From hair products to pedicures, discover eco-beauty buys for Earth month

We really should be thinking eco-beauty all year long, but when April rolls around, we turn the green glamometer up a notch. Here are a few places and products to explore for organic beauty that’ll keep us glowing naturally.

Eco-friendly mani-pedi

There’s absolutely no question about the authenticity of good-for-you green products and services at One Green Street, Houston’s destination for organic products of all kinds. Owner Sherry Eichberger is passionate about eco-friendly living and looking good while you do it and has created a cozy space for eco-friendly manicures and pedicures in the store.

Licensed manicurist Yuliana De La Rosa offers mani/pedis Friday and Saturdays by appointment. De La Rosa works with only 100-percent certified organic products, including soy-based nail polish remover. She also offers a wide range of polish colors by Priti NYC that are non-toxic and made without toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DHB) and formaldehyde. De La Rosa says the manicures last three to four weeks. Manicures start at $22 and pedicures start at $35.

Naturopathica facial

When I hear Hotel ZaZa, I think of champagne in the Magnificent Seven suites, raucous weekend brunch and poolside parties, but there’s a softer, much more relaxing side of the whimsical hotel within ZaSpa. The spa recently partnered with Enchantment Group and is introducing a refreshed spa services menu and selection of products, including Naturopathica, a certified natural and organic skincare line.

I have my dermatologist on speed dial and get a little nervous when anything is put on my super-sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, but I found my skin loved the Naturopathica products during a recent facial at ZaSpa. I’m especially hooked on the Naturopathica Carrot Seed Smoothing Serum and the post-treatment oxygen beds at ZaSpa. The influx of pure oxygen is an invigorating way to wake up after zenning out in post-massage bliss.

Holistic retreat

Typically I dread summer in Houston, but knowing the Deer Lake Lodge, a 50-acre holistic retreat, detox spa and wellness resort, is opening in just a few months, somehow the impending heat and humidity are more bearable.

The resort is truly an eco-conscious oasis, from the natural and recycled building materials to the organic facial, pedicure, manicure and exfoliation treatments. The Deer Lake Lodge is also offering yoga, colonics, meditation and a heated saltwater pool at the location 40 minutes from Houston.

Ammonia-free hair coloring

Nobody wants to leave the salon with green hair, but giving your hair the green treatment, well, that’s another issue. Dot Dot Salon uses non-toxic, organic-based, ammonia-free hair coloring services as well as certified organic styling products.

Organic hair and makeup experience

Organic Envy Salon in north Houston is another green beauty destination for those looking for organic hair and makeup experience. Owner Cristine Berensohn works with products free of ammonia, parabens and plastics.

Organic body care line

You may wants to take a few deep, cleansing breaths when using Aveda’s new Stress Fix collection of body products. The certified-organic products contain ingredients including French-sourced lavender, lavandin and clary sage from small organic farms.

The Stress Fix mixes the science of aromaology and pure essential oils and offers up body lotion ($28), soaking salts ($40) and a concentrated oil for $22.

Good Karma makeup brushes

Urban Decay’s selection of Good Karma makeup brushes move away from animal hair and instead use synthetic hair as well as recycled PET bottles and aluminum. The brush set is artist-quality, cruelty-free, vegan and eco-friendly. The brushes are also named so a user will know what each brush should be used for and range from $20 to $39.

Soap and Paper Factory Needlepoint Collection

Many of us are pulling out the suitcases and prepping for vacations in far-reaching locales and taking along our bottle Miss Dior Cherie just isn't practical. The Soap and Paper Factory have a must for any suitcase — a solid perfume made from pure jojoba and beeswax, scented with amber absolute, balsam fig, spiced orange and vanilla fleur. It comes in a recycleable tin worth holding onto even after the fragrance is gone and retails for $18.

Josie Maran's Model Citizen

Many a mother reminds their children that pretty is as pretty does and it seems model Josie Maran definitely got that memo. The mother, model and chief eco officer of Josie Maran cosmetics is a big believer in Argan oil and uses the all-natural oil as a moisturizer for skin, hair and nails.

After introducing it to her model friends including Petra Nemcova and Angela Lindvall, Maran launched a campaign benefiting charities of the three models' choosing. Each woman designed limited edition artwork for the Argan Oil collection and a portion of proceeds benefit Women for Women International, The Happy Hearts Fund and The Collage Foundation Inc. The selection of Argan Oils are available at Sephora and range from $14 to $96.

Whole Foods Beauty for Inside and Out

Before a beauty product ever makes it to the shelves of a Whole Foods Market, it goes through rigorous testing to make sure it actually belongs there. The chain's line of Premium Body Care items are plant-based, used naturally derived ingredients, pure essential oil fragrances and non-petroleum ingredients.

Being truly organic is serious business, but I had fun with items like Canus Goat Milk Soap that comes in scents such as chocolate raspberry and pomegranate and makes me think of dessert instead of washing up. The Broo Craft Beer Body and Haircare line offers a Citrus Pale Ale shampoo with B vitamins, proteins and minerals that promise lots of shine. Bottoms up!