The Style Blog - Fashion & Beauty

I thought I had shiny hair down to a science until now. From lemon juice to avocado conditioners, I long ago crowned myself a queen of DIY hair, but apparently, I was missing something huge all of this time. I recently decided to approach the non-shininess of my winter hair in a different way and I can’t believe the results I got…without having to buy anything!

Any time you can handle your beauty regime without chemicals or store-bought product, you’re doing yourself and the environment a favor. Further your green beauty by trying this sure-way-to-shine formula:

1. Add a shot glass worth of vodka to your deep conditioner (if you don’t have a deep conditioner on hand, try mayonnaise, eggs, avocado, or honey.)

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We work hard every week to bring you red carpet styles you can copy with eco-friendly alternatives (and without blowing your budget) in our Copy This Look feature series. But sometimes we can’t come up with comparable styles; environmentally-friendly fabrics and processes just aren’t as widely used as they should be.

That’s why we were so excited to find Threadbanger’s Celebrity DIY column. They take red-carpet looks and find sewing patterns in similar cuts, so you can create your own copy from start to finish. We admit: This is easier if you know how to use a sewing machine, and some of the designs are complicated for beginners. But when you can take your style cues from Kylie Minogue’s Yves St. Laurent belted dress, Reese Witherspoon’s one-shouldered frock, or a classic Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress without setting foot in a boutique, it’s worth learning how to thread a bobbin. You’ll save energy and resources by making your own clothes, but for an added bonus check your fabric store for environmentally-friendly materials, or use old clothes that you can cut apart and re-design.

Did you know that washing your hair less is actually good for your hair? The chemicals in shampoos and conditioners don’t quite align with how our hair would operate naturally and they often times strip hair of important oils. On top of all of this, not washing your hair will save you water in shower time and money spent on unnecessary amounts of hair product.

But the problem with this argument is that some people just aren’t comfortable with the way their hair looks when it hasn’t been washed in a few days. I, for one, have very fine hair that greases up with the slightest instigation.

The key is knowing how to combat the greasy look if that’s what’s deterring you from skipping your shampoos more regularly.

Tips for working with greasy hair:

• Baby Powder. Sprinkling some of this powder (or other hair powders) into your locks will absorb the grease and leave you feeling perfectly clean.

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Strawberries can exfoliate the skin as well as anything. Exfoliation is often done with items like loofahs and sponges or anything else that can remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of the epidermis. Most of these devices aren’t that detrimental to the environment. A polyurethane foam sponge might get some frowns from the eco-in crowd, but there are plenty of sponges made from all-natural ingredients, like wood pulp and sea sponges. I’m not quite sure how animal rights activists or vegans feel about using sea sponges to exfoliate. Personally, I find using the carcass of a sessile sea creature to exfoliate my face a little gross, but I’m not comfortable making an ethical judgment.

If exfoliation isn’t horrible for the environment, then why use strawberries?

Funny you should ask. It is the moisturizer that often follows exfoliation that can be ecologically unsound. These moisturizers often come packed in plastic tubes. Strawberries can be purchased sans tube or much packaging at all. Plus, strawberries are chocked full of acid. They’ll do the job of a moisturizer as well as exfoliating. So why not use strawberries as an exfoliant? They work great on the hands and the feet but can be applied to the face as well.

Here are a couple recipes for strawberry exfoliation that I found on the internet:

This strawberry exfoliation recipe comes from Associated Content.

You can use about 8-10 strawberries from the store. You will need 2 tablespoons of apricot oil or olive oil. You will need 1 tbs of coarse salt, or sea salt so that you can exfoliate or rub on the skin. You will then mix all the ingredient together and then massage it on your hands and feet as exfoliate. You will then rinse your hand and feet and pat dry. Strawberries have natural fruit acid that helps in exfoliation of your skin. You can also use strawberries son your face.

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It seems clear as day to me that, in so many respects, we simply are what we eat. Should this impact our beauty? Well, maybe it shouldn’t, per se, but it most certainly does.

Of all beauty concerns, flawed skin is one that seems to boggle both men and women everywhere. Even on a personal level, a whole lot can be working against me physically, but if my skin is clear, I feel better than I would otherwise.

You don’t need to go out and buy tons of expensive and often times useless product to enhance the condition of your skin. In fact, you only need to do that in severe cases. For moderate skin problems, you should really begin with evaluating all that you put into your body.

A lot of the unnatural beverages we consume can be thanked first and foremost for skin problems. Not only do these beverages cause skin problems, but hey, if we all replaced even one of these beverages a day with a glass of water from the faucet instead, think of all of the environmental good we’d be doing!

