Earthly beauty: this month, earth month, and year-round, show your support for a healthier, happier world by standing behind these globally conscious beauty brands - Beauty honored: as you are as you wish to be

Anything that's handmade requires less energy to produce. The all-natural handmade Indigo Wild Zum Bar Soaps, at right, in bergamot and rosemary ($5.25 each; indigowild.com) are made with earth-friendly ingredients like pure essential oils and goat's milk.

By partnering with a family-operated lavender farm in California, Avalon Organics is proving that organic farming can be profitable. Nearly every product in Avalon's extensive line, including their Organic Biotin B-Complex Thickening Shampoo ($8.95; avalonorganics.com), contains organic lavender hydrosol, an extraction of the lavender plant.

During April, Aveda joins forces with groups around the world to help slow global warming--and hopes to raise $775,000 for the cause. Lend a hand by purchasing Aveda hair-care products with morikue, a protein complex derived from a locally harvested Brazilian nut (try Shampure shampoo, $9; aveda.com).

L'Occitane is committed to supposing local methods of production, such as paying fair wages to women in Burkina Faso, Africa, to harvest and produce shea butter. Find this super-hydrating ingredients in L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream ($21) and Shea Butter Massage Balm ($38; both at loccitane.com)

Year-round, 10 percent of after-tax profits from the sale of Nature Girl organic bath and body products are donated to eco-organizations. Aid the organic cause by trying Nature Girl Mother Nature Rocks sea salt soak ($25; nature-girl.com).

Botanical Beat The newest darlings on the antioxidant scene are black currants. These dark-colored berries are rich in anthocyanins, the plant-based compounds that give blue-red fruits and berries their rich color as well as their high levels of antioxidants (the substances that help to protect cells against damage from environmental aggresors like sunlight and pollution). Try these berries in skin-care products like Aubrey Organics Green Tea and Green Clay Rejuvenating Mask for face ($9; aubreyorganics.com) and The Healing Garden Spa Therapy Active Anti-Cellulite Treatment ($12.95; at drugstores).

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