To be considered "organic", however, the ingredients must have been grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, hormones, GMOs, or other chemical questionmarks; provided at least 95% of all the ingredients in a beauty product are organic, can it carry the "USDA Organic" label.

Caveat: While the certified organic seal helps identify products that are eco every day (not just on Earth Day), the fact remains that the manufacturing process might have involved less-than-desirable ingredients such as synthetics, humectants, emollients, emulsifiers, and colorants. There is so much information (and misinformation) about what constitutes "natural" - that we cut through the beauty products clutter, so you won't have to:

BEST OF THE REST:

COLOR NEWCOMER: Vapour Organic Beauty

This new addition to the (green) scene captured our attention last year with their easy-to-use formulas and especially the illusionist Trick Stick which allows us to primp in 5 minutes, and is now a staple in our makeup bag. The company was founded by Erik Sakas, the former co-founder of Kevyn Aucoin and Director of Philosophy, who made a conscious choice to create a 21st century brand.

Natural Beauty Products that Make it Easy to be Green. Plus GIVEAWAYS! - Natural - Beauty

Working with a New Mexico based lab, Sakas developed eco-certified and USDA certified organic color cosmetics that glide on the skin and are so easy to use. “While working closely with Kevyn Aucoin for nearly ten years, I learned all his secrets to making skin look young, radiant and healthy," adds Sakas. "His one-of-a-kind technique incorporated several different products to achieve the perfect youthful and flawless look. Once I began developing products, I found myself searching for that one product that can do it all. I discovered the Vapour formula through a very happy accident, and I knew immediately that I had come across what I had been seeking for years. It is the only product I have ever seen that can achieve the look of young healthy skin instantly. Vapour’s organic component makes our products more compatible with your skin. Plant cells and skin cells are compatible, causing our products to blend and become one with your skin as opposed to lying flat on top. This allows for more movement and a delicate ‘play of light’ onto the skin." VapourBeauty.com

SOAP: Kiss My Face Peace Soap

Way back when anything too "eco" or "natural" meant it was probably unappealing and ineffective, Kiss My Face was creating environmentally-sound products that actually worked. Their new castile soap is formulated with 100% natural ingredients including olive, coconut and jojoba oils, challenging the established understanding that chemical ingredients are required for personal and household cleaning.

Natural Beauty Products that Make it Easy to be Green. Plus GIVEAWAYS! - Natural - Beauty

Peace Soap contains natural olive oil to alleviate skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, making it an excellent choice for sensitive skin as well as a safe and gentle alternative to traditional soaps that often contain harsh ingredients. The simple formulation helps to reduce the carbon footprint and minimize waste imposed on the environment, while allowing for multiple benefits and uses, such as washing your lingerie, floors, hair, and, yes, your face. ECO TIP: Kiss My Face will donate 10% of the profits from Peace Soap to Seeds of Peace, an organization that pioneers programs for children in countries of conflict to challenge widely-accepted - and harmful - perceptions. KissMyFace.com

HAND & FOOT CARE: Sonsa Rae Skincare

For thirty years Sonsa Rae, a former L’Oreal executive, and her partner have been creating artisanal botanical products as a solution to their allergies.

Natural Beauty Products that Make it Easy to be Green. Plus GIVEAWAYS! - Natural - Beauty

Each product is made in individual batches and sent directly to you by loving people who love this earth.  OUR PICKS: Replenishing Hand Lotion & Soothing Foot Cream, which is ultra rich & creamy, thanks to Olive Oil and Glycerin, as well as Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Essential Oil. FreshlyNatural.com