As interest in the world of natural beauty products grows, so do the number of books written on the subject. The latest is The Green Beauty Guide, by nutritionist and beauty writer Julie Gabriel. This back-to-basics guide will help you navigate the world of “natural” beauty and, like so many of its peers, gives you a list of ingredients to avoid as well as the latest research on what’s not to love about them. Unlike most other books in the same category, The Green Beauty Guide also gives you a better understanding of what types of ingredients are necessary to create, for example, a standard body lotion. Even better, Garbiel offers a number of recipes for those of you who find yourselves inspired to create your own scrubs, masks, massage oils, and lotions. Personally, I’ve never been one to try making my own toiletries. If I’m going to make a mess in the kitchen, I want to eat the outcome; everything else just sounds like work. That being said, I have to admit that after reading this book, I briefly considered giving it a try. If any of you have given it a whirl, I’d love to hear how it went! For those of us who prefer to leave the cleansing of our skin to the professionals, she recommends several widely available, safe and natural products from the likes of Dr. Hauschka, Aubrey Organics, and Burt’s Bees.
Which brings me to my only critique: she draws from a fairly limited number of products when making recommendations. While I agree that Hauschka and the other brands she loves are respectable indeed, I know from experience that there are many other fabulous natural and organic lotions, cleansers, foundations, and shampoos out there. Her favorites appear limited to whatever she was able to pull off the shelves at Whole Foods. I also think she overdoes the superiority of mineral makeup, as there are many highly effective and safe foundations, eye shadows and blushers in the world that aren’t necessarily mineral-based. Or at the very least, I think she could be clearer about the fact that mineral makeup is not limited to the loose powder stuff most of us associate with the term.
Overall, I would happily recommend The Green Beauty Guide to anyone wanting to learn more about their personal care products. It’s easy to read, easy to understand, serves as an excellent quick reference guide, and will help move us all forward in our understanding of how and why we should re-examine what we’re applying to our bodies.
More on Feelgood Style:
- Green Diva’s Guide to Fresh Style: Peace & Beauty for Cause-Metics
- Organic Beauty View – A Blog For Your Green Style Needs
- Green Diva’s Guide to Fresh Style – Great Green Products: Verterra
- Green Diva’s Guide to Fresh Style: Green Standards for Eco-Style Stuff?
- Green Diva’s Guide to Fresh Style – Great Green Products: Wheatware
Dear Terry,
Thank you for your kind review. I really appreciate your in-depth analysis of my book; however, I must disagree with your suggestion that I pulled the recommended products off the shelves at Whole Foods. Indeed, I recommend dozens of products in all price categories, most of which are available in health food stores, drugstores, department stores and even groceries all across the US and Canada. In fact, most of my recommended products are not even available in Whole Foods! Please let’s don’t make green an elitist trend. Green is for every budget and it suits every lifestyle.
Dear Terry,
Thank you for your kind review. I really appreciate your in-depth analysis of my book; however, I must disagree with your suggestion that I pulled the recommended products off the shelves at Whole Foods. Indeed, I recommend dozens of products in all price categories, most of which are available in health food stores, drugstores, department stores and even groceries all across the US and Canada. In fact, most of my recommended products are not even available in Whole Foods! Please let’s don’t make green an elitist trend. Green is for every budget and it suits every lifestyle.
Thanks for the comment, Julie! I want to be sure to clarify that I did not intend to make it sound elitist, so I am very sorry for that!! I think Whole Foods is a great place to find affordable, safe beauty and personal care!! My comment had more to do with the relatively small number of brands recommended in the book, rather than the products themselves.
Thanks for the comment, Julie! I want to be sure to clarify that I did not intend to make it sound elitist, so I am very sorry for that!! I think Whole Foods is a great place to find affordable, safe beauty and personal care!! My comment had more to do with the relatively small number of brands recommended in the book, rather than the products themselves.
I just got the book and plan on giving it a read since I’m trying to green my products but keep encountering issues with skin sensitivity with the ones that I have tried.
If she only recommends a few brands though I guess I’ll need to do more thorough research.
I just got the book and plan on giving it a read since I’m trying to green my products but keep encountering issues with skin sensitivity with the ones that I have tried.
If she only recommends a few brands though I guess I’ll need to do more thorough research.