Nowadays, people prefer organic and sustainable beauty products over traditional ones. Not only are they beneficial for your skin and overall health, but they also protect our planet’s natural resources as well as plants and animals.
Take an example of chemical-based deodorants. They contain aluminum and other toxic chemicals that are detrimental to our planet and wellbeing. On the other hand, natural deodorant is packed with organic and green ingredients, which work great without causing any harm.
As more companies are becoming eco-conscious, you won’t find it hard to make your beauty routine environmentally friendly. Therefore, this article will uncover different ways to help you make your beauty routine more sustainable. Keep reading to learn!
1. Be Careful With Your Water Consumption
First and foremost, you should be cautious of water consumption during your beauty routine as plenty of water is wasted during cleansing, exfoliation, etc.
Let’s say, after applying cleanser to your face, you shouldn’t leave the water running. Instead, turn off the tap and take a minute to cleanse your face properly. Once you’re done, then you should turn on the water supply.
Although this may not sound like a lot, it makes a huge difference in consuming water.
2. Invest in Brands That Have a Recycling Program
Do you know that there are several brands out there like Lush, MAC Cosmetics, and Kiehl’s that offer recycling programs? Whatever brands you are using now, it’s better to ask them if they have a recycling program. If not, look for alternatives.
This way, you will have peace of mind that all your empties don’t end up in landfills and will be recycled appropriately for other consumers.
3. Replace Cotton Pads/Wipes with Cloths
In order to produce cotton, pesticides and fertilizers are used, contaminating the rivers and lakes. Furthermore, you need approximately 22,500 liters of water to produce 1 kg of cotton.
Cotton pads and wipes are mainly used for applying toners or removing makeup. You can reduce the environmental impact by replacing them with cotton cloths. They are super absorbent, gentle on the skin, and also work great as exfoliators! You can wash and reuse them for years.
4. Minimize the Number of Beauty Products You Use
Rather than buying several different products and increasing the number of containers or bottles in your home, you can use a multi-purpose beauty product.
You can use lipstick on lips but also as a blush
For example, you can buy a 3-in-1 cream that works as a sunscreen, serum, and moisturizer instead of purchasing 3 different bottles. Likewise, you can buy a makeup palette that contains all the basics, such as lip stain, blush, face powder, and concealer. Fewer products mean that you are not putting pressure on the Earth’s natural resources and not harming the planet.
5. Look for Products with Sustainable Packaging
You can always find a greener alternative to a beauty product. It’s imperative for you to look for products that are sustainably packaged. Most companies worry about their environmental impact. Therefore, they use recyclable packaging or packaging made from biodegradable materials to make sure they are easily disposed of.
For instance, reusable glass containers are always better than plastic containers. Similarly, you can purchase bamboo toothbrushes rather than plastic ones as they are 100% natural and biodegradable.
Many brands also offer refilling options for a more sustainable routine, such as The Body Shop, Glow Recipe, Lakme, and Kiehl’s.
6. Bring Reusable Shopping Bags
The trend of taking your own shopping bags for grocery shopping has been here for quite some time now. However, you shouldn’t limit it to grocery shopping only. Instead, you should bring reusable shopping bags with you when shopping for beauty products.
So, rather than using natural resources, you can make a significant impact by bringing your own reusable shopping bags.
7. Look Out for Certain Ingredients
Most beauty products contain toxic ingredients such as parabens, triclosan, artificial fragrance, and sulfates. As you apply products containing these ingredients to your skin, they seep into your bloodstream and can significantly harm your health over time.
Not only your health, but they are also equally detrimental to the environment and the ecosystem. For instance, some exfoliating products contain microplastics, which can kill fish and birds as they assume them to be food.
In addition to this, you may have heard about or read about the “oxybenzone” ingredient on most sunscreens. Although it’s generally known for giving a natural-looking finish while protecting you from the UV rays, it is incredibly harmful to the coral reefs as well as the small fish and species.
Oxybenzone has a bleaching effect on coral reefs. Therefore, it can completely destroy them. Hence, you should look for reef-safe and natural sunscreens that are safe for your health and the environment. Make sure to carefully check the ingredients before you buy one.
