Your daily beauty routine can be an excellent place to start if you’re looking to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Considering that the beauty industry produces over 120 billion packaging pieces annually, taking care of yourself on a daily basis could have a significant environmental impact. It’s not difficult to adopt conscious beauty habits, though. You can reduce your carbon footprint and save money by making small changes like switching to recyclable beauty products and using shampoo without plastic. Here are seven ideas to help you and the environment both benefit from a greener and healthier beauty routine.
Eliminate those disposable wipes
Disposable items like makeup wipes and face wipes are fashionable and practical however, they come with an expense on the earth. These wipes that are used for one-time use typically aren’t recyclable or compostable so millions of them end up in the garbage every single day. Eliminate disposable wipes and invest in an assortment of recyclable cotton round made of silky bamboo fibers and soft cotton. Bamboo cotton rounds are suitable to all types of skin and are gentler on areas that are sensitive (like those around the eyes) and can be used numerous times, before they are composted in the soil.
Search for products with no package
Check out the bathroom drawers or shower and chances are that you’ll see bottles and containers of plastic. One method to reduce the amount of plastic waste? Opt for products that come in packages free of charge. You can, for instance, switch the shampoo bottles and conditioning containers to products that are not made of plastic that are compostable and come in cardboard packaging. (As an added bonus they typically contain powerful plants-based ingredients that help your hair appear healthy and soft!) Serums, lotions, and even sunscreens can be found in a solid form nowadays which makes it easy to eliminate unnecessary packaging to the curb.
Recycle anything you can
Since recyclers are plagued by problems So, it’s best to avoid plastic whenever you are able to. But, if you’re unable to find a plastic-free substitute for your favourite cosmetics Recycling is the best alternative. To recycle your empty bottles correctly, you should keep these suggestions in your head:
Contact the local municipality first to learn what kind of plastics can be put in recycle bins (e.g. plastic containers with numbers 1 and 2 will usually be reused, while number 5 could be unreliable for some recycled programs). Remaining residue from plastic containers can cause contamination to other recyclable materials Therefore, you should remove any makeup products that are not being used prior to recycling them.
If you’re unsure whether cosmetics is recyclable and cannot find the answer try not to attempt recycling it. This is a bad practice, known as “wish-cycling,” and it could cause greater harm than it does good. It can mess up the entire process of recycling.
Look for products that are reef-safe
As temperatures rise, you may be looking for a reliable sunscreen to help prevent burns (and wrinkles). Before you buy sunscreen, make sure it doesn’t harm coral reefs or marine life. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), certain sunscreen ingredients, particularly the oxybenzone component, are extremely harmful to young coral reefs and other marine life forms, increasing the susceptibility to coral reef bleaching, DNA destruction, endocrine disruption, and severe deformities of newborn coral.
Dressing in SPF clothes and swimming wear is the most environmentally friendly option. If you have to apply sunscreen, make sure you choose one that is labeled as reef-safe and with a minimum of ingredients.
Rethink your deodorant
As a product we use daily, it’s important to think about the environmental impact of deodorant. The deodorant (and the antiperspirant) containers are extremely difficult to recycle since they’re made up of a variety of kinds of plastic caps, the cap that protects the casing, and finally the label that is adhesive at the top. There are many companies that have released the deodorant that is made of plastic and stored in compostable cardboard that is disposed straight back into Earth. Many deodorants that are plastic-free also have all-natural ingredients. This usually means that there aren’t any harmful chemicals onto your skin or leaking in the air. This is a win-win situation for all!
Be aware of your thoughts
If you pay more at the waste you are putting into your plastic You quickly discover how ineffective many products for your skin care. Consider this: do you really have to use a mask for your face at night after cleansing, exfoliating, and applying a variety of creams and serums? Does a 20-dollar lip scrub worth the risk to your wallet as well as the environment when you could create a homemade version using sugar and olive oil?
Try to simplify your makeup routine and reduce your collection down to the essentials. Choose products with multiple uses that can be applied to various areas of the body (i.e. an eyeshadow cream that can also be used as lipstick). The most important thing is to stop purchasing on impulse! Make sure you shop wisely and take the cash to indulge in an indulgence massage or new haircut.
Make use of every drop
Because of how costly and ineffective cosmetics are and how expensive, it’s essential to make use of every drops of your product. But what happens if you’re unable to access the rest of the product that’s stuck to the side or the bottom of your container? A cotton swab can usually work (bonus points when it’s a reusable Swab). If it doesn’t work There are spatulas specifically designed to get into the bottom of both tall and short container of cosmetics that allow you to grab the last part! If you own tubs of lotion you can slice off the inner tube, and scoop out the rest by using your fingers.
Every Action Counts
Making small modifications to your beauty routine can add up quickly and can go a long way in helping reduce the carbon footprint of your lifestyle. You will also feel beautiful being confident that your choices will be beneficial for both you as well as the environment. Begin by making some small, easy modifications (hello bar soap and shampoo) before moving towards the bigger changes. Remember: Every piece matters!