The most fashionable color in makeup this spring may just be green.

Tubes of PlantLove lipstick, by Cargo, are contained in a tube made not of plastic but of a corn-based polymer called PLA.

Cosmetics companies are increasingly jumping on the eco-chic bandwagon, not only finding botanical ingredients to replace chemical-based ones, but also focusing on improving their packaging practices and the doings of their business partners.

But can an industry that has long relied on synthetic ingredients to create some of its biggest hits really go all natural, all the time? Probably not. Instead, consumers are more likely to see cosmetic companies continue to pick their spots, doing what they can where they can, and letting the world know about each move.

The best advice for environmentally conscious consumers is to scrutinize those marketing messages, deciding for themselves whether a product is “lite green,” those with a small eco-friendly detail, or “bright green,” those that come from a company with a strong commitment to protecting the Earth, said Alex Steffen, executive editor of Worldchanging.com, a Web site devoted to discussing solutions to environmental problems.

“People are really interested in guilt-free affluence,” Steffen said. “People want to be rich, but they don’t want to feel like they’re drowning polar bears. Once you decide to be guilt-free, you need to know the backstory about the products in your life,” he said.