Earth Day Beauty Round-up

We buy organic produce and refuse plastic bags in favour of reusable ones when we're at the grocery store; why not extend this same ethos to our beauty routines? In honour of this year's Earth Day, I challenge you to swap out one of your everyday products for an eco-alternative. Judging from the beauty goodies in this post, the hardest part won't be finding a product--it'll be stopping at just one!

1. Burt's Bees introduced me to the world of all-natural products with their beeswax-based lip balms and skincare. Try Burt's Bees Lip Shine ($9.99, available at drugstores) if you're looking for a yummy-scented, 100% natural lip gloss.

2. Consonant Organic Foaming Face Wash ($18, available at BeautyMark) remains one of my all-time favourite face cleansers: One pump removes oil, dirt, residue, and makeup without overdrying. The fact that it's organic is just icing on the cake.

3. I've had my Eco Tools brush set ($12.99-15.99, available at London Drugs) for 5 years now and it's still going strong. They're the perfect combination of quality and eco-friendliness (the handles are sustainable bamboo and recycled aluminum), and they're cruelty-free. The secret to making this budget-friendly buy last longer? Regular brush cleanings.

4. Vancouver-based ILIA Beauty is stocked by some of the most discerning retailers in the world, including Net-a-Porter and Colette. If you haven't experienced the label's creamy organic lipsticks firsthand, see what all the hype is about with ILIA's limited edition lip conditioner in 'Pink Kashmir' ($24), a pretty lavender-based pink.

5. The Eminence Organics Mineral Illuminator in 'Chai Berry Glow' ($36, available at Spa Boutique) adds subtle highlighting and a healthy glow without going overboard on sparkle or shimmer. The distinctive bamboo compact scores major style points, while the formula (infused with acai berry, green tea, and vitamins A and E) has anti-oxidant benefits.

6. I'm planning to stock up on Whistler Naturals Vanilla Silk Sugar Body Scrub ($13.98) for some pre-summer exfoliation. Raw plantain sugar, vanilla extract, and a mixture of natural oils make for a sweet-smelling scrub that sloughs off dead skin while moisturizing effectively.

7. Lippy Girl Lip Love Conditioning Stick ($8) is the newest addition to the pouch of beauty essentials I tote around in my handbag. Its mix of mint and eucalyptus oils is at once soothing and invigorating; I wear it alone or blot it on my lips before and after applying matte lipstick colours to fight dryness.

8. Giovanni 2chic Ultra-Moist Super Potion ($7.99) tames frizz and nourishes hair with a mixture of avocado, olive, shea, and sunflower oils among other natural ingredients. I worked 4 pumps of product through damp hair and used another 2 pumps to smooth fly-aways post-blow-dry. The result: shiny, manageable locks.

9. Spritz Pangea Organics French Rosemary and Sweet Orange Toner ($28, available at BeautyMark) on your face and neck after cleansing. The rosemary and sweet orange have anti-oxidant and calming benefits, while the cooling mist refreshes fatigued skin and moisturizes.

10. Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser ($82.50, available at BeautyMark) is a rich, moisturizing cleanser that's gentle on skin and smells like an orange Creamsicle. I recommend using makeup remover to take off your face full of makeup beforehand, but once you do, this cleanser's anti-aging, deep-cleansing, and exfoliating benefits will give you a radiant, even-toned complexion.

Looking for more info about natural or organic beauty labels? Check out my Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty series for further reading.

P.S. Don't forget to enter my Shu Uemura giveaway!