Going green needn't be a full blown effort at living a hippy lifestyle. These days, 'green' means being kind to yourself and to the environment and doesn't need to be radical - especially when it comes to beauty!

So many skincare, hair care and makeup companies have ditched harmful chemicals in favour of natural and organic ingredients, which make it that much easier to opt for greener choices for your beauty cupboard. But there are plenty of other easy ways to incorporate the 'green is good' philosophy into your daily beauty routine (without cracking eggs or other food ingredients into your hair mask at home!). Read on for simple tips that will give you a green boost without much effort...

1. Know your ingredients

With more and more beauty giants going green, it is easier to understand what ingredients are in our products. However, there are probably heaps of ingredients in your makeup case whose uses or inclusions (let alone names) might baffle you; most of you probably know what Aloe Vera, is and does but many wouldn't have a clue about Acetic Acid. And neither did I! That is, until I looked it up in Paula's Choice Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary. This glossary of ingredients is super helpful for deciphering what's really included in your beauty loot. It also shows which ingredients are proven, which ones aren't that great and which ones the jury is still out on. Check it out next time you can't pronounce one of the names on the back of your moisturiser/foundation/cleanser (insert beauty product name here) because it is always a good thing educating yourself about what goes on your skin. Of course, when in doubt, look for all natural products like luk's lip nourish lippies - which are made of food ingredients, so you know exactly what is in them!

2. Choose reusable over disposable and products that go the distance

Reuseable products not only contribute to less landfill but also contribute a little more cash to your wallet too! Look for razors with refill blades, or hair ties that last longer than one wear before snapping. Wash your strands on alternate days, and use a great dry shampoo on your days off, to save time and all those etxra litres of water! Also, reach for handy beauty tools that you can use again and again like Eyelure's Ready to Wear false lashes, or Hollywood Feet Cushions.

3. Use more multipurpose makeup

There are heaps of reasons to use multipurpose products and makeup is one of the best beauty buys with more than one use. They save time (searching for multiple products) money (you only have to buy one compared to, perhaps, 3 products) and energy (less effort spent digging around in your cosmetics case, finding what you need!). But they also help you stay on good terms with the environment. Our top stash of multipurpose makeup? MeMeMe's Cheek and Lip Tint, Savoir Faire Concealer and Finishing Powder and Bloom's Cream Blush Duo.

4. Be shower savvy

Like the old Seasame Street song goes 'Don't... waste... water. Water. Water. Water. Water. Water' (What can I say? Those catchy pre-school tunes had a way of sticking with me!). But those Muppets were right! The less water you use on a daily basis, the better. One of the biggest water wasting components of a beauty routine is shower time. Especially if you shave your legs. To save water, try waiting until the very end of your shower. You should be nice and warm from the steam - not to mention your hairs will be a little softer and your hair follicles opened up, which makes for a cleaner and smoother shave - so you can make the effort of turning off the water for a minute or two once you've lathered up and are ready to de-fuzz.

Another handy water saving tip I've found is to use a spare makeup wipe to wash your hands as you apply your makeup. I use the top of my hand as a palette for all the primer, foundation, concealer, illuminator and liquid blush I use when getting ready, and washed my hand in between almost every new product application (so that my illumintor doesn't mix with my foundation etc) Now, I simply use one makeup wipe to remove each round of residule product. With just one wipe, I turn the tap on at least 4 times less than before. Winner! It might sound like a small change, but every little bit helps, right? Make sure you use biodegradable and compostable wipes for an even greener conscience. We love Wotnot Facial Wipes which are also composed of certified organic, natural ingredients.

5. If all else fails, pick just one...

Want to know the easiest way of going greener? Simply pick on product you use all the time and make sure it is natural. It might be your cleanser (try emerginC's Kombucha Cleanser), your moisturiser (like Aveeno's Daily Moisturising Lotion) or even your shampoo (we love Aurora Spa's Rose Otto & Nettle Clarifying Shampoo)

With just one small change, you are doing your face a whole lot of good! Not to mention the environment. Afterall, the less harsh chemicals on peoples faces, means less demand for them... and less production in general. Both your pretty mug and ol' mother nature deserve it!

There you have it. 5 easy ways to be a true friend to the environment!

What are your eco-friendly beauty tips? Do you have a favourite 'green' beauty product? Don't keep it all to yourself - spill! - Lauren

(Pictures courtesy of pinterest, tresspassmag.com, cosmopolitan.com)