In tough economic times, many Americans try to keep the few dollars they spend in the country to benefit Americans. Why not extend that largesse to your beauty products by buying from some great American cosmetic companies? Many American beauty companies use all-natural ingredients grown in the USA to manufacture their products here, too. Here are just a few of those companies. First, the company responsible for keeping our lips soft and conditioned year-round. Burt's Bees began in 1984 in Maine and later moved its operations to North Carolina, where it's been employing Americans and using American components to make its products since. Another company committed to natural cosmetics is Kiss My Face, a New York-based company that also started in the 1980s. The founders started with bars of olive oil soap and now create toiletries, kids' products, suncare and more.

If you like more mainstream beauty products, then you can't get any more mainstream than Target, which offers many toiletries and beauty supplies under its own Up & Up label that are made in the United States - check the label to be sure. Merle Norman began in a California kitchen in 1931 and employs 500 people today nationwide. It relies on people who want to start their own small businesses and manufactures all of its cosmetics in the U.S. Finally, Stila is a glam cosmetics company with major star power that keeps things local as well. The company's focus is on giving back, and that includes contributing to American charities and recycling its packaging. Many of the compacts you can buy are refillable, meaning you don't need to buy a new container every time, but if you need to toss a compact, it's made of easily biodegradable materials. Consider the cosmetic companies you purchase from and investigate where they stand on local products.