An Organic Makeover

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Until then, smart shoppers can enliven their spring makeup bags with an organic makeover, reading the fine print and avoiding The Green Guide's Dirty Dozen chemicals (download the Dirty Dozen Smart Shopper's Card) and undefined, unreliable labels (download our Non-Food Labels Smart Shopper's Card) commonly associated with cosmetics. To get you started, we've uncovered some of the safest and most stylish products around.

Lips

Who doesn't love a good lip balm or a sexy lipstick? But many lip products are petroleum-based, which depletes a non-renewable resource, and petrolatum can cause allergic reactions. Avoid potentially hormone-disrupting benzophenone compounds in lip products with SPF, and watch out for phenol, a common lip-balm ingredient that can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness and kidney and liver damage when absorbed or ingested in high concentrations, according to the EPA. Instead, create a safe—and sexy—pout with these:

Perfect Organics Super Moisturizing Shea Butter Balm ($3.99) and Vegan Lip and Cheek Shimmers ($18.99; www.perfectorganics.com, 800-653-1078); Suncoat Natural Lip Shimmer ($8.99; www.suncoatproducts.com, 519-780-0149); Carol's Daughter Natural Shine for Lips ($6; www.carolsdaughter.com, 877-540-2101); Dr. Hauschka Novum Lipgloss ($16.95; www.drhauschka.com, 800-247-9907); Gabriel Cosmetics Lipstick ($12.95) and Lipliners ($9; www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com, 800-497-6419); Earth's Beauty Sheer Lip Glaze ($11.95, www.earthsbeauty.com, 888-586-9719).

Face

Among the problematic ingredients in foundations, concealers, powders and blushes are paraben and formaldehyde-based preservatives. Both have been shown to irritate skin, and the known carcinogen formaldehyde, present in small amounts in preservatives such as DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium-15, can evaporate from liquid products. Synthetic fragrances, often used to mask the chemical odor of some products, may contain hormone-disrupting phthalates. Choose the following safer products:

Foundations and Powders

Real Purity Crème Foundation ($23.99) and Powder Blush ($12.99; www.realpurity.com, 800-253-1694); Zuzu Luxe Oil-free Liquid Foundation ($22.95) and Blush ($14.85; www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com, 800-497-6419); Dr. Hauschka Translucent Make-up ($32.50) and Rouge Powder ($26; www.drhauschka.com, 800-247-9907); Earth's Beauty Satin Powder SPF 15 ($24.95) and loose powder Mineral Colours Blush ($11.50; www.allnaturalcosmetics.com, 888-586-9719); Miessence Bronzing Dust ($25.95; bodysoul.mionegroup.com); Aveda Uruku Cheek-Lip cream ($14; www.aveda.com).

Concealer

Gabriel Cosmetics Concealer ($11.50; www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com, 800-497-6419); Earth's Beauty Undereye Light Concealer ($12.95; www.earthsbeauty.com, 888-586-9719)