Looking your best really is [...]]]> Apart from the obvious like eating freshly prepared food, being nice to your neighbours, giving up smoking and drinking (but not necessarily the odd glass of wine every now and then) and being generous, ethical shopping can have a big impact on your outlook on life.

• Looking your best really is a big mood enhancer. Physical appeal aside, beauty is about your aura, how you feel about yourself and therefore how others perceive you. It has been proven time and again that chemically loaded facial creams don’t do very much for your appearance, especially if you suffer from allergies as some chemicals can cause your skin to come out in a rash.

• Recycling is another great mood enhancer. Yes, sorting your plastics from your papers is a good start, but why not go and buy more recycled products and even extend this to buying recycled gifts for friends or décor for your home and garden?
  

• Buy more fair trade – it gives you a clear conscience and that lets you sleep better. Sleep in turn is great for your skin…….fair trade makes sure that small producers receive a fair share from selling their products. And real fair trade makes sure that only sustainable or recycled ingredients are used in the making of products. You can make a difference when buying fair trade.
  

• Creating a green corner in your home, if you don’t have a big garden, gives you a positive mindset. Sowing seeds to see them grow into flowers, herbs or your own salad leaves is a real thrill – for you and your children. It is also great for teaching and learning about responsibility.
  

• And finally, buying only good quality and well designed products, whether for yourself or a friend, is kinder to your purse in the long run. Which makes you happier. That handbag you bought for £9.50 the other day, fell apart the next day and you lost your keys, your money, your driver’s licence and now you have a hellish time replacing everything. Which will cost you – what? 5 times as much as that handbag? Better save up and then buy a handbag for £75 that will last, is stylish and can be recycled by passing it on to your daughter. For example.
  

That’s it. In my experience anyway.

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