One of our lovely readers sent an email last week asking for advice on ways to decrease the amount of packaging all her beauty products seem to require. In the wake of the oil spill on the Gulf Coast, she felt it was irresponsible to continue consuming so much plastic.

Well, natural beauties, I have to admit that this is an issue to which I haven’t given much thought! It’s a fact that startled me, because over the past few years I have been so conscious about the packaging of my food. I’m the girl who will spend the extra five minutes in the morning, digging out the mismatched Tupperware and Pyrex covers just so I won’t have to put my lunches in plastic baggies.

As a frugal beauty consumer, I don’t make as many makeup purchases as the average girl. I find the best way to cut down on unnecessary waste is to keep myself from buying too much stuff. But can I improve my purchasing habits even further?

Our dear reader said she was thinking about trying the NUDE skincare line. I had never heard of these products before so I decided to check them out. (A word to the wise: Don’t just Google “nude;” make sure to add the terms “beauty products” or “skincare” to your search. I made that mistake while I was working in the school library!)

Now this is a product line I’m excited to try! The brand is cruelty free and carbon neutral. Almost half of its packaging is created from recycled plastic, and its labels are printed with non-toxic inks. Best of all, the NUDE packaging is composed of one of the most recyclable plastics – Type 5 polyproplyene – and you can return all packaging either in person at a NUDE counter or via mail. You don’t even have to pay for postage!

Have any of you tried the products from this environmentally-conscious line? Does its product quality measure up to its stringent sustainability standards?

NUDE products can be purchased online, or use their store locator to find a counter near you. Price points range from a $14 lip balm to an $88 eye cream.

Photos: Junk – John Nyberg; NUDE