Who doesn't want a gorgeous face, flawless complexion, and just the right accents to highlight and contour the best of her features?

Being gorgeous and green go hand in hand when you know the right tricks and tools to foster a fresh appearance with natural cosmetics.

A green make-over will not only keep your skin safe and healthy, but will also do the planet a world of good.

1. Face + Cheeks

Since foundations, concealers, bronzers, and blushes typically stay on our skin for hours on end, it's essential to choose a product that contains natural ingredients that are safe for the skin to absorb. The type of colorants and preservatives used are the key ingredients to look out for - chemical preservatives such as paraben preservatives (propylparaben, methylparaben, butylparaben) and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMD hydantoin, dazolidnyl urea, quanternium-15) are ingredients to steer way clear of. These ingredients are linked to a host of health concerns from irritation (1) and allergies (2) to hormone disruption (3) and possibly even cancer (4).

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

+ Natural cosmetics for face + cheeks that boast botanical ingredients, natural pigments, plants over petroleum, and are formulated without questionable preservatives

+ Renée Loux's green thumb guide  >  natural + plant-based cosmetics for face + cheeks > BRANDS TO BROWSE >

Annemarie Borlind  |  Aveda  |   Dr. Hauschka  |  Ecco Bella  |  Josie Maran  |  Kiss My Face  |  Korres  |  Miessence  | Nvey Eco  |  Suki Naturals  |  Zia Natural Skin Care

+ Mineral make-up has revolutionized the cosmetic industry in a wonderful way. Natural mineral pigments can be rendered into a wide pallet of products and colors the perform beautifully without disrupting healthy skin function. The simple science behind mineral makeup is that the mineral molecules are too large in size for our skin to absorb.  Therefore, they sit on the skin, creating a flawless finish and still allow the skin to breathe and without clogging pores. Plus, minerals are, by nature, inert and will last indefinitely without additional preservatives.

+ Renée Loux's green thumb guide  > mineral cosmetics for face + cheeks > BRANDS TO BROWSE >

Bare Escentuals  |  ColoreScience  |  Eminence Oraganics  |  Jane Iredale  |  Mineral Fusion  |  Pür Minerals

2. Eyes

Eyes are one of the most delicate, sensitive and permeable parts of the body and should be treated with the utmost care when it comes to eye make-up. Read ingredient lists to find out exactly what's in the products you choose and use.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

+ EYE LINER

Look for eyeliners that contain natural waxes, oils, and colorants. Many conventional eyeliners contain a base of petro-chemical ingredients, chemical colorants, some of which are derived from coal, metal compounds such as aluminum, and a slew of chemical preservatives such as parabens and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

 + EYE SHADOW

Mineral-based eye shadows and those made with a plant-base such as rice- or corn-starch are a clean, green alternative to conventionally used talc, which may be contaminated with asbestos. Mineral colors are naturally occurring in a wide range of colors and very safe for skin, whereas synthetic colors may raise questions worth asking. Again, mineral-based products tend to be very stable on their own without the addition of synthetic preservatives such as paraben preservatives.

+ Renée Loux's personal green thumb picks > eye shadow

ColoreScience Pressed Color Palettes. Highlight, contour and line eyes with ColoreScience eyeshadow trio-compacts, formulated with micavitamins A + E and micronized mineral pigments for clean, green enhancement. Available in 6 color combinations.

NVEY ECO Organic Eye Shadows | (pronounced "en-vay ee-coh") Bringing together the best of natural luxury and performance, Nvey Eco Organic Eye Shadows are masterfully formulated from a prudent blend of mineral ingredients, botanical, extracts, antioxidants and nutrient-rich, restorative components. Certified organic and truly some of the most exceptional on the market. Available in single compacts and 5-color combination sets to provide just the right variety for an endless array of looks. Browse and purchase at Sephora. 

Sephora Pure Natural Believer Palette - a selection of palettes made from natural ingredients, no synthetic dyes, fragrances, petrochemicals or paraben preservatves.

