Tell us about the #WipeforWater campaign and your role.
I partnered with Neutrogena Naturals and the nature conservancy for their Wipe for Water campaign to stop washing my face for seven days in order to bring attention to water conservation efforts. People often consider water a never-ending resource and the goal behind the campaign is to inspire people to think about water conservation. It’s a nice lazy challenge so it is easier to give it a try. For me I can have a baby in one hand and wipe my face with the other so it’s a game changer.
As you prepped for #WipeforWater, what did you find most surprising about face washing and its effect on our water supply?
I was most surprised by how much water you waste just by washing your face each day! As much as five gallons of water a day go down the drain.
Water conservation slowly became a cause that was close to me. The more I learned about it, talked to people at The Nature Conservancy, and realized what Neutrogena Naturals was doing to help over the years the more important it became to me.
I think people often consider water issues to be an international problem and I learned it is actually a domestic issue as well – which, we are seeing especially right now in California. But it is solvable and it starts with taking simple steps around the house that everyone can do and ultimately add up to make a huge impact. Raising awareness and starting somewhere is what this campaign is all about.
You’re a parent of two young kids. Did becoming a mom impact your views on our environment, and if so, how?
It’s hard to pinpoint what made me be so eco–minded initially, I think it was a slow build starting with being a child who always loved nature. I was always outside as a kid. I think exposing myself to nature from a young age made me conscious of preserving it. I want those beautiful resources to be there for my children to enjoy. I want them to turn on the tap and not have to think about it.
What other actions does your family take to conserve water?
We conserve water by not running the tap when brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, placing a bowl in the sink when I wash baby bottles or fruit and vegetables to catch the water to use on the houseplants. But we also like to grow our own fruits and vegetables and take other measures to help the environment and live a healthy lifestyle. I like that the children see that we are aware and participate in these things so it becomes the norm for them.
How do you hope to teach your kids about water conservation as they get older?
I want them to know having running water is a privilege – That it isn’t an endless resource and you can’t just assume when you turn the tap on that there will always be water. Understanding how to be grateful for what we have, and conserve it when necessary makes you an informed, aware, and concise adult. I think as a mom that is all you can ask for, for your children to be curious about the way things work and to love nature and want to do something to help based on what they learn about the world around them.
Visit our campaign website: www.wipeforwater.com to learn more about the Wipe for Water campaign and find out what you and your family can do to help conserve water and preserve our environment.
Kristen Bell currently stars as ‘Jeannie Van Der Hooven’ in the Showtime series “House of Lies” opposite Don Cheadle. The fourth season premiered on January 11, 2015. Bell starred as ‘Anna’ in the blockbuster Disney animated feature, “Frozen,” which has grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide, making it the 5th highest grossing movie of all time. Up next, she will be seen opposite Melissa McCarthy in the Ben Falcone directed comedy “Michelle Darnell,” in theaters on April 8, 2016.
She was recently seen reprising her beloved title role in Warner Brothers’ film “Veronica Mars.” Bell appeared in a guest-starring arc in the most recent season of NBC’s hit series “Parks & Recreation.” She also played the lead role in the independent film “The Lifeguard,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival as well as starring in and co-producing the comedy “Hit & Run,” written and directed by her husband Dax Shepard.
Her other film credits include: “Movie 43,” “Some Girls,” Writers,” “Big Miracle,” “You Again,” “Burlesque,” “When in Rome,” “Couples Retreat,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Pulse,” “Serious Moonlight” and David Mamet’s “Spartan.”
Kristen’s television credits include: “Veronica Mars,” “Unsupervised,” “Deadwood,” “Heroes” and “Party Down.”
Her Broadway credits include: “Tom Sawyer” and “The Crucible” opposite Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. Her Off-Broadway credits include: “Reefer Madness” and “A Little Night Music” both at The Lincoln Center in New York and Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.