In addition to the Green Movement in Beauty, there is also a separate movement to give back to charities and you can now accomplish both.  We have tracked down 5 amazing green beauty brands  making beautiful, healthy products that generously give back to their communities. 

MAYA CHIA

About the brand: Maya Chia is a clean beauty line which uses a patented process to extract the oil called “supercritical extraction.”  This gentle solvent-free and oxygen-free process results in an oil with a total absence in chemical residues and impurities and most closely mirrors the chemical profile of the plant.  This process provides you with the best, purest, most stable, effective and potent chia oil on the market – not to mention it deeply moisturizes, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and leaves your skin looking like a million bucks.  Extra bonus, it carries up to a 2-year shelf life.

Their mission: It only seems natural for Maya Chia to give back to the Mayan people of Central and South America who have revered the little chia seed that makes their products so amazing. Maya Chia donates a portion of the net profits to charitable organizations that help build schools and farms for the Mayan people.

Our pick: The Supercritical Chia Waterless Wonder Balm.  This multi-purpose wonder balm spot treatment heals to nourish and hydrate any winter worry spots from your feet to your elbows.  The delicate orange blossom is perfect for daily use and the adorable size is ideal to toss in your purse. 

CONSCIOUS COCONUT

About the brand: Conscious Coconut’s certified USDA Organic Coconut Oil is crafted using the traditional cold-pressed method, guaranteeing that it is never exposed to any harsh chemicals and ensuring that it retains its natural powerful antioxidants and anti-fungal effects.

Their mission:  Conscious Coconut doesn’t just consider themselves a brand, they truly believe they are a social enterprise fueled by love and paying it forward and giving back – and we couldn’t agree more!  They work directly with farmers and suppliers supporting fair trade practices and then take it one step further by partnering with MacDonald Training Center who works with adults with developmental disabilities to package their products.  A commitment to childhood hunger is also a focus for the brand - for every purchase, a child is given a meal through Feeding America food banks. 

Our pick: Looking for one product to do everything? One tube of Conscious Coconut can literally be used from your toes to your nose – for all things itchy, dry, sore, this go-to product can remove makeup, moisturize, whiten teeth and even dee-fizz and add shine to your hair.  Dare we say it’s a little miracle?

RAHUA

The brand: Rahua by Amazon Beauty’s story began thousands of years ago deep in the Amazon rainforest where the women of the Quechua-Shuar tribe discovered the beautifying properties of the Rahua oil. The fortifying and shine-inducing effects of Rahua on the skin, quickly solidified its place in Amazonian beauty rituals for centuries.  The secret to Rahua's outstanding performance lies in the science of its molecular structure.  The Rahua oil molecule deeply penetrates the hair’s cortex – bonding and repairing it – while simultaneously smoothing the hair’s cuticle, making it highly effective for repairing dry, damaged hair, resulting in healthy and lustrous hair.

Their mission: Rahua and Amazon Beauty® Inc. have committed themselves to building sustainable communities and creating learning centers within the Amazon rainforest.  They also support a sister organization Ecoagents.org which is preserving the Amazon Rainforest and works closely with Landislife.org defending indigenous peoples’ rights for self determination. Their latest project is cleaning the natural habitat for the flamingos in the Galapagos Islands with The Pink Flamingos Project and each purchase helps support these causes.

Our pick: Rahua Classic Shampoo if you want that ‘Amazonian goddess; I woke up looking like this’ look!

VIOLETS ARE BLUE SKINCARE

The brand: Violets Are Blue was created from the founder’s personal need for skincare that is natural and safe for the body as well as the environment. After a devastating breast cancer diagnosis in 2011, founder Cynthia Besteman sought the truth about toxins in our environment and after learning about the way our bodies can manifest problems as a result of our lifestyles and the products we use, Cynthia switched to a purely organic lifestyle.  In 2013 Violets Are Blue was established, allowing Cynthia to apply her knowledge and passion for naturally-derived skincare ingredients to formulate a consciously-produced line of products.  Violets Are Blue operates under the philosophy that skincare does not have to be complicated; in fact, keeping it simple is best.

Their mission: Cynthia has continued her cause to promote an organic lifestyle and has  partnered with Mount Sinai’s Dubin Breast Cancer Center in NYC to provide women going through chemotherapy with a Violets Are Blue gift set on their first day.   You can even donate towards a package or purchase one for someone you love.

Our pick: Always in need of a healthy glow, we love the Facial Serum made with Evening Primrose, Argan, Rosehip Oil, Jojoba and a handful of essential oils such as Carrot Seed and Lavender.

AU NATURALE COSMETICS

The brand: Au Naturale Cosmetics is the brainchild of founder Ashley Prange, who was working as an analyst in D.C. when she decided that going "au naturale" [sans makeup] shouldn't be her only way to avoid breakouts & irritation.  She did her research and set out to create makeup that would leave her skin as happy as it was after a week of nakedness. Her founding mission was to use exclusively healthy, natural & ethically sourced ingredients that would provide her with a replacement for each and every product in her current beauty routine.

Their mission: The founder of this made-in-Wisconsin-brand has made it her mission to open Congress’ eyes to the lack of regulation in the beauty industry and the over saturation of harmful ingredients, lobbying congress to make better laws regarding the use of safe ingredients in beauty, cosmetics and personal care products where harmful ingredients which are banned in the E.U are still approved in the US.

Our pick: As if the name wasn’t reason enough, the long-lasting power and rich color make it a daily staple on our pout! Our favorite - Cha-Cha Eternity Lipstick.