Both alcohol and coffee, for example, cause the blood vessels in the skin to widen which can leave you looking much more flushed than you’d probably prefer.

The refined sugar in soda has been linked to a percentage of acne cases, too.

My challenge to you:

Replace one of these beverages (coffee, alcohol, soda) a day with a glass of water. You’ll be reducing the amount of packaging that needs to be recycled and you’ll be helping your skin out simultaneously.

If last weekend’s Golden Globes red carpet was any indication, you’ll want to start stocking your jewelry box with chic and striking drop earrings, like the sparklers worn by Salma Hayek, Jenna Fischer, Kate Beckinsale, and Amy Adams. Dramatic earrings lend glamour to any outfit-try them to dress up a sweater and jeans or add the finishing touch to a cocktail dress—and stand perfectly fine alone (no necklace needed) for a no-fuss addition to your daily routine.

For an eco-friendly take on the trend, look for designs made with recycled metals and natural gems, or for pieces that are handmade and sold under fair trade guidelines. It’s also easy to create your own chandelier earrings with a few simple supples; check this DIY earrings tutorial to get started—but if you’re not very crafty, we’ve rounded up a few options to get you started:

• Nashelle Designs Decadent Playful Fringe earrings, $98, nimli.com

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My favorite part about caring for the environment is that it encourages the D.I.Y. spirit. I’ve always been a little on the crafty side and am more than happy to make something myself if it means that I’ll save money and help out the planet by reducing my own consumption of chemical-infused products that are also often times packaging nightmares.

There are a lot of products that many of us use daily that we could be making ourselves and shaving cream is no exception. Sure, you can always just use your soap or shampoo for shaving (it works incredibly well in case you haven’t tried it before), but there is still something to be said for the shaving with actual shaving cream.

If you’re interested in making your own shaving cream, try out this recipe, it works for me!

Here’s what you’ll need: More »

People who bike to work will run the risk of helmet hair. Helmet hair may even deter these folks from biking to work, and they will increase their carbon footprint by driving to work instead. Personally, I think helmet hair is awesome. If you look at current trends, the faux messy hair-do is all the rage. It is my prediction that in ten years’ time, faux helmet hair will be the next big trend. People will be styling their hair to make it look like they have helmet head, but until that time, people may still want to deal with helmet hair. Here is how.

1. Short Hair Cut More »

At our Site of the Week, Gorgeously Green, eco-guru Sophie Uliano shares green grooming tips, spreads the word about the coolest planet-friendly fashions, and spotlights neat lifestyle changes that fit into the routine of any glamour gal. As if that weren’t enough, log on for money-saving coupons and special deals that’ll make some great green products easier on your budget, and check out the monthly contests, where you can score free sustainable swag.

The beauty blog posts at Gorgeously Green feature everything you need to put your best face forward, from the top winter moisturizers to organic self-tanning products that’ll give you a summery glow. You’ll also find coverage of beauty hazards like leaded lipstick.

In addition to self-care for your outside, you’ll find tips for the rest of your green lifestyle, from expert fitness advice to parenting news for cool green moms. You can even watch web-exclusive how-to videos about green living. Gorgeously Green has a lot going on, all with an eye to protecting the planet while making your personal world more fun, and more beautiful. With big ideas like these, it’s no wonder Uliano’s been featured on Oprah, and in major magazines like Vanity Fair.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about makeup. It’s an incredibly lucrative industry, feeding off of the insecurities women are made to believe they should have. (By the way, ladies, you don’t need to wear makeup. Just to let you know.) Moreover, the products sold by the industry leaders are full of chemicals and general grossness. For each product, there is a package and a likelihood that the package at hand can’t be recycled.

I’m not anti-makeup whatsoever, especially considering how easy it is to make your own natural makeup or support natural and organic lines that are starting to hit the shelves these days. What I am anti is excess.

I think a lot of women wear makeup daily out of habit and wear more than they actually need to. (Also, please note, ladies: less is usually more makeup wise.)

My challenge to you:

Ween your skin off of foundation. This may seem like a brave move, considering foundation is one of the most popular makeup products, but hear me out. I think we’ve trained ourselves to see ourselves with a matte skin color and it’s just not natural. Aside from all environmental and economic reasons to leave foundation out of your beauty routine, consider this: not wearing foundation gives you the opportunity to reconnect with your actual skin. Your skin is highly affected by your diet and sun exposure. Covering it up every day not only does no good for your pores, but it also masks whatever your skin is trying to naturally tell you. Ween yourself off of foundation and I guarantee you’ll be more driven to make a real beauty change; not an artificial cover-up.