cosmetics underground/late Earth Day post

[anotheranon]

Results of self-care upgrade: I'm reminded that sometimes costlier cosmetics ARE better, if only because they're more concentrated/dense so though they cost twice as much, they also last twice as long.

I now have an odorless cleanser that works on my whole face, instead of leaving my cheeks too dry or my nose too oily, and makeup (mineral) that goes on evenly and makes my skin look clearer but not pancaked (still hanging onto Studio Fix for travel) and that ALSO doesn't smell. The body buff bar is still by far the standout - it has a (not too unpleasant) smell but the results are profound and immediate. Rock on.

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This essay has a number of interesting observations about the gendering of environmentalism, but I'm focusing on the gendering of the work involved in "going green". Short version: a lot of the work involved (eco-friendly cleaning products, organic grocery shopping, etc.) is traditionally "woman's work". Interestingly, it also involves a lot of shopping for more efficient/natural/cleaner things.

I admit I've been thinking about reducing my carbon footprint of late, but I'm finding that getting serious would eat time like I wouldn't believe. I've more or less given up on regular farmer's marketing for some of the reasons cited in the article (restricted hours, learning curve to cook only what's in season) plus the fact I'd burn more gas getting to one with a decent selection than I'd ever save by just going to the local grocery. I do have the reusable bags though, when I remember I've got them :/

Re: buying greener products - it might be cleaner but it's still going to wind up in a landfill sometime. There's something to be said for "use it up, wear it out, make do or do without", and this is part of the reason I'm not eager to replace appliances at the first scratch or tear. I've taped the little plastic "handle" thingy back on my percolator more times than I can count, because it's the only part that doesn't work - the rest is all steel and has outlasted any of the 3-4 plastic coffee makers I've killed in the last couple of years :P

I suppose my new cosmetics are kinda green, as I'm going to use them all up, and because they work I'll have fewer bottles of junk that didn't work out lying around. Mostly though, I think that's 1) furious rationalizing and 2) attempting to link the 2 halves of this post :P

Comments

[geekchick]

Which cleanser did you settle on? That sounds like the Holy Grail right there. ;)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Kinerase Gentle Cleanser (and I'm not the only one (http://www.kinerasereview.com/kinerase-gentle-daily-cleanser/)).

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

I've gotten used to reusing my shopping bags, whether or not they are the officially reusable kind. If a bag doesn't have a hole in it, it gets used until it does. I try to keep a bunch in each of the cars and at the house. I walk to the store as much as possible.

I'd go to a farmers' market if there was one close by and decent but I haven't found one. Mind you, I'm willing to accept that I have been spoiled for farmers' markets. When we lived in Rochester, NY, one of the few things I liked was the local farmers' market. We were as close to it as we were the local grocery store and I could get just about everything except staples like mac 'n' cheese, milk, and flour. It made shopping fun! It was an adventure.

Around here the farmers' markets are shi-shi yuppy suburbanite wastes of time. I try to buy stuff in season. I'm better with fruits than with veg, though strawberries are a real weakness.

I figure that I'm driving an 8 year old car, but only to the metro and back most days, walk to the grocery store, except if I'm buying something heavy, reuse bags, switched from using baggies regularly to reusable bins (many of which used to contain things like yougurt and cream cheese), bring my plastic bottles home from work to recycle, and drink tap water. I'm doing better than average (maybe even better than most) and I'm not going sweat the stuff I'm not perfect at.

Besides, I really think it's better for me to walk to Giant, buy out of season strawberries, and carry them home in my cloth bag than it is for those in their SUVs to drive to the farmers' market and buy them in season. O_o

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I love the IDEA of farmer's markets not just for the eco-responsibility - I find most grocery shopping drudge work and really fresh/novel things might make it interesting again.

I am fortunate enough to live across the street from both an independent and an Indian grocery - neither have everything but between them they have plenty, and in nice weather I can (and do) walk there.