Earth-friendly Beauty Products....$15 & Less

April 22nd was Earth Day but you can celebrate and protect our planet every single day. Here’s some easy and eco-friendly beauty products that are affordable, work, and help keep our world more green.

The Honest Company, created by Jessica Alba, is a line of nontoxic baby, body, bath and cleaning products. This “honest conditioning mist” is a leave-in hair detangler and fortifying spray made with luxurious argan oil, shea butter, jojoba and quinoa proteins that naturally soften and nourish. Lots of affordable products to choose from.

Priti NYC nail polishes are 5 Free (free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and camphor-all known carcinogenic ingredients), vegan and non-toxic. Launched in 2005 Priti NYC’s mission is to support organic farmers and decrease the amount of chemicals poisoning the Earth. Over 100 shades to choose from, and costing $13.50, these polishes are fast drying, chip resistant, contain a UV inhibitor and are extremely durable and glossy.

There’s a couple of reasons this 100% recyclable tooth brush is a great deal. First of all, it’s made of biodegradable nylon bristles with a bamboo handle and its cylindrical form enables effortless brushing in any hand and any part of your mouth. Second, when you purchase this ($10), the company donates one to a person in need!

And if you’re using an Earth-friendly tooth-brush, why not try a “green” toothpaste too? Tom’s of Maine Botanically Bright Natural whitening toothpaste ingredients are 100% derived from nature. It also helps whiten your teeth by removing surface stains during brushing. And there are lots of different flavors and types to choose from ($5.99 for a 4.7 oz tube.)

I had never heard of this company but I just ordered some fabulous sounding lip balm and salve from them. Ora’s all natural lip balms are made with essential oils and organic herbs to soothe your lips. Flavors come in (among several) basil rosemary, chai spice and unscented and cost $4.99. The salves are gluten and dairy free as well as Kosher (prices vary.)

This Kimberly Parry Organics Soak soothes achy muscles, detoxifies the body and replenishes vital nutrients. It contains mineral-rich Dead Sea and Epsom salts for a bath that melts muscle tension and softens skin ($14.00).

This USOrganic Body Polish by Nourish contains nutrient-rich organic fruits, vegetables and plant extracts that renew and refresh your skin while leaving it smooth and glowing. Ground murumuru seeds and corncob grit help exfoliate while pomegranate-seed oil add moisture. You can find it at Ulta for $10.

There’s just three ingredients in this S.W. Basics makeup remover ($14 /2 oz)….organic sweet almond oil, organic extra-virgin olive oil, and jojoba oil. It hydrates while dissolving your makeup. *You can easily play with these ingredients to make your own. I clean my face with extra-virgin olive oil and it totally gets rid of all my makeup, even waterproof mascara. But if you don’t want to make your own, this sounds great.

Scotch Naturals has a natural, soy-based nail polish remover (among other products) that removes both water-based and solvent-based polishes, while nourishing and hydrating the tips. Scotch Naturals Polish Remover is $11.99.

This Burt’s Bees Natural lip gloss is fabulous! Infused with sunflower-seed and olive oils, it’s really moisturizing and long-wearing. It comes in 12 gorgeous shades and is 100% natural.

I couldn’t live without my makeup brushes, they really make a difference in how your makeup application goes on. These EcoTools makeup brushes are made of sleek bamboo, gorgeous recycled aluminum and have incredibly soft bristles. They offer lots of different brushes to choose from, but I really like this set of five, $14.99 if ordered from their site but Wal-Mart and Target also sells these (for less). The brushes are 100% cruelty-free.