The beauty industry is ever evolving, shifting from a one-dimensional category towards an inclusive and holistic movement. At the top of this list of revolutionary movements sits sustainability. By embracing natural, organic products, sustainable cosmetics avoid many of the toxic or harmful elements present in popular brands, making it safer for the environment and the workers who make the products.
Consider your morning and evening beauty routine. What are you unconsciously buying or throwing away on a daily basis that is contributing to our planet’s waste problem? From virtual “try-on” features to water conservative products, the focus on the beauty industry’s environmental impact has taken center stage. Major beauty players in the 2021 spotlight are taking the all-important, conscious steps towards sustainability. Some, like Estée Lauder and L’Oréal Paris, are on the road to achieving carbon neutrality while others are progressing in a different manner— like reusable packaging or refillable beauty products. As beauty brands big and small begin making sustainable changes we have the ability, as the consumers, to participate in this revolutionary shift! To ensure your part in the sustainability movement, try these 10 simple swaps for a more eco-friendly beauty routine.
1. Swap to Sustainably Sourced Beauty Ingredients
Since our skin absorbs so much of what we put on it, shouldn’t we be more responsible and intentional with the ingredients used in our go-to beauty routine? Clean beauty begins with shopping sustainably sourced beauty products that take into account ethics and range of product. Brands such as Credo Beauty and Love Goodly are cruelty-free, eco-friendly and non-toxic beauty lines that are proud to have the highest safety and sustainability standards in retail.
Other brands like Follain and DermStore operate their skincare and beauty shops with no compromises on their products cleanliness. With an extensive collection of dermatologist-approved, natural products, discovering and incorporating clean beauty brands into your routine has never been easier.
2. Swap to Water-Responsible Beauty Products
Do you read the labels on your products? Take a glimpse at the ingredients list and water or aqua will most likely be the first ingredient, implying it is also the one with the highest quantity in the formula. According to Cosmetics Info, water makes up an average of 70% of your beauty products, leaving very little room for the active ingredients your skin craves. Water-responsible products eliminate the worry of harmful emulsifiers in your products often derived from undesirable sources. In your search for environmentally friendly products, remember the sheer quantity of water in products is also a problem; water scarcity is an abstract concept to some and a harsh reality for others. So next time you’re out grabbing your favorite beauty/hygiene items, choose water conservative products.
3. Swap Face Wipes for Reusable Cotton Pads
If you use cotton rounds to apply products to your face, think again. Although disposable cotton rounds can technically be composted, many people use several a day that only end up in the nearest trash bin. This single-use mass produced product can quickly cause harm to the environment. EcoRoots Organic Reusable Cotton Rounds pose an ideal solution: made from organic cotton and bamboo, the fabric is both sustainable and biodegradable. With the help of brands like EcoRoots, activists, and educational resources, learning about the issue of mass consumption is at your fingertips.
4. Swap to Bamboo Beauty Tools
First came the bamboo toothbrush. Such an ingenious idea! So, if you can brush your teeth with an eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush, you should be able to follow suit with bamboo beauty tools, right? Brands such as Ecotools are pioneering this path by creating a line of biodegradable makeup brushes, makeup blenders, and skincare tools. Being mindful of your beauty is as attainable as it is affordable. This simple swap will put your mind at ease.
5. Swap to a Recycling Bin
This eco-friendly act is significant. Incorporating a recycling bin into your space is a great first step towards your ecological contribution. According to Recycle Across America, recycling one plastic shampoo bottle saves enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes. With this in mind, recycling our beauty products should become top priority. If you are unsure of how to recycle specific beauty products, companies such as TerraCycle have created a recycling program that accepts all brands of skincare and cosmetic packaging. What a powerful difference it could make for our planet if we all made that simple change.
6. Swap to Minimal Packaging
Less packaging equals less waste. Companies implementing zero waste, compostable packaging are taking steps in the right direction. Beauty brands such as One Love Organics use innovative science to harness the power of plants while packaging each product in brown glass bottles. When glass is recycled it gets turned into more glass. Meaning, unlike plastic, it can be recycled over and over again without losing its quality. Plastic, on the other hand, is downcycled and turned into something of a lesser quality, losing integrity with each use. This simple swap will ensure your beauty products have a long life, even after you are through with them.
7. Swap to Refillable Beauty Products
Invest in beauty products that offer a refill option. Companies such as Lush and L’Occitane utilize business models that make refilling your favorite products easy. Refill schemes expand the life of the materials holding our favorite products while making a conscious effort to minimize consumption.
8. Swap Your Regular Sized Products for the Jumbo Version
A supersized product not only uses less packaging, but it cuts down on the consistency of purchases, thus eliminating hassle alongside increased plastic waste. The majority of beauty brands have a jumbo version. Remember this next time you go for your regular product pick-up.
9. Swap to Sustainable Hygiene Brands
The source of the products used in our day-to-day routines is another area of environmental concern. The best way to identify if a product is sustainably sourced is to look out for the Fair Trade logos on packaging. If you’re looking out for sustainable partnerships, your beauty routine will go green with a few mindful purchases.
10. Swap Plastic Bags for Reusable Shopping Bags When Buying
Reusable shopping bags minimize the waste stream. In order to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment, all solutions point to less plastic usage, which means less bags. According to the Earth Day Network, 1% of the 4 trillion plastic bags used worldwide annually are recycled, and the United States alone throws away up to 100 billion plastic bags each year. Adopting the usage of reusable bags is effective in making a dent in the United States plastic waste statistic.
Ready to take a few steps towards a more sustainable beauty routine? Let us know which swaps you’re making in the comments below.
Featured photo by Nefeli Kavvada on Unsplash
