Celebrate Earth Month

With the arrival of April showers also comes earth awareness. There are many ways throughout the year you can pay attention to making your surroundings a little bit greener, but I can't think of a better place to start than in your own cosmetic bag. Check out these green finds that give back:

Kiehl's partnered with Erykah Badu in creating their latest, limited edition Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion, $55. It's loaded with Vitamin E and moisturizing oils that absorb quickly into your skin and leave it silky smooth. 100% of the proceeds up to $100,000 will support waterkeeper alliance.

Amazon Beauty Rahua Organic Leave In Treatment, $28, is made with rain forest grown symbiotic ingredients and used weekly, quickly rebuilds dry, damaged hair. The company's mission is to preserve the Amazon rain forest (which produces over 20% of the world's oxygen) and help indigenous Amazonian tribes survive.

This year, Cargo is taking earth month to a whole new level. Their PlantLove Botanical Lipstick, $20, tube is made completely out of corn and the outer packaging is made of flower paper, which consists of real flower seeds that you can plant. They're also donating $2 from every sale to the St. Judes Pediatrics Research Hospital.

For other fab green finds pick up the May issue of Elle magazine to see their 2009 Green Star Awards.

Watch Those Expiration Dates

Just like skim milk, your over-used and abused Visa card and your gym membership, beauty products expire. Most brands have been clearly labeling their products with expiration dates right on the packaging.

Cargo stepped it up a notched with their latest lip gloss that incorporates Timestrip technology. It's a tiny strip that's embedded in the cap of the lip gloss and automatically keeps track of how long it's been open. After nine months, the window displaying the strip turns red and alerts you that it's time to toss it. Cargo blue_ray High Definition Gloss is available here for $24.

Just an FYI: You should replace your mascaras and liquid liners every three to four months and foundations every two years.