{"id":2449,"date":"2009-06-01T22:43:43","date_gmt":"2009-06-02T03:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145696.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=2449"},"modified":"2009-06-01T22:43:43","modified_gmt":"2009-06-02T03:43:43","slug":"how-to-go-green-without-going-crazy-6-tips-for-making-the-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/articles\/how-to-go-green-without-going-crazy-6-tips-for-making-the-switch\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Go Green Without Going Crazy: 6 Tips for Making the Switch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve been working on creating the perfect cache of hair products, makeup, body lotions, and perfumes since you were 12, right? Now you are hearing about the potential hazards lurking in your beloved collection, and wondering if you should be tossing your phthalate-packed but highly praised lipstick (and shampoo, night cream, mascara, the list goes on and on) and replacing it with some brand you\u2019ve never heard of.\u00a0 It can be overwhelming, enough to make you want to throw in the towel and forget you ever read anything about parabens or petrochemicals. But don\u2019t lose heart; going green can be fun, exciting, and even affordable. I thought I might draw on\u00a0my former life as a clinical psychologist (true story) and offer up\u00a06 tips for making the transition to natural and organic beauty products without sacrificing your sanity!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Stay informed.<\/strong> The more you know about why you are switching over to eco-friendly products, the easier it will be to stay motivated when you lose some of that initial enthusiasm. Feelgood Style is a great place to start, and there are several fantastic books to check out as well, including Not Just a Pretty Face <\/a>by Stacey Malkan, one of the creators of the Skin Deep database, or The Green Beauty Guide<\/a>, by Julie Gabriel. When you are feeling discouraged, go back and read through the articles or chapters that motivated you to make the switch in the first place. <\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Take it easy.<\/strong> While there will always be those of us who tend to do everything in the extreme, the majority of us are at risk of burning out if we attempt to change every piece of our daily routine simultaneously. If you are feeling overwhelmed (or broke), prioritize. Start with those products that cover a lot of skin, like body and face lotions, or ones that can be inhaled, like hair sprays and perfumes. Slowly, as you run out of your commercial shadows, shampoos, and body shimmers, replace them with natural or organic counterparts. Take that time in between to read reviews, lurk on message boards, or ask experts in the industry what they think might be the best products for you.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Get a buddy.<\/strong> Just like with dieting, changing your entire beauty routine is easier when you have support. Find a friend who is interested in exploring natural beauty products as well. Many of my customers partner with their sister or mother, trying out each other\u2019s selections as a way to save money. If no one in your social sphere is interested in going green, find a message board or social network site dedicated to chemical-free beauty.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Make it fun.<\/strong> We are way more inclined to make changes when it\u2019s enjoyable. So get some friends involved, have your book club read Malkan\u2019s book, ask your local natural beauty products retailer if they are willing to host an after-hours wine and makeover party. Or host one yourself!<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Keep it simple.<\/strong> While we may not like to admit it, humans are programmed to take the path of least resistance. Find ways to make the switch as pain-free as possible. If you happen upon a trustworthy, high-quality local retailer or an online store with good customer service and knowledgeable staff, stay with them until you feel more comfortable exploring.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Keep an open mind. <\/strong>Have you fallen in love with every conditioner you\u2019ve ever tried, or did you need to suffer through a few bad hair days while searching for the best one for your hair? Odds are, it was the latter. The same holds true for natural products. I have heard many times over women concluding that \u201cnatural is not for me\u201d after trying one product that didn\u2019t work out. If the first natural shampoo you bought left your hair feeling greasy, then return it and try something else. Most retailers and online shops have generous return policies, particularly on skin and hair care. For makeup, find a store that offers makeovers, or an online site that offers samples. Most women eventually find their \u201choly grail\u201d products within the natural and organic arena; it just takes a little patience and perseverance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Terri Bly, president of The Nature of Beauty, LTD, and former clinical psychologist, offers 6 tips for overhauling your green beauty routine without going crazy. More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":2451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[129,335,12,1],"tags":[771,3852,2909,3287,2271],"apple_news_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/crazywoman.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}