Every year, the climate crisis becomes more pressing, and though our individual actions may seem small, they truly matter.

This includes our beauty routines—what we buy, how often, and what happens to the products afterward.

Unfortunately, the beauty industry is one of the biggest contributors to pollution, with billions of packaging units ending up in landfills each year.

Thankfully, sustainability has gained traction in consumer products, ensuring that our current actions won’t compromise future generations’ ability to do the same. Transitioning to a more eco-conscious beauty routine doesn’t mean sacrificing your love for beauty; it’s about finding better alternatives.

While discovering new beauty brands can be exciting, it’s important to be mindful of excessive consumption, which harms both the planet and our wallets. The beauty industry alone creates billions of plastic packaging units annually, contributing significantly to environmental damage.

With climate change accelerating rapidly, there’s no time to waste. It’s urgent that we make our beauty routines more eco-friendly. 

What Is Sustainable Beauty?

Let’s start by understanding what sustainable beauty is and why it’s important. In the cosmetics industry, terms like “sustainable,”  “green,” and “natural” are often thrown around interchangeably, which can be confusing. But in reality, they usually mean the same thing. Instead of getting caught up in the terminology, it’s more important to focus on what sustainable beauty actually involves.

Sustainable beauty, also known as “green” cosmetics, is all about using beauty products and packaging materials that are kind to the earth and don’t harm animals, people, or nature. This means using natural ingredients like coconut or lavender oils, agricultural plants such as corn and soybeans, or even certain bacteria.

But it’s not just about the ingredients—it’s also about the materials used in both the product and the packaging. Sustainable beauty products use renewable or recycled materials, like glass, to reduce the amount of waste generated by our skincare routines.

If you’re eager to become more eco-friendly with your beauty routine, we’ve got eight simple ways to help you do just that without sacrificing quality. Let’s get started!

Shop from Sustainable Beauty Brands and Indigenous Businesses

An excellent place to start when developing an eco-friendly beauty regimen is by patronizing locally owned companies. Not only does it help the community prosper, but it also lessens our impact on the environment, which is good for everyone.

You can aid the growth of the sustainability movement by shopping with companies that share your beliefs. Davines and Vegamour are the best examples of sustainable brands that use eco-friendly and natural ingredients in their products. The Davines and Vegamour reviews are a testament to the brand’s pledge to sustainability.

Rest assured, there are many eco-friendly cosmetics companies to choose from. To assist you, here are a few pointers:

• Check for Certifications: Sustainable companies know that beauty aficionados value authenticity; therefore, they check for certifications. Whether you want to know whether a product is cruelty-free, look for certifications like the Leaping Bunny label. Typically, you will be able to locate these certificates on the product packaging or the brand’s official website. 
• Follow Eco-Friendly Influencers: A good way to find eco-friendly companies and goods is to follow eco-influencers. By scouring their audience for reliable solutions, they save you a ton of time and effort.

Choose Refillable Products or Reuse Empty Containers 

Instead of throwing away empty containers and bottles, try reusing them. This will help reduce waste. Repurpose them by storing your jewelry, pencils, or plants in the empty containers from your haircare, cosmetics, or skincare products.

Replace single-use items with reusable alternatives, such as cotton swabs and makeup wipes. Some self-proclaimed beauty enthusiasts have taken to using refillable spray bottles of rubbing alcohol and reusable rounds as alternatives to alcohol wipes.

Choosing refillable goods is another way to reduce waste. You can save resources and lessen your influence on the environment by purchasing eco-friendly packaging from several eco-conscious manufacturers. The container is inexpensive, so you only need to purchase it once.

Companies are now offering refillable versions of skincare, makeup, and haircare products. For instance, Kjaer Weis has their popular lipsticks, and Innersense provides refill pouches that let you top up your existent products at home. Some of our favorite refillable essentials include Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies, Abhati Suisse’s shampoo bars, and Jillian Dempsey Cheek and Lip Tint.

Use Products That Come in Aluminum, Glass, or Recyclable Plastic

Does your favorite hair or face product come with a lot of extra packaging that you don’t need? Who needs a trendy hair mask when you can have one that comes in a recyclable tube? Or how about that plastic bubble wrap? 

Refillable items and materials manufactured from post-consumer recycled materials are just two examples of the eco-friendly packaging solutions that many firms are beginning to provide. One way to lessen your impact on the environment is to buy products from companies that are actively involved in recycling and use recyclable materials. 

A few telltale signs of environmentally friendly packaging include metals like stainless steel and aluminum, glass containers with a see-through or frosted exterior, paper and cardboard, and plastics with the numbers 1, 2, or 5 printed on them. 

For these plastics to be recyclable, they need to include a single plastic-type and be bigger than a yogurt cup. Remember that most colored plastics cannot be recycled and that pumps, lids, and sprayers are often not recyclable either. To determine whether plastics may be recycled, look for a number on the bottom of the container; throw away any plastics with the digits 3, 4, 6, or 7 on them.

Use Biodegradable Items

Although not all beauty products are recyclable or reusable, many products do wind up in the garbage after just one or two usage. Things like cotton swabs, dental floss, and tissues are examples.

However, there is still a solution to this problem: choose biodegradable options wherever you can. For example, you may get 30 days of usage out of biodegradable cosmetic sponges and blenders. Also, you may get cotton swabs that are completely plastic-free. Even when it comes to throwaway things, these choices can lessen the environmental effect.

Get Rid of Microbeads

In skincare, there’s a balance between using microplastics for gentle exfoliation and natural ingredients for nourishment. Microplastics, despite their environmental downsides, are valued in skincare because they can gently remove dead skin cells, making your skin smoother. 

On the other hand, organic ingredients like plant extracts and oils are great for skincare because they’re packed with good stuff like antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. These natural elements help nourish and hydrate your skin, making it healthier and more vibrant.

However, even though microplastics are common in skincare products, their environmental impact often goes unnoticed. The skincare industry can do better by making products without microplastics while still keeping high quality. It’s important to educate consumers by improving product labels and being transparent about what’s in them.

The microplastics and microbeads included in many exfoliating scrubs pose a threat to aquatic life. Choose natural exfoliants instead to stay away from this. When you need to exfoliate, think about using sugar or sea salt.

Choose Multi-Use Products

Products with multiple uses are great for reducing trash. You can save money and reduce product use with their support. Lipstick has always been a go-to for beauty fans seeking a multipurpose product. Just be sure to use cosmetics that are safe for various areas of your skin. One multipurpose product can accomplish the work of a multitude of others, saving you money. 

Always seek out products that serve multiple purposes, like a blush that can double as a lip color. In line with this idea, we recommend products that you can use on your lips, lids, and cheeks, such as Exa Light Show Multi-Use Pigment or Jillian Dempsey Cheek and Lip Tint.

Reduce Consumption

If you want to make a difference in the environment, cutting down on consumption is better than adopting eco-friendly items. Keep from purchasing new things if you haven’t put the existing ones to good use. Reselling or donating unwanted items might be a better option than simply tossing them away or not using them at all.

Reduce Water and Energy Consumption

It is crucial to decrease your consumption of water and energy during your beauty treatments. Instead of leaving the water running while you attend to other matters, make sure to turn off the faucet. Similarly, to save energy, turn off lights and electronics when they’re not in use.

Final Thought

You can save money and help the planet by adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle. It is up to you, the consumer, to make a change. Keep your beauty regimen eco-friendly by following our tips and don’t forget the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle.