We’ve all got one – a little tube in the nightstand drawer, ready for those moments when our bodies seem to be failing at what they’re supposed to do naturally. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I’m just going to say it: vaginal dryness happens.

Maybe you’re on birth control pills, or maybe your man isn’t spending enough – ahem – quality time before the act itself takes place. But if you find yourself reaching for lubrication, stop and read those ingredients! You might be filling one of the most delicate parts of your body with a bunch of scary chemicals, and even affecting your fertility.

It’s all too easy to just grab whatever the most promising-looking plastic tube on the drugstore shelf. The labels on products like KY Jelly, Astroglide and Durex Play focus on adjectives like “sensual” and “warming”, not safety – and sometimes, ingredients aren’t even disclosed.

Here’s the thing about most conventional sex lubes:

Many contain parabens. KY brand lubricants – aside from the ‘sensitive’ version – contain parabens, a class of chemicals used as preservatives. Even the relatively natural-sounding brand ‘Phyto Soya’ is packed with practically every paraben in existence. Parabens are estrogen mimickers and have been linked to breast cancer. Chemicals like parabens are easily absorbed through the skin, and mucous membranes – like vaginal tissue – are even more susceptible.

They’re often petroleum-based. Any lubricant that lists mineral oil in its ingredient list is made from petrochemicals. An obvious offender is plain old petroleum jelly. If you like putting fossil fuels in your vagina, raise your hand! Yeah, that’s what I thought.

They can cause infection. Whenever you see glycerin or a word starting with “glycol” in the ingredients, you’ve got potential problems. These ingredients – common in lubes like Astroglide – are closely related to glucose, which means they’re a sugary feast for yeast. Not exactly sexy.

They affect fertility. If you’re trying to conceive, think twice about using any old lube. Studies show that lubricants like KY, Astroglide and FemGlide affect both sperm quality and motility, meaning they slow ‘em down and damage their DNA. While a product called “Pre-Seed” proved to be the most sperm-friendly, it does contain parabens, so it’s best not to use artificial lube at all if possible.

That doesn’t mean that just because you’re breastfeeding, going through menopause or taking antidepressants, you have to resign yourself to uncomfortable sex. Check out some of these alternatives:

Firefly Organics – Though not made for use with latex condoms (polyurethane is okay), Firefly Organics is a 100 percent natural, paraben-free personal lubricant made with sunflower seed extract, cocoa butter and shea butter.

Yes Lubricant – Yes brand lubricants come in both water- and oil-based varieties for latex condom compatibility. The oil-based product contains shea butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and vitamin E while the water-based product is made with aloe, guar gum, locust bean gum and flax extract.

Good Clean Love – Totally natural, organic and vegan, Good Clean Love lubricants come in naturally scented versions like lavender rose, almost naked with a touch of lemon and vanilla, and cinnamon vanilla – a spicy scent reminiscent of pumpkin pie, a scent that most men find sexy.

Coconut Oil – Some ladies swear by plain old virgin organic coconut oil as a sex lube, and though no studies have been done on its safety, it seems like a great choice. Coconut oil is naturally fungicidal, so nothing funky will grow in it (which is a common problem in any kind of lube). It’s also antibacterial and silky smooth, but avoiding it in conjunction with latex condoms is probably a good idea.

Image: Zawezome

It’s a goal of the green movement: Everyday access to healthier elements we can incorporate into our lives. Health and beauty is no exception, and you are officially out of excuses for not buying alternative pure and natural products over poison-filled cosmetics when you have the chance.

Here’s the glowing skinny on some easy stops – even your neighborhood drugstore  – where you can evolve into that easy, breezy, and synthetic-free, cover girl of your dreams.

CVS Pharmacy

Getting that prescription filled? Shop cosmetics and skincare while you are at it through the Beauty 360 assortment at this large drug emporium. Many of the products included meet a growing customer demand for healthier ingredients without phthalates and other dangerous chemicals to add scent or other agents. Among the featured goodies: 100 percent Pure body scrubs;  Plant Love eye pencils and bamboo shadows; and Marina Cosmetics Hydrating Lip Gloss.

2. Whole Foods

If you aren’t buying the benefits of mineral cosmetics, listen to this Whole Foods podcast. It explains how synthetics interfere with the immune system and preventing nasty skin reactions. I love the selection of natural make-ups, creams and elixirs at this marketplace – an obvious natural source for everything wholesome. You can get it all here, from baby balms to pure shampoos.

3. Walgreens

There used to be two of these drugstores on the avenue near my home. That’s how ubiquitous Walgreens has become! And oftentimes, I have picked up a Neutrogena mascara or an Almay eyeliner in a pinch, knowing the hypoallergenic brands are better than the alternative for people like me with sensitive skin. The drug outlet has also introduced pure creams like the Noah’s Naturals line, free of sulfates, parabens, propylene glycol, petrolatum, phthalates or animal by-products (and made without animal testing). It also sells some mineral shadows, although since they are made in China I’m wary of the purity.

4. Pharmaca

Located in various cities in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico, the  Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy functions like the typical pharmacy, only it fills holistic and alternative prescriptions alongside the traditional ones. But when it comes to cosmetics and body care, you will only find the cleanest brands made with natural herbs and minerals – like Jane Iredale blushes and Dr. Hauschka ultra-fine bronzer with jojoba oil and carrot extract. Find locations here.

5. Shop Online

An obvious choice for consumers who find it hard to get unplugged, there are sites like Tartecosmetics which offer one-stop surfing for everything from natural lip stains to anti-wrinkle foundation, eyeliners, mineral powder, bronzers, self-tanners and eye shadows. Company founder, Maureen Kelly, says she started out peddling natural products in her one bedroom apartment in 1999 when she couldn’t access nourishing cosmetics sans the synthetic formulas. Her motto: Be green, be smart, be tarte. Apparently, she has a Hollywood following among those hip to the healthy. There are tons of other brands out there you can locate with your search engine.

Image: hattiesburgmemory

Green girl Josie Maran has modeled for Glamour and Sports Illustrated and she’s appeared in films like The Aviator and Van Helsing. Now she’s an eco-entrepreneur whose eponymous cosmetic line is one of the best on the market.

What qualifies a model-actress to start her own makeup line? Models and actresses look fresh faced and makeup free for one reason – they are experts at applying makeup.

As Maran puts it, “When I began to land jobs, I discovered what a lot of girls already know: the power of makeup. I saw that a little could go a long way.”

After spending hundreds of hours in the makeup chair, she realized she was uniquely experienced to design her own line of healthy, natural cosmetics. And Josie Maran Cosmetics was born.

Recently, Maran shared some of her product and beauty tips from her fall line, exclusively for EcoSalon readers. Here’s what she had to say:

EcoSalon: A typical green girl might love makeup, but not love looking like she’s caked with it. What are your best tips for a natural look?

Josie Maran: You can achieve a natural look by using tinted day-cream instead of heavy foundation. Then, go in with a concealer to cover blemishes. For small areas use a pointy brush. This way you can place the concealer where it’s really needed.

Fall is here, bringing with it cooling temperatures and fading tans. What’s your best tip for transitioning our skin from the summer sun?

Smooth lips and hydrated skin are the ultimate foundation. Start your fall beauty routine with targeted moisture. This fall, balms are making a big comeback and my Argan Moisturizing Stick smooths chapped lips and hydrates dry, peeling skin. It targets areas that need moisture most, providing a smooth canvas to work with! And there are other fantastic balms to consider: Jurlique Love Balm and Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil.

What are the best eye shadow colors you recommend for fall? And more importantly, what are your tips for applying it?

This fall is all about a neutral color palette. Create a natural smoky eye with my favorite earthy shades (for this look think: soft brown, not harsh black). Start by sweeping a muted, light brown shade all over the lid. I love the Maple shade in my line of eye shadows.

Then blend a darker, smokier brown into the crease for a dramatic effect. Try my Eye Shadow in Smoke, or my personal favorite Chianti – it’s a rich brownish plum, perfect for fall Smudge a brown eye liner along the lashes to get the smoky effect. Finish the look with brown mascara.

Lastly, what do you recommend for lips?

Red lips, naturally! Red lips have been a huge hit on the runways. I wear mine naturally with paraben-free lipstick in Desirous and shine it up with Joie De Vivre lip gloss.

Josie Maran Cosmetics is made up of a 70-piece line for eyes, lips, cheeks, skin and more. It’s free of parabens, toxins and petrochemicals, and it contains a large percentage of natural and organic ingredients. The product line is available online, at Barneys in New York City and at Vert in Venice, CA. You can also find products at various Sephoras around the country.

Some of us like to wear makeup. And some of us like to wear makeup that doesn’t feel like makeup, especially the kind of makeup that gives you the “raccoon eyes after a night of crying at various sad pet movies” look. For example, I recently made the mistake of applying mascara and then watching Marley and Me. I looked like a cross between The Joker and Marilyn Manson when it was all over. Not so pretty!

And so, running mascara is one of my greatest fears. (You know, next to nuclear war and the end of cupcakes.) Why? My lineage is Whitey McWhite, so my un-mascara-ed eyelashes resemble something you might see on the Invisible Woman. I’m forced to wear it, and it almost always ends up running. The only brands that seem to actually stay on said eyelashes seem to be from the old-school makers like Maybelline. And who wants to put parabens and synthetic dyes on our eyelashes?

We tested some of the top organic and natural mascaras out there. And, neatly ranked from favorite to not-so-much, here’s what we found:

Mascara by Josie Maran

This is a fantastic mascara that darkens, lengthens and simply gets the job done. It doesn’t clump and it goes on smoothly. And best of all, it withstood the ultimate test: while wearing it, I watched the end of yet another pet tear-jerker My Dog Skip. (Have you seen this movie? Rent it immediately with plenty of recycled tissues.) My one beef with this product is that it is harder than others to remove. But just keep the organic make-up remover handy and you are fine. It isn’t 100% organic and does contain iron oxides, but the product is completely natural, being free of parabens and fragrance, plus it contains organic ingredients like jojoba oil, argan oil and beeswax.

