Beauty products make great stocking stuffers for the ladies in your life. Leave toxic chemicals out of your gifts by using these easy shopping tips or making inexpensive, non-toxic DIY versions.

1) First, do your research before you give: We know you want to avoid giving a toxic gift, but labels on cosmetics and beauty products are a bit difficult to decipher.  Use handy resources like the Skin Deep database, or this portable card from the National Healthy Nail Salon Alliance, which shows you how to make healthy choices when selecting a nail polish.

2) Be wary of “green” and “all natural” labels: All natural. Green. What do these terms have in common? They have no legal definition. It’s called greenwashing, a ploy used by cosmetics companies to make products appear safer, even though they’ve made no actual changes to improve the safety of their products. Cosmetics companies are able to use these terms without meeting any requirements. Don’t be fooled! Learn more about greenwashing, and make sure you’re not a greenwashing victim, by looking up cosmetics on the Skin Deep database before making a purchase.

3) Skip the stores and make your gifts: It's super easy and inexpensive (we promise).

• Sugar or salt scrubs: Whip up a cheap and easy DIY scrub by combining two part sugar or salt with one part olive oil. For a creamy scrub, replace olive oil with coconut oil. To create finer exfoliating particles, grind your sugar or salt in a coffee grinder.
• Cocoa bubble bath: This is a great, make-ahead stocking stuffer that you can store in an inexpensive mason jar, jam jar, or any recycled glass container. Here’s the recipe from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:

Ingredients:

1 cup of unscented bubble bath

1/3 cup of unsweetened soy milk

3 oz. of grated or powdered dark chocolate

Instructions: Heat the soy milk and add the grated or powdered chocolate. Stir well until melted and blended, but do not boil. Allow to cool. Mix well again just before adding to your bath.

• Bath treatments: Combine two tablespoons of oats, one teaspoon of baking soda, and wintery spices like cinnamon and cloves in a square of muslin. Tie the muslin at the top, and you have a cute DIY bath ball! Add a note telling the recipient to just pop the bath ball in the tub as it fills with water. You can also try these bath bomb and bath cookie recipes from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.