From The Straits Times    |

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque In honour of the 42nd edition of international environment awareness event Earth Day on April 22, Relaxnews looks at what some of the world’s biggest beauty brands have planned to help protect the planet.

On April 18 ethical beauty brand The Body Shop announced new initiative Wood Positive, aiming to ensure the company plants and protects more trees than it uses in its supply chain. The company will also continue its commitment to only using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) derived resources for packaging and reducing packaging altogether when possible. Shoppers will be able to identify Wood Positive products thanks to its logo appearing on products that use paper-based packaging at The Body Shop.

Other companies focusing on preserving natural resources include Yves Rocher, which has a goal of planting 50 million trees by 2014. Consumers can get involved too, as for every item sold in selected categories such as the Jardins du Monde Vetiver from Haiti shower gel and the Radiance Shampoo, Yves Rocher promises to plant a tree.

Hair care brand Phyto is also pledging to plant trees through its partnership with the Nature Conservancy, and for each of its limited edition Phytopolleine Universal Scalp Elixirs that is sold in the US, US$2 will be donated to restoring trees in the Atlantic Forest.

Philosophy GreenAlso in the US, Origins will allow shoppers to exchange their used skincare containers for a free moisturiser (either the A Perfect World or Starting Over variety).

Cosmetics giant Kiehl’s has teamed up with celebrities including Florence Welch, Rosario Dawson, Spike Lee and Mark Ruffalo, who have each designed packaging for limited editions of its Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque. The masks are made with fairly traded white clay from Brazil’s Amazon River, with proceeds going to the Recycle Across America scheme. Meanwhile at www.philosophy.com you can find Philosophy’s 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath called Green. This firstly helps the environment by cutting down on packaging, and net proceeds from sales go to the Rainforest Foundation.

Finally, natural-focused beauty brand Aveda is offering a limited edition Light the Way Earth Month scented candle, from which 100% of the purchase price will go towards Global Greengrands Fund (GGF) water-related projects. –AFP RELAXNEWS