Some of the best beauty buys around right now happen to be perfectly suited to Earth Month. Read on to find out how you can save your skin - and, while you’re at it, a little bit of the world too.

* Photo by Matthew Eades for Environmental Justice Foundation. Lily Cole wears Katharine Hamnett limited-edition cotton campaign t-shirt, click here for details.

L’Occitane Shea & Organic Cotton range, from $34.95, see L’Occitane for more info

Organic cotton has been a buzz in the clothing world for a while now (Lily Cole’s wearing it here – the printing has even been certified by the Soil Association – but it has also filtered down to the high street likes of Just Jeans and Sportsgirl). But in skincare? Beyond buds and wipes, cotton is not a common ingredient. Yet, that is. Cotton has been shown to calm skin reactivity, strengthen its ability to defend itself from aggressors, and promote softness and suppleness. L’Occitane has spun Ecocert-certified organic cotton into its new sensitive skin line, which also offers another world benefit… It features the super-nourishing shea butter, which the company obtains through its far-trade programme with a women’s co-op in Burkina Faso, Western Africa, proceeds from which have helped establish a literacy training centre for girls in that community.

La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Cream, $260, from La Prairie

La Prairie is well known as a deep-sea-diver for skincare ingredients (caviar with your cream, anyone?). But the company is also acutely aware that consumers are now questioning the sustainability of many farming and fishing practices. That’s why it has developed proprietary technology to enable it to cultivate marine plants on land, so as to not unbalance or endanger the sea’s ecosystem. In this new cream, key marine elements – including mineral-rich purified sea water, seaweed extract, sea parsley and coral weed - have been harnessed for their skin-protecting ability, to target the early signs of ageing and defend against dehydration. And the ultimate stamp of approval: Céline Cousteau, granddaughter of renowned ocean explorer Jacques, and program coordinator for the Ocean Futures Society, has signed up as a spokesperson for the product. Ocean Futures Society, as its name suggests, works to create awareness of the issues facing marine life; for each jar of Advanced Marine Biology Cream sold, La Prairie will make a contribution to the Society.

Aveda Light the Way Candle, $19.95, call 1300 300 054 for info

This month, Aveda is on a mission to clean up the world’s water. Its aim is to raise $2.3 million, which will go towards helping Brazilian communities establish sustainable water systems, Bulgarian farmers convert to organic farming, Indian villages install and maintain wells, and South African towns protect their water supply from uranium contamination from a nearby mine. Not half-bad goals. And all you have to do is buy yourself this beautiful candle, with its soy wax base and infusion of organic Bulgarian lavender oil.

The Body Shop Moringa range, from $4.50, see The Body Shop for more details

The moringa tree has long been known for its medicinal benefits - its seed oil was first used in ayurvedic medicine thousands of years ago. In the age of Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt, it became a popular addition to skincare and perfume. The Body Shop has now taken the flowering tree as inspiration for its latest line of bodycare. Not just for its ultra-pretty scent, but also for its skin-loving benefits. According to the company, the moringa tree has seven times the vitamin C of oranges, four times the calcium of milk and four times the vitamin A of carrots. In seed oil form, moringa delivers a rich dose of oleic acid, an omega that helps to plump up and protect the skin. But buying the bodycare is much bigger than that. By doing so, you’re supporting The Body Shop’s phenomenally successful Community Trade programme, which sustains so many impoverished villages around the globe. In the moringa range, you’ll find cocoa butter from Ghana, nut oil from Brazil, sesame oil from Nicaragua and organic honey from Zambia

Mor Body Exfoliant, $34.95, from Scentiments

Clever Mor teamed up with SunSalt when sourcing the salt for its scrumptious body scrubs. SunSalt obtains its salt from the Murray River Darling Basin, with the aim being to help lessen the inland salinity issue. A sprinkling of poppy seeds, grape seed extract and other essential oils make this a must-have for all budding natural beauties.

Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Body Lotion, $54, and Dry Oil, $68, from Mecca Cosmetica (available from April 27)

Introducing the next skincare it ingredient: Argan oil, from the fruit-pits of the trees in Morocco’s Argan Forest. Argan oil’s main beauty benefit is that it’s packed with skin-softening essential fatty acids. As for argan leaf, its contains powerful antioxidants in the form of polyphenols. Kiehl’s is championing Argan in its new bodycare, and as such supporting over 2000 women of the Targanine Cooperative, who work to preserve the Forest. This fair-trade programme not only gives the women income and independence, but has wider consequences for the community, such as higher standards of healthcare and education.

Antipodes Hallejulah Lime & Patchouli Cleanser, $58, and Hosanna Intense Hydrating Serum, $46, from Kit Cosmetics (available from April 14)

Organic skincare is not only beneficial for our bodies, because fewer chemicals are absorbed, but also for the environment, because it’s a pesticide-free way of farming - which is also great, of course, for the farmers. And when a beauty product displays a certified organic stamp, it means you’re getting as pure a formulation as possible. Such as these two beautiful new buys. The Cleanser (which is actually the organic-ified reformulation) is a base of avocado oil mixed with lime, patchouli and New Zealand Kawakawa plant, which has traditionally been used for its healing properties. And the Serum delivers a serious dose of antioxidant protection along with hydration – that’s thanks to grapeseed extract from New Zealand’s famed Marlborough wine region, where a high UV light level means the grapes have greater polyphenol power than grapes in any other part of the world.

Origins Organics range, from $32, from selected department stores

The first major international skincare brand to genuinely go organic, Origins’ new nine-product range is hippie meets high-chic. It boasts impressive certification – granted in great part to a patented natural preservative system, not to mention a whole host of other organic goodness – and is a joy to use. Star buys: Silkening Body Spritz, $55, and Nourishing Face Lotion, $82.

Stem Organics Smooth Skin Exfoliant, $39, from Stem Organics

Australia’s own Stem Organics can mix it with the best of them. In fact, the brand launched overseas first – and to great acclaim. Stem Organics’ success lies in picking the most powerfully protective of natural ingredients (like the vitamin C-packed Kakadu Plum), and combining them with Australian bush essences – and then coming up with finished products that are as aesthetically pleasing to use as to look at. No mean feat. Stem Organics’ recent addition, the Skin Exfoliant, contains bamboo particles, not just for skin-smoothing reasons, but also because of the way bamboo is both sustainably grown and bio-degradable – it’s ultimately going down the drain, after all. More evidence of Stem Organics’ wider, greener outlook: it’s the first 100% carbon neutral skincare brand in Australia - as certified by Climate Friendly.

Venustus Alpine Cream, $59, from Venustus

Last but not least … Sydney salon Venustus has long championed the beauty of natural. Owner Jeannie Bourke searches far and wide for organically available ingredients. She also recently received cruelty-free certification, which proves that not only does she not test final products on animals, but that she has ensured none of her ingredient suppliers does either. One very worthy brand to support. Especially as the products are so gorgeous. This latest release is just in time for the upcoming winter (or for getting through any unpredictable season really). The Alpine Cream features a dream team of organic oils (jojoba, macadamia, rose, lavender and rosehip) to leave skin looking, well, naturally beautiful.