Earth angel

MANILA, Philippines - Green is in. But concern for the environment doesn’t stop with using canvas bags and throwing trash into the proper recycling bins. After you’ve mastered the art of turning off lights and unplugging appliances when you aren’t using them, it’s time to become a real angel for the earth and kick your eco-savviness into gear, starting with your body.

Skincare is earth care

You are what you use. And in these eco-friendly times, it’s okay — nay, imperative — for you to nix the chemical-laden creams and give your skin — and the planet — a chance to breathe. Why choose organic? Many people claim that switching to organic skin care products have resulted in better skin, though sometimes one’s skin may go through a short detoxification process (a sudden surge of pimples, for example) first before clearing up.

Going organic need not be expensive. There are a lot of local, high-quality skincare products to choose from. Just make sure that they use certified organic ingredients in their products. An example of this is Leyende (www.leyende.com), which offers everything from shampoos and conditioners to anti-cellulite lotion and eau de cologne. Their best-selling Face Canvas is a moisturizer/makeup base that has garnered a cult following among makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts. The brand also promotes recycling by encouraging customers to return used Leyende containers. Give back six empty containers and you get a container of body butter free.

MAC Cosmetics also encourages recycling. Return six empty lipstick container and you get one lippie free.

Start ‘em young

Even babies can benefit from the organic trend. INDIGObaby (indigomanila.multiply.com) has everything from baby slings to tees to booties. They also offer a selection of all-natural, synthetic chemical-free products made for babies and parents.

Their Moonshine Baby Bottom Spray helps soothe and prevent diaper rash and doubles as a hand sanitizer. And since dengue season is around the corner (or if you’re planning a vacation somewhere rustic), their Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me insect repellent is DEET-free, and unlike most natural anti-mosquito solutions, doesn’t smell like citronella.

Hydrate, without waste

Bottled water is soooo ‘90s. Plastic bottles are not healthy for Mother Earth, or for you. Not only do they take forever to decompose and use up space in landfills, refilling them may be harmful to your health, since refilling disposable PET bottles may release toxins from the packaging. In other words, you may be inadvertently drinking plastic.

Thankfully, there are a lot of cool water containers out there with different sizes and designs to choose from. One of them is SIGG, which is made from recyclable aluminum. They’re light and have a strong internal coating that can withstand acids in fruit juice, milk and sports drinks. And with some designs created by the likes of Stella McCartney and Donna Karan, you won’t lack in the fashion department. If plunking down a large sum for a water bottle seems wasteful to you, think of this: over time, you’d eventually spend more buying bottled water every time you want to quench your thirst.

If you’re the outdoorsy type, you might want to get a Nalgene bottle, which is leak-proof and almost unbreakable, made to be tossed around inside a backpack on rough terrain.

And for urbanites who live on coffee, your favorite coffee shop has forever been offering refillable mugs. The best part? If you use them instead of disposable paper cups, you get a discount (usually five percent off)!

Think green, eat green

Who knew that when Mommy said eating vegetables would make you smarter, you’d be helping Mother Earth as well? There’s a school of thought that says you can fed more people with grains or vegetables in one field than with animals led to pasture on that same plot of land. So yes, veggies are good for you, and they’re good for the environment, too. With more and more vegetarian restaurants popping up and more veggie choices appearing on on menus, eating your greens has become easier. For moviegoers, there’s always Chimera at Greenbelt 3 for tofu ice cream and popcorn popped in olive oil. For comfort food that’s green but doesn’t taste like it, try Nomnomnom on the corner of E. Rodriguez and Tomas Morato. Try their Hemp Pasta, a pesto-like concoction that will leave you with a carb high. You can eat your fill and sleep on provided mats after.

Walk this way

Lots of clothing manufacturers are turning green, and footwear is following that path as well. If you’re worried about your carbon footprint, check out Simple shoes, which are made from recycled materials such as rubber tires, carpet padding, cotton and plastic. They have cute, cruelty-free designs that don’t rely on leather (the tanning process is a major pollutant). But more importantly, they look great in the summer.

Shop smart

More and more shops are carrying environmentally safe products. Aside from the ubiquitous Healthy Options in major department stores, there is also Ecomarket (ecomarket.multiply.com) in Market! Market! Ecomarket carries most of the products mentioned above, as well as other locally made, environmentally friendly products at reasonable prices. Cross over to the other side of the street and visit Echo Store in Serendra. Echo (which stands for environment, community, hope and organization) Store sells products from all over the country. It also shares space with Kape Isla, a coffee shop which aims to help local coffee regain is significance in the world market.

Just a few changes go a long way. And with the variety of earth-friendly products available today, caring for the planet need not be a stretch. Sometimes, all it takes is making the right choices. By taking the time to buy green, you’re taking care of Mother Earth, without sacrificing your style.