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The word ‘clean’ has become a major trend in the beauty world. Consumers want to know not just what product works the best on their face but what product is best for our planet as well.
From clean beauty products to green beauty routines, there are many ways to upgrade your beauty routine and make it environmentally friendly.
So, what conscious efforts can you make to transform your daily routine into an eco-friendly beauty routine? Let’s explore a few tips that will help you get started.
For those unaware, the word ‘environmental’ means that the product or process only has a minimal environmental impact.
A recent study by the British Beauty Council found that of 23,000 beauty shoppers, almost half (48%) are looking for more information, clarity, and transparency about beauty brands’ values and commitments to the environment.
As consumers, what should we be looking for when purchasing beauty products? And what small changes can we make to create an eco-friendly beauty routine? Let me share 5 ways to effectively improve your routine.
5 Conscious Efforts For An Eco-Friendly Beauty Routine
You might be interested in reading the Conscious Beauty 101 guide.
1. Using Recycled Packaging
One of the best ways to make your beauty routine environmental-friendly is to buy from brands that use recycled packaging. Brands that do this are, for example, Nudestix, bareMinerals, and Saie.
If you do buy a product in-store that has plastic packaging, make sure to at least recycle these plastics at home, which is truly a small conscious effort.
It’s also possible to recycle or reuse beauty product bottles that you normally would throw out. For example: use your old body scrub bottle to hold bobby pins, a hair mask container to store hair bands, etc.
If you really want to take it to the next level, it’s also possible to buy products without (plastic) packaging. Lush is doing a great job when it comes to this.
Moreover, make sure to purchase sustainable tools. Use make-up brushes and hairbrushes made from recycled or sustainable materials, like bamboo, and opt for brushes with synthetic bristles instead of real animal hair.
Additionally, opt for energy-saving blow dryers to reduce the amount of electricity you use while styling your hair.
2. Adopting The Organic and Sustainable Movement
The next conscious effort you can make for your beauty routine is to adopt the organic and sustainable movement. This doesn’t mean that you have to buy all organic products, but it does mean that you should be aware of what ingredients go into each product.
If your beauty routine consists of a lot of chemical-based products, then this would be a good time to switch over to more natural products. Organic beauty products are free of harmful chemicals, making them safer for the environment and the workers that make the products.
3. Look For Multi-Use Products
One of the easiest ways to make your beauty routine more environmental-friendly is by looking for products that can be used in different ways.
Multi-use products mean less waste, as well as cost. Look for all-in-one make-up sticks that can be used on your lips, eyes, and cheeks. Additionally, opt for moisturizers that double as sunscreen. It’s also possible to use eyeshadow as an eyeliner instead of using both.
There isn’t a multi-use product for everything, but try to buy bigger bottles/packaging in that case. The bigger the packaging, the longer you’ll use it and the less waste you have. However, ONLY do this if you’re sure you can empty the product before its expiry date!
It will create more waste if you have to frequently throw out (not emptied) products because they’re expired. Skincare is probably easier to empty than mascara, lipstick, or eyeshadow palette. Buying bigger skincare bottles and mini versions of makeup products is smart. A conscious effort that’s also financially smart!
4. Adjust Your Use
One of the easiest things to do is make small adjustments that will make a huge impact in the end. Instead of using a huge amount of facial cleanser that you don’t even need, try to use a small amount while still having the same result: a cleansed face.
Additionally, when you use a product, use the product in its entirety. Squeeze out and use every ounce of your product instead of throwing it out halfway in.
Another adjustment you can make is to cut back on shampoo. You might be washing your hair every day, however, that’s not necessary for your hair at all.
It’s actually a waste of money, time, water, electricity, AND a waste of products. Don’t forget: Turn off the faucet. While brushing your teeth, washing your face, and doing other activities at the sink, turn off your faucet.
Also, be conscious of the amount of time you spend in the shower. Shaving off two to four minutes can save four to eight gallons of water.
Last but not least, plastic is one of the most destructive substances on this planet. It never breaks down, meaning that it will be around for years to come.
Some plastics are BPA-free, but many still contain it, and when plastic comes into contact with water, it releases toxic chemicals like endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. It’s estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic leak into the ocean every year, and by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean!
Plastic is a major concern for our environment, and we need to take steps to reduce its use. A conscious effort you can make is to buy fewer products in general or buy fewer plastic-packed products.
5. Drop Off Your Used Products For Recycling
You may be thinking to yourself, ‘Isn’t that what the recycling bin is for?’. Well, not exactly. Your recycling bin is for items you no longer need, like a milk carton or a newspaper.
It does not take in the items you use daily, such as your toiletries or makeup. Instead of disposing of these products in the trash, drop them off at a local beauty store that offers recycling services.
A couple of examples of brands that do this:
- Kjaer Weis
- MAC Cosmetics
- Farmacy
- ILIA
- Lush
- bareMinerals
- Summer Fridays
- Glow Recipe
- Lilah B.
Eco-Friendly Beauty Routine Conclusion
You’re definitely not a bad person if you’re not able to live fully eco-friendly and sustainable. I’m not perfect, either. But if we all try our best to make little adjustments, we can save our environment together.
Moreover, it’s also possible to make a donation if that’s currently the only conscious effort you can make. I’m donating money to WWF, but you can choose any organization you want to support.
The WWF has different programs to support; you can donate to help save animal species, the climate, freshwater, and more. If you would like to donate (every month or just one time) please check out the WWF website.
It’s not all on the beauty businesses to turn things around. As consumers, we have a lot of power to make a change. We can start making sustainable choices by looking at the label before purchasing a product.
Look out for the Leaping Bunny logo, which certifies that the product was not tested on animals. The Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance logos also indicate that the ingredients have been sustainably sourced.
And always make sure to look out for the familiar ones, too – when was the last time you checked that the packaging was recyclable?
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