+ MASCARA

Mascara is a must-have product that many of us simply cannot live without. Of all types of cosmetics, many mascaras are laden with the most chemical substances - substances that are highly questionable to apply so close to such a precious part of the body. Some mascaras, especially lash-building products, contain a slew of petroleum-based ingredients such as nylons and polyesters, mercury-based preservatives, and highly questionable petro-chemical colorants. Plus, many of these mascaras contain artificial perfumes that may contain dangerous phthalates to cover the smell of the chemicals These types of ingredients may not only be hazardous to your health and the environment, but may also damage eyelashes over time.

Natural mascaras are a very, very good idea, but up until recently, the trouble with many natural formulas is that they haven't been able to perform as well. But, times have changed! There is a new generation of performance-driven products that offer the best of both worlds.

+ Renée Loux's personal green thumb picks > mascara

Josie Maran Mascara is genius. This paraben- and fragrance-free formula performs unbelievably well, even under arduous conditions, and contains organic ingredients like jojoba oils, argan oil and beeswax to condition and strengthen as it lengthens and defines eyes. The sleek packaging even contains recycled content materials!

MiEssence Organics Mascara is as pure as it gets to build thick, striking lashes naturally using the perfect combination of nourishing jojoba oil and shea butter, thickening and strengthening beeswax, and long-lasting intensity of mineral pigments. It stays put where you need it, yet washes off without too much abrasive scrubbing. You can apply a few layers, allowing time to dry between coats, to achieve a striking, dramatic look 

3. Lips

Lips worth licking should be adored with clean, green lip glass, lipstick and lip balm. Most conventional lip products contain petroleum-based ingredients, chemical dyes and even lead! These are not things that any of us should ingest, which is what inevitably happens to anything on our lips. Create a safe and sexy kisser by choosing lip products that contain plant-based waxes and oils, beeswax, and natural pigments.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

+ Create a safe and sexy kisser by choosing lip products that contain plant-based waxes and oils, beeswax, and natural pigments.

+ Renée Loux's personal green thumb picks > lips

Burt's Bees touts a great selection of bee-based moisturizing, lip-protecting balms and tints, with and without color.

Cargo Plant Love Botanical Lipstick. these sheer, creamy lipsticks are formulated with natural and organic ingredients to condition and color your lips with eco-care. Housed in corn-based biodegradable plastic twist-up tubes and packaged in a carton embedded with real flower seeds that can be planted to grow wildflowers - available in a wide selection of colors, some of which are custom-designed by celeb-beauties such as Mariska Hargitay, Linday Lohan, Evalgenline Lily and more.

Perfect Organics Lip and Cheek Shimmers. made from pure, certified organic, vegan ingredients for super smooth, glossy color and glow.  The ingredient list is so clean, you could practically eat it: a base of healthy, lip-healing certified organic plant oils and plant wax, and seductive and bright scent from pure organic essential oils of peppermint and organic vanilla compliment lips with sheer pigments are derived from natural mineral sources. and, which in effect, is what slowly happens while wearing lipstick anyway. Housed in an elegantly long, high-quality twist-up stainless steel lipstick tube, Perfect Organics takes to detailed green integrity through all stages of manufacturing including having invested in stainless steel filling tubes to fill lipsticks instead of the disposable plastic filling tubes that are traditionally used once and thrown into a landfill. 

Suki Pure Cream Stain. sensuous, hydrating color for purely kissable lips (and multitasks for  a natural flush of color on cheeks too). Pure pigments are coupled with organic omega oils + extracts for a super-moisturizing, velvety cream tint that is specifically formulated for all skin tones.

4. Eco-Friendly Brushes + Applicators

Gratify greener personal preening with eco-conscious hardware such as brushes, applicators, and grooming accessories.

