8/26/09

Think recycled glass the next time you need wineglasses, tumblers, plates and bowls. Many discount furnishing stores sell a variety of tabletop items made from post-consumer recycled glass, which is collected from curbside pickup. You can usually identify recycled glass two ways: Most have a greenish tint to the finish or have a small sticker with the word "RECYCLED" on it. And recycled glass is affordable, so being ecological is economical, too.

8/25/09

When you find the perfect shade of lipstick, don't toss out the tube when it's time to get a new one. Look for refillable cases that let you unscrew the old lipstick and replace it with a new one. Aveda (www.aveda.com) sells a refillable kit that's also made from a resin of natural materials and a high percentage of recycled aluminum.

8/24/09

If you just can't live without your favorite sunscreen, organic shampoo or moisturizer on the road, it might be time to pull out that infomercial splurge: the vacuum food sealer. Originally designed to vacuum-seal food by sucking out air to help lessen spoilage, these machines (and the accompanying bags) can also be used to create individual-sized servings of beauty products for travel. Just heat and seal the bags into smaller compartments, squeeze your favorite product in, and then heat-seal closed. No muss, no fuss.