DIY Bitches

With all the skincare revelations this week, my mind went back to Vert and their singular focus on chemical-free products.

I'm not saying that banishing chemicals from our beauty potions isn't important--not with this Hypochondria Black Belt stylishly cinching my waist. (And let's not forget the baby animals--chemicals in cosmetics also run into water bodies, threatening cute sea dwellers and their habitats.) But I guess the thing that really bothers me is the rampant use of "eco" as an implied synonym for "expensive" and "luxury". Yes, many legitimately sustainable products, like local organic produce, are more expensive because their real cost isn't subsidized by industry. But it seems more often than not these days, marketers are making sure our good intentions turn a handsome profit.

Of course, it stings all the more because I fell right into the Greensumption trap with Jurlique. (I'm still clutching those bottles as I dream of an idyllic farm in South Australia.) As much as I love the products, and as much as I believe the company is legitimately committed to sustainability, it's not local, it's too expensive, and what's more, it still contains some itchy-sounding stuff.

So it is with high hopes that I go into tomorrow night's soirée. Using 17 truly natural ingredients (not one of which is patchouli), we're going to cover the entire skincare spectrum, from makeup removal to exfoliation, masks, toning and moisturizer. It might be a disaster. But if we're lucky, it'll be an affordable, empowering eco solution. No matter what, it's going to be fun.