+ Renée Loux's personal green thumb picks > brushes + applicators

EcoTools. select from a bevy of naturally chic green beauty applicators and accessories at economically inviting prices. Featuring innovative eco-materials such as über-sustainable bamboo handles and recycled aluminum ferrules, and cruelty-free bristles. Give your skin a flawless finish while giving the earth peace of mind with professionally designed cosmetic brushes (available individually and versatile 5- and 6-Piece Sets) and the Recycled Brow grooming kit, which includes a bamboo-rimmed 5X lead-free mirror, recycled stainless steel scissors and tweezers, and 2 brushes. Don't miss other accessories to enhance beautifying bliss such as reusable cleansing sponges made from soybean and cotton instead of petroleum, bamboo nail files, and even a recycled foot smoothing stone made from ground recycled glass.  

Aveda. elect a bouquet of eco-friendly makeup brushes and applicators that are engineered for professional performance. The sleek, sturdy handles are made from and the a blend of renewable flax fiber and post-consumer recycled materials and the luxuriously hand-made, soft-bristled heads are made from non-animal (synthetic) fibers. Choose from 12 styles of Flax Sticks Brushes for cheeks, eyes and lips.

Dr. Hauschka. f you prefer kindly-derived, natural fiber bristles, Dr. Hauschka offers a Rouge Power Brush and a Face Powder Brush made from super-soft, humanely obtained goat hair.

5. Facial Washes

Cleansing the face with clean, green products is an important component for healthy glowing skin. Pure, plant-based products are key to renew and balance skin, remove grime and build up from skin care products, cosmetics and environmental pollutants and to keep pores clean and clear. Made from renewable resources, plant-based facial cleansers are naturally better and nontoxic to your skin and the earth. Finding one that suits the changing needs of your skin is a personal pursuit. The essential element to do the job right without over-stripping natural oils and instigate a demanding cycle of imbalance. Plant-based cleanser will do just that.

+ Renée Loux's personal green thumb picks > facial washes

Astara Botanical Cleansing Gelée deeply cleanses the pores and skin surface while moisturizing, to leave a soothed and refreshed feeling. Key ingredients such as organic aloe vera and comfrey, basil, and calendula, make this formula ideal for make-up removal as well as shaving.

GRN Blue Chamomile Cleanser is gentle foaming cleanser suitable for all skin types - based on naturally derived plant surfactants for deep yet skin-kind cleansing action apt enough to even remove makeup. Infused with certified organic extracts of chamomile, rosemary and green tea and absent of harsh chemicals and SLS/SLES, this blend won't dry or irritate skin and can be used daily.

Kiss My Face Start Up Exfoliating Face Wash. made with 82% certified organic ingredients and nothing artificial. Formulated with natural fruit acids to gently exfoliate and naturally antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial lemongrass to stimulate cellular growth, this face wash will clarify, cleanse and revitalize skin.

Jurlique Face Washes. offering a wide variety of foaming and creamy cleansers, Jurlique calls on a beautifying bevy of organic and biodynamic ingredients to rebalance, cleanse and protect skin. Jurlique is an all-around go-to for the some of the best pure and sophisticated skin care products on the market . While they aren't inexpensive, you really get what you pay for. This stuff is divine.

Suki Pure Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser. exfoliate dead cells, removes toxins, smoothes lines + wrinkles with a delicious blend of organic lemongrass, organic non-gmo rice flour, natural sugar + organic aha rejuvenator to solve dullness, dry patches, clogged pores & signs of aging.

+ Renée Loux's personal green thumb picks > Eye Makeup Remover

Jurlique Eye Makeup Remover. this moisture-based cream that contains the purest, biodynamically grown calendula, organic sunflower and jojoba seed oils and botanical and flower extracts to safely and effectively remove eye make up and leave skin feeling soothed and refreshed without oily residue.  

Eminence Organic Herbal Eye Make-up Remover. a pH balanced liquid made with cucumber, lavender, calendula and chamomile to decongest sensitive skin and comfrey extract to protect and heal delicate skin around the eyes. A nifty "Menda" pump makes dispensing this formula onto a cotton ball a cinch.