Concerned about safety and the environment, many women are embracing "natural beauty." Check out these easy ways to start going green.

For most women, the term natural beauty might seem like something of a misnomer. After all, women spend an estimated $200 billion annually on cosmetics--substances that are specially designed to beautify, promote attractiveness, or alter appearance, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That figure hardly sounds like a ringing endorsement for embracing the natural look.

Increasingly, though, concerns about the safety of standard cosmetics and the impact they may have on the environment have prompted consumers to seek out eco-friendly alternatives. In fact, according to the U.S. Market for Natural Personal Care Products, the natural and organic cosmetics market is expected to reach $5.8 billion this year--an average growth rate of about 9 percent a year since 2003.

Want to start going green with your beauty regimen? Follow these eight easy guidelines.

 Make it yourself.
One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to go green is to create your own beauty products. And in many cases, you'll find all the ingredients you need right in your own refrigerator or cupboards. For an easy at-home facial mask, combine one tablespoon of yogurt with a teaspoon of honey, apply, and remove after 15 minutes. For a brightening hair rinse, mix one egg with a tablespoon of olive oil and a quarter of peeled cucumber; let sit for 10 minutes, and rinse.

 Conserve, conserve, conserve.
It may sound simple, but by making minor changes to your daily beauty regimen, you can conserve natural resources. When showering or washing your hair, be conscious of the amount of water you use, and consider investing in a low-flow showerhead. Instead of using standard incandescent light bulbs when applying your makeup, switch to compact fluorescent bulbs--they use two-thirds less energy and last 10 times longer.

 Reuse and recycle.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 2 billion disposable razors wind up in landfills every year. To minimize the impact on the environment, choose a razor that allows you to change the blades (instead of regularly tossing a plastic, non-biodegradable razor into the trash) or better yet, invest in an electric razor. In addition, consider switching to recycled plastic bags for makeup storage and recycled toilet paper for makeup removal.

 Don't be cruel.
While many cosmetics companies have adopted cruelty-free policies, there are still brands that regularly test on animals. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the safety testing of chemicals and consumer products currently accounts for about 10 percent to 20 percent of the use of animals in laboratories, or approximately 2 to 4 million animals in the United States. For more information on which brands and products test on animals, visit the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) online.

 Learn the language.
Currently, cosmetics companies aren't required to meet any formal standards to use the term natural on their labels. For that reason, many critics claim that the natural-cosmetics market is just a pretty marketing ploy. The term organic, however, is regulated by the USDA's National Organic Program and may only appear on products that conform to manufacturing regulations established by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). For more information on organic standards, visit the NOSB's website.

Beware of parabens.
Most natural beauty gurus urge consumers to watch out for parabens, which some experts believe may disrupt hormone function and contribute to breast cancer. These are most often found in shampoos, shower gels, shaving creams, and lotions, and are usually listed on labels as methylparaben, ethylparaben, p-propylparaben, isobutylparaben, n-butylparaben, or benzylparaben.
Ditch the DBP.
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) has long been a staple in nail polish, hairspray, and sunscreen. But in recent years, studies have linked DBP to cancer in lab animals and to fetal-development problems, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. As such, many brands have started removing DBP from their products. Some cosmetics, however, still contain the ingredient, so be sure to look at the label.

 Read the finer print.
In addition to parabens and DBP, there are several controversial ingredients that are prompting some women to think twice about their purchases. Although study findings have been mixed, most consumer advocate groups encourage consumers to research the health effects of aluminum, petroleum, sulfates, nitrates, and propylene glycol. As always, it's best to talk to your doctor about any safety concerns you may have.

Overcoming racism can be difficult, but you have to change your attitude. If you can do that, you're all set.

Think what really makes you different from another race, and in what ways you are alike.
Encourage your family and friends to respect other races.
Make friends with other races; usually when you like someone that's a different race, you will respect that race because you like the person.
Don't shy away from learning about other cultures or races.
Forget stereotypes; everyone is different. Some people do fit the stereotype, but the majority of people are different.
If you meet someone of a different race that you hate, dislike, or don't care for, you don't have to disrespect their race, just disrespect that person (everyone has issues with other people at some point).

Encourage those who make racist comments around you to stop.. that may make them realize how bad it sounds and stop altogether.
Try to not refer another race as "them," "they," or "it."
Avoid using slang terms for other races.
Don't be friends with people that disrespect other races it could make a bad image for you.
Remember this " we all bleed red"

If you are one of the millions of people in the world who want to try and rid your American state of the cruel and inhumane act of capital punishment, then this article will give you ideas and explanations which may work in your defence. There are no guarentees that these steps will make your state free of this punishment, but if you try your very best, you will most likely get the results you want.

Before you even start your campaign, you need to understand the basic root of the capital punishment. Do your homework, and make sure you know why you are about to take action against this. You need to practically everything, from which crimes can be punishable by death, to the method(s) of capital punishment used in your state.
Have you ever heard the saying "There is no I in team"? In order to make your point get across, you need the most important ingredient - people! Some ways to get people to join you is by an internet petition or a radio broadcast. If using the internet, e-mail the news around to people at work or school. Only humans can get word round about things like this, so make sure you e-mail as many people as is humanly possible!
Find out who it is you need to have your debate with. Arrange an appointment with the people in charge of your state, and do not give up! If they turn you down, keep bugging them! This is all about showing them how much of a strong believer you are and you will not get down and stay there without a fight! If you still cannot talk to anyone, write a letter. Make several copies that you can repeatedly send should no one get back to you.
Now you need to make a speech or conduct your letter. Make it clear what you and your followers want, and that you won't stop until your wishes have been met! Include things like "Two wrongs don't make a right","You can't teach killing is wrong by killing" and "Killing a criminal is the easiest way out for them. Make them live with what they've done. Remind them everyday for the rest of your lives". You could always get someone with an English qualification to write things up for you. Show them a petition to increase your chance of getting what everyone wants!
Once you have written your letter/speech, all you have to do is wait. It may be days, weeks or months. Tell yourself and your team you have tried your best and won't stop until you win!
If your requests are rejected, keep trying. It takes a winner to get up after they've been knocked down.


If all else fails, protest! Say you won't be moved until you and your followers get what was asked for!