The quest for physical perfection can lead down some pretty dramatic roads. (Yes, Botox, I’m looking at you.) But even when we try to keep our beauty routine clean, it’s often hard to know just where to start.

Figuring out what’s really the best buy for our bodies and the environment can be overwhelming and besides, shouldn’t getting gorgeous be fun?

Buzz words like “eco-friendly,” “green,” and “organic” sound great, but what do they really mean? A stop on the Federal Drug Administration site is only slightly helpful, since the FDA doesn’t have an actual definition of what is or isn’t organic. Hop over to the National Organic Program, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a little more information is available such as “natural and organic are not interchangeable.”

Okey-dokey. Dig some more, and learn the USDA Organic seal is given to products that are between 95 and 100 percent made from organic materials.

Stacy Malkan, co-founder of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry,” said consumers need to take matters into their own hands.

“Unfortunately, there are no legal standards whatsoever for the words "organic" "green" or "natural" when it comes to personal care so it's buyer beware,” Malkan said.

Common sense is also a good idea. Reading labels, choosing products with fewer chemicals and shorter ingredient lists and avoiding fragrance when possible are ways to cut through the red tape and get in touch with your inner green.

Companies are more than happy to tout the organic benefits of their products and make them affordable too. Target caries the “One” line of soaps, shampoos, conditioners and lotions made from ingredients like glycerin, oatmeal and shea butter. The products are highly concentrated, so a little bit goes a long way and the packaging is made from recyclable cardboard.

Kiehl’s limited edition Açaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist adds a layer of anti-oxidant protection thanks to organic Açaí Berry, aloe vera, lavender and rosemary. The mist garnered a Cradle to Cradle certification, meaning that it is made with the least amount of waste from start to finish.

Going natural can often mean sacrificing a certain glam factor, but getting back to basics can be beautiful. Malken suggests searching the Skin Deep Cosmetic Data Base and Safe Cosmetics for natural makeup choices that make an maximum beauty impact. The Body Shop and Burt’s Bees get high marks and signed the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics pledge in 2007 to make safer health and beauty products. Make the move to greener beauty products less painful by transitioning with the items you use the most.

“I started with those products (daily shampoo, soap and body lotion) and eventually worked up to switching my make-up. The good news is that there are many excellent brands of natural make-up that work just as well as the conventional brands,” Malken said.

Hair dyes and relaxers, perms and nail treatments contain higher toxicity levels, so look for alternatives like Deborah Shalom’s Dot Dot Salon on West Gray. She has seen the demand for organic hair and skin care blossom and her small space is filled with clients who want to look great while caring for the environment.

“People don’t know about sulfates and parabens and this is really a health and environmental issue,” Shalom said. Her green salon uses Organic Salon Systems and All-Nutrient Hair Color lines as well as styling products by MOP, Max Green Alchemy and John Masters Organics, also found at local Central Market and Whole Foods stores. Express your interest in organic or healthier beauty products to your stylist too. New products are introduced to salons frequently and if there is a need, most salons will try to accommodate clients.

Perhaps now is the time to embrace the less is more approach to looking and feeling beautiful.

“The best way to be green, is to use less stuff in the first place,” Malkan said.