Tomorrow is Earth Day, so I'm going to be rather conventional and offer up some brands that are eco-friendly.  Whether or not you are an active environmentalist or an accidental conserver, there are a number of beauty items that will keep the green in your wallet.

Burt's Bees.  Affordable and natural.  They've earned  the Natural Seal.

Yes to Carrots (Tomatoes and Cucumbers too!)
This a vegan, paraben free line.  They use fruits and vegetables sourced from organic farmers and don't test on animals.

Technically, Every Man Jack is a line of hair/skin/shave/body care products for men, but I figure since guys don't want to deal with fussy products, it's a good way to get simple with your bathing routine.  I used the soap scrub and loved it.  It was this wonderful citrus scent (there are others), and each bar lasts quite a while.  For the soap bars, you get 3 of them for about $5.  All their products are vegetable based, sulfate and paraben free.

Eco-Tools Brushes.  Made from synthetic fibers, recycled aluminum, and bamboo handles; I love these brushes for their soft bristles and affordable prices.

L'Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Foundation. I just talked about this; it has the added benefit of being gentle and natural.

L'Oreal EverPure - a vegan, sulfate and paraben free line of products, especially for colored treated hair.

I've never tried these next lines, but thought I'd offer them, since I've seen them at the store.

Avalon Organics is available online or at natural food stores like Whole Foods.  They have a pretty full line of skincare, body care, and haircare products.  While not Suave cheap, shampoos and conditioners are about $9 each and cleansers around $10-12.

Giovanni Organic Cosmetics

So those are the basic lines that I've seen readily available at mass merchandisers.  Up next: Green products for a little more Green.

Are you on the green beauty bandwagon yet?  I admit to not being completely there yet since I'm not sure that the mainstream cosmetics are that bad.  However, one strong consideration is also price.  In the world of cosmetics, I find that organic/vegan/natural lines are slightly more expensive.  So until price is no longer an option, I choose my products carefully.

There's been a fairly recent backlash against traditional shampoos and conditioners due to the use of harsh detergent like ingredients such as sulfates.  Sulfates are actually humectants and are generally what causes the abundance of bubbles (lather).  Lather is not necessariliy an indication of how well the product is working and it is a rather strong chemical that may not be safe.  Sodium Laureth Sulfate is one of the most popular of these chemicals, used in everything from shampoo to toothpaste to carwash.  Would you use car wash fluid on your hair?

My most recent discovery is a line of haircare from L'Oreal, called EverPure. It's a vegan line that is free of harsh chemcials.  I don't know the science behind the line, but I know that it works.  I love the slight minty smell and they've somehow managed to make it lather a little.  I've used other 'organic' shampoos that don't lather, EverPure is a good product for those who are used to lather.  EverPure is safe for color treated hair, in fact the line is geared specifically for color-treated hair.  It's available in three formulations: moisture, smooth, and volume.  When I purchased them, the volume group was unavailable so I'm using moisture now. The best part?  The products are under $7 each at stores like Target.

Yesterday was a review of last year's Best Beauty Buys from InStyle, so today I'm going to compare it with this year's selections.  This year's list has more detail, since they don't have the exact shade recommendations on the website, as they do in the magazine.  If anybody has last year's issue and has the shade choices, I'd be glad to get those.

Bolded picks are repeat winners

Foundation
Liquid Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk*
Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer*
Tinted Moisturizer: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

Editor's Pick: 2008: Yves St. Laurent Perfect Touch Foundation; 2009: Pixi Illuminating Tint&Conceal
Inexpensive Foundation: L'Oreal True Match Foundation*
Oil Free Foundation: Laura Mercier:
Mineral Foundation: Bare Minerals Foundation*
Inexpensive Powder: 2008:  Cover Girl Clean Pressed Powder; none selected in 2009

Cover-Ups
Blemish Concealer: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
Inexpensive Concealer: Max Factor Erace Concealer

Powder: 2008: Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Powder*; 2009: Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish

Editors' Pick: 2008: Prescriptives Site Unseen Concealer; 2009: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil
Undereye concealer: Cle de Peau Correcteur Visage
Blotting Papers:Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control (none in 2008)
Green Makeup Line: none selected in 2008; 2009: Cargo Plant Love


Cheeks
Cream Blush: Stila Convertible Color
Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta

Inexpensive Powder Blush: 2008: L’Oreal True Match; 2009: L'Oreal Paris Bare Naturale Mineral Doux

Editor's Pick: 2008: Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator; 2009: Nars Multiple Duo* (no photo available)
Powder Blush: Nars  Blush*

Luminizer: 2008: Stila Liquid Luminizer ; 2009: Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

Lips

Long Wearing Lipstick: 2008 MAC Pro Longwear (long wearing lipstick)*; 2009: none selected

Editor's pick: 2008: Go Light On My Lips; 2009: Cover Girl Wetslicks Amaze Mint

Inexpeinsive Lipgloss: 2008: L’Oreal Color Juice (inexpensive gloss)*; 2009: Maybelline Shine Seduction
Inexpensive Lipstick: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick*

Lip Balm: 2008: Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Therapy SPF 15 (lip balm); 2009: La Mer
Lipstick: 2008: Chanel Rouge Allure; 2009: Nars
Lip Gloss: Chanel Glossimer
Lip Gloss with best color range: MAC Lipglass (2009 only)
Inexpensive Lipstick with best color range: L'Oreal Colour Riche (2009 only)
Inexpensive Shadow: L’Oreal HIP Eyeshadow*
Nars Cream Eyeshadow* (none selected in 2009)
MAC (powder eyeshadow)*
Best Gel Liner: Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Liner* (none in 2009)
Pencil Eyeliner: MAC Eye Kohl*

Mascara: 2008: Chanel Inimitable; Dior Dior Show, Maybelline Lash Discovery Waterproof, Lancome L’Extreme
Inexpensive Mascara: L'oreal Paris Voluminous (none in 2008)
Waterproof Mascara: Lancome Definicils (none in 2008)
Editor's Pick: Tarte Bottoms Up Lower Lash mascara (none in 2008)