Font Size

Climate Change

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Does Eco-Friendly Makeup Match Up To Old Standbys?

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Apr 2, 2009 2:04 pm US/Eastern

Does Eco-Friendly Makeup Match Up To Old Standbys?

Reporting
Paula Ebben

BOSTON (WBZ) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: (File Image)
CBS

Close

numSlides of totalImages

Natural or eco-friendly beauty products are the largest growing segment of the cosmetics industry.

They are certainly popular, but do they work as well as the products we have known and loved for years?

How do they work? Are they better or worse? Am I going to get a reaction from them? These are all questions beauty expert Suze Galvez hears all the time. She says read the label and make sure you understand the ingredients. If those ingredients are safe for your skin and you don't get a reaction, you should be OK.

Determining which products will last longer is a bit more difficult.

WBZ found a couple of women willing to do some unscientific testing for us.

First, Madison Wellington tried out a couple of mascaras, one natural and one traditional, then she went to work cutting onions. Wellington said her eyes were running, but both of the mascaras held up well to her tears.

Next, we compared hairsprays. They both worked well, but the tester liked the more natural feel of the eco-alternative.

Finally, a third tester tried nail polish, traditional on one hand and natural on the other. Then she went to work on a sink full of dishes. "I find the natural polish, it held up incredibly well," she said.

Beauty expert Rachel Sarnoff says eco-beauty products have come a long way, but no matter what product you're trying, if it's eco you want, make sure that's what you are getting. "Make sure you understand the ingredients that are in your beauty products. All the ingredients are real things like aloe, milk proteins, essential oils," she said.

As with anything else, you may have to try a couple of different products to find the one that works best for you.