Beauty Queen

Back in 2001 when I was working at New York magazine, I covered the opening of Whole Body--the beauty product offshoot the brand-new (and not yet part of pop culture) Whole Foods in Chelsea--and at the time it was truly newsworthy. I mean, a whole store of natural, organic, green beauty products? How was that possible?

My, how times have changed. Today we can't even go through the doors of a CVS or department store without being bombarded by politically correct earth-friendly messages. And although most of us aren't composting in our backyards like Julia Roberts (above, talking organics with Oprah), it's easy to go green with your beauty products.

We've come a long way from the early natural products that (thankfully) could only be found at a granola-y health-food store. Store shelves are overflowing with natural and organic offerings that easily replace your conventional products without sacrifice. For the glamourpuss who doesn't mind dropping some loot, Barneys New York recently starting selling two new organic skin-care lines, Amala and Intelligent Nutrients. The former features eco-conscious yet luxurious selections for face and body, while the latter has an anti-aging bent thanks to antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

On the more thrifty side, Burt's Bees--which can be found at your local drugstore or supermarket-offers a wide range of problem-specific products (and their baby line  is delicious).

On the hair front, there seems to be a new green product every time I go peruse the aisles at Target or take a stroll around the mall. John Masters Organics, Frederic Fekkai's Au Naturel and Jonathan Product Green Rootine are three fabulous lines, although they are on the more pricey side. A less expensive option is Aubrey Organics (which offers more than 300 products for the hair, skin and body), and it's available at amazon.com.

While you're greening your routine, don't forget your makeup bag. Next time you're at the drugstore, check out Physicians Formula Organic Wear and Almay Pure Blends for good-for-your-skin and good-for-the-planet cosmetics that won't break the bank. And if you're looking to splurge, you can find Josie Maran Cosmetics at Barneys and select Sephora stores. Her Green-on-the-Go kit is a great way to get started, and at $48, this set of best-sellers will help save your bank account, too.

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