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Nature lovers: you'll help nurture the earth as well as your skin and hair when choosing goods from these purveyors

Vegetarian Times, April, 2008 by Amy Spitalnick

It's only right to give back to Mother Nature. She's the source, after all, of all those potions we slather on or lather up, in hopes of reflecting her beauty. In honor of Earth Day, we're highlighting skin and hair care companies that support efforts to keep her healthy and preserve her infinite variety.

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(1) SHEA TERRA ORGANICS

PLEDGE To donate 5 percent of proceeds from its Miombo Mango line to rain forest conservation. Also, to give $1 from the sale of each product to help fund the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, safeguarding gorillas and their habitats in Africa.

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ONE TO TRY Miombo Mango Indigenous Shea Body Butter, featuring a skin-healing herbal blend, $18; sheaterraorganics.com

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(2) DERMA E

PLEDGE To earmark 1 percent of profits from its Organic Expressions line for its Paraguay Project, which includes Guyra Paraguay, a program dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats. Also, to contribute regularly to groups such as the World Wildlife Fund.

ONE TO TRY Organic Expressions Intensive Night Creme, an olive-based skin nourisher, $29.50; dermae.net

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(3) SURYA BRASIL

PLEDGE To fully fund and administer the Mateiro School Project, which conducts classes in the Amazon to train researchers, ecological guides, and harvesters to become experts in minimizing human impact on the rain forest.

ONE TO TRY Amazonia Preciosa Revitalizing Hair Mask, lush with cupuacu, $12.95; suryacosmetics.com

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(4) JOHN PAUL MITCHELL SYSTEMS

PLEDGE To contribute a portion of sales of its Tea Tree line to American Forests' Global ReLeaf and Wildfire ReLeaf programs, devoted to helping keep the planet green. Also through American Forests, to fund the planting of trees to offset all carbon emissions from the manufacture and distribution of Tea Tree products.

ONE TO TRY Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Conditioner, an energizing herbal treat, $9.99; paulmitchell.com

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(5) COLLECTIVE WELLBEING

PLEDGE As a member of 1% for the Planet, to give at least 1 percent of sales to environmental causes. Also, through the company's CollectiveCare program, to pool a portion of revenues from each product into a fund, which is donated twice a year to nonprofits (e.g., the Nature Conservancy) that win consumers' votes.

ONE TO TRY Enemy of Frizz, rich with illipe nut butter, $12; collectivewellbeing.com

Plant This!

The Pangea Organics skin care line gives back to the earth-literally. Simply soak the 100 percent postconsumer newsprint packaging for a minute, then plant it about an inch deep in soil. In a few weeks, amaranth or sweet basil will be yours! Pangea Organics founder and CEO Joshua Onysko says that driving across the desert inspired him to design packaging to get people to think more about where it goes after it's used. Something to ponder as you stir your very own fresh-picked basil into pasta sauce.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MINDEE CHOI

Nature lovers: you'll help nurture the earth as well as your skin and hair when choosing goods from these purveyors

Vegetarian Times, April, 2008 by Amy Spitalnick

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