The pressure is higher than ever these days to change our lifestyles to create a healthier environment. Being eco friendly is absolutely important; however, going green isn’t always easy. Organic food costs more than cheap, processed food, public transportation is a bitch, and who really wants to use all-natural deodorant from Whole Foods that makes you smell like a sweaty lavender flower?

 

There are a few simple (and cheap) changes we can make in our daily lives to increase our state of green. Even implementing one or two of these adjustments to our current routines can make a difference.

 

1. Shop second hand. Sounds low brow and grimy to some, but valuable and exciting gems can be found at vintage and consignment shops. Fur coats, Stuart Weitzman pumps, and cocktail dresses circa 1965 are just a few of the items I’ve picked up from my local vintage shop. By purchasing second hand, you allow one less item of new clothing to be generated.

 

2. Wrap your presents with funky scraps of paper, fabric, newspaper, and pages ripped out of a newspaper. I love wrapping gifts with old newspaper, decorated with glitter, rubber stamp prints, or my own drawings.

 

3. Organic cleaning solvents can be expensive. However, few people know that white vinegar can be used in place of heavy disinfectants and cleaning solutions. If you can stand the smell, white vinegar is a superior alternative to things like unhealthy bleach products and Windex. 

 

4. Among the many different cosmetics and body products we use, body wash is one of the easiest to replace with something organic. I find that many organic make up brands and hair product brands merely do not work as well as well as the big name, non-organic brands (ie. MAC, Nars, Lancome, etc.) The pigments aren’t as vivid and the moisturizers don’t satisfy my parched locks. I feel guilty admitting I still use said environmentally unfriendly products, but I have found a delicious body wash worth my spenditure. I should get paid for the amount of advertising I do for this company: Dr. Bronner’s. The deluxe lather smells and works better than any fancy shmancy body wash I’ve found at Sephora; plus it’s 100% natural. Buy it. Now. 

 

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