal testing.

Buy products that donate to environmental causes or are otherwise eco-friendly. Check out The Body Shop's Community Trade, Protect Our Planet and Human Rights programs.

M·A·C Cosmetics also has a strong commitment to the environment by accepting returns of its primary packaging through the Back to M·A·C Program. Ladies (or men, we don't judge) who return six [6] M·A·C primary packaging containers to a M·A·C counter or M·A·C Cosmetics online, will receive a free M·A·C lipstick of their choice as a show of the company's appreciation.

Audit your beauty provider. Do you know how the products you use are made? What about the companies? Are they proactively supporting eco-friendly practices? If you don't know, make it your business to find out. And if they don't have a cosmetic recycling program, suggest that they start one.

You want to feel beautiful; let's keep the earth beautiful too.