Volume Mascara by Lavera

This product provides great coverage, length and color. And it makes some of us look like we actually have eyelashes! It doesn’t clump and it goes on smoothly. The only downside is that it runs after a few hours – but then, most mascaras do. This product is also not 100% organic, but it is completely natural. It is made with extracts of organic jojoba and wild rose oils and is free of paraben and heavy metals. It rinses off with a mild cleanser and is vegan-approved, too!

Lash Masque by Lamas

This product is not a mascara, but a “unique formula [that] darkens lashes with non-irritating color from all natural ingredients without the harsh chemicals that cause premature breakage and irritation.” Great. But does it work? Well, I was a little slow on the uptake in realizing this wasn’t a mascara, and so I walked around wearing it as such. It does darken your lashes and it does stay on. In fact, it is a good choice if you just want subtle color as it sort of acts like “mousse” for your eyelashes. It claims to be “a perfect choice for natural looking lash definition during the day.” And I would have to agree with that.  This product is paraben free and formulated with organic botanicals.

Organic Mascara by Nvey

Nvey of the fantastic, best-on-the-market-organic lipsticks doesn’t quite hit the mark with their mascara. It takes several applications to go on. Thinking I had a dry tube, I emailed the company. According to the friendly Nvey rep, “our mascara is definitely a drier formula than many of the chemically based mascaras and natural mascaras on the market. However, the pigment actually instant adheres better to the lashes without a drier effect to the actual lashes, but rather a moisturizing and conditioning formula to lengthen and strengthen the lashes.” Lesson learned: if you have thin lashes like mine, this is not the product for you. But I had a thicker-lashed friend try it out, and she liked it. So there you go. This product is free of parabens, propylene glycol and sodium laureth sulfate. It contains nettle, horsetail herb and vitamin B5.

Main image: partycja

Someone famous once said, “A good organic facial cleanser can solve any problem.” (I can’t remember who said it, but that has Eleanor Roosevelt all over it, no?) But why is going organic in your cleanser important?

First, it can improve your skin tone, and this is essential for greenies who don’t like to wear too much makeup. It’s the first thing you’ll put on your face in the morning, so you’ll want it to be pure. Furthermore, organic ingredients have been known reduce free radical damage. Free radicals are pollution, sun, and all the rest of the bad stuff that ages your skin. And finally, if you go organic, you can also be sure your ingredients are purer, harvested with a lower eco-footprint, don’t contain harmful petroleum chemicals, and are cruelty-free. So check out our look at some of the best organic cleansers out there.

Rose Foaming Face Wash from John Masters Organics

Light, subtle, and simple, this face wash was fantastic. Out of all the cleansers I tried, this product best combined everything you want in a face wash. First, the scent was lovely. It had a subtle rose fragrance that didn’t overpower. Second, it passed the squeaky clean test. Meaning, it left my face feeling tight and clean. Third, it softened my skin. It is made from steam-distilled essential rose oil, and it is best for those with normal to dry skin. And finally, it is certified by the National Organic Program, meaning it is made from organic ingredients and contains no parabens, petro-chemicals, and artificial or synthetic materials.

Light Cleansing Lotion from Kimberly Sayer

This is another great cleanser, offering up a pleasant, lemony smell.  It also scored high on the fresh factor – it left my face feeling crisp and tight. Why am I speaking like faces should be treated as salads in the crisper? Because at minimum, most of us apply a moisturizer (with SPF!) after washing our faces, and most of us don’t want our face to feel like we’re excavating through layers of silt by the time we apply our makeup. This soy-based product is best for combination, oily and blemish-prone skin. And it is made with certified organic ingredients.

Linden Blossom Face Crème Cleanser from John Masters Organics

Again, John Masters Organics scores with another fantastic cleanser. With a light floral scent, it leaves you with the feeling you’ve just bathed your face in blossoms – and who hasn’t fantasized about some ancient Roman-style floral bath every morning? Okay, maybe it’s just me. This product is great for dry skin, as it is more moisturizing than the other cleansers. But it still leaves your face feeling fresh. Due to the higher moisturizing factor, this NOP-certified product is great for winter or for those with dry skin.

Organic Face Wash from Juice Beauty

This was a bit thicker than other cleansers, so a little goes a long way. It could leave your skin a little waxy if you use too much, so heed the warning. The scent was a bit medicinal, but it wasn’t overpowering or offensive. More important, it left my skin feeling hydrated, soft and moisturized. For all skin types, this product is 95% organic.

Creamy Face Cleanser from Kiss My Face

If you have dry skin – or live in the Arctic – this is a great cleanser for you.  It is very thick and felt a bit like washing with a moisturizer. I had to scrub to get it all off. (And then scrub an hour later when I discovered it caked around my ears.) But if you have dry skin, this could be a positive. The scent was a bit intense. It was supposed to be vanilla and tangerine, but it smelled more like vitamins to me. It contains natural and certified organic ingredients and no artificial colors or unnecessary chemicals.