A more eco-friendly beauty routine: 6 simple ways to start
When our planet got a chance to take a break from us in 2020 while people stayed home, I reflected on my efforts in living an eco-conscious lifestyle and immediately recognize that I can do a lot better in all aspects. Our earth’s well-being is important to me, and I want to try my best to be as good to it as it has been to me. And therefore, one of my top new year goals for 2021 is to up my game in leading a “greener” way of life.
Realistically, it is not possible to flip a switch and become 100% sustainable overnight. It takes time and practice in any situation to turn new initiatives into habits, and eventually into a lifestyle. Rather than tackling everything at once, my experience is to focus on one area at a time.
For me, I realized I was generating a lot of beauty waste on a regular basis — sometimes on a daily basis — so my first task is to refine my skincare routine.
If you’re looking to establish a more eco-friendly beauty routine and are unsure where to start or simply need ideas on how to take it to the next level, read on for more.
Switch out one product at a time
As mentioned earlier, it’s more efficient to take this one step at a time.
Let’s say you use Q-tips on a daily basis. Start by swapping them out for cotton swabs made of biodegradable materials, before eventually trying out a reusable alternative to traditional cotton swabs.
Or if you frequently use cotton round pads to remove your makeup, try to go for ones made of 100% organic cotton and are biodegradable. Then, swap them out with reusable bamboo face rounds later. Eventually, instead of using any type of cotton pads to remove your makeup, opt for a cleanser that also removes makeup to skip the cotton pads altogether.
You can also start with easier swap-outs that won’t drastically change your lifestyle. For instance, get a toothbrush that is made of bamboo instead of plastic.
eco-friendly Face Rounds
Made with organic cotton and bamboo, these soft reusable mini face rounds are fully biodegradable and come in a pack of 7 for a week’s use — 1 per day, until laundry day!
Use HAPPILY15 for 15% off your order at Kitsch.
sustainable and reusable Q-tips
A sustainable alternative to traditional single-use cotton swabs, these Q-tips can be reused multiple times. Just clean them with soap and water!
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(Photo: @lastobject)
2. Repurpose beauty products that aren’t working out for you
I’m guilty of having thrown away multiple barely-used beauty products in the past. Often, I would purchase products that were so hyped up only to later learn that they were not at all suitable for my skin. In addition to passing them along to family or friends who don’t mind trying out products that I’ve already opened, I would think of other ways of repurposing them to avoid unnecessary waste.
One of my most-viewed TikTok videos showcases how I repurpose a face wash that didn’t work out for my skin as a cleanser for my face mask. Since the success of that video, I decided to share the same content in more detail on the blog (click here to read), as well as ideas for other skincare products (click here to read), too.
Alternatively, you can also donate them! The Project Beauty Share, for example, accept new or barely-used personal hygiene items, cosmetics, and skincare products to women in need and their families.
3. Opt for multi-tasking products
Going for multi-tasking products allows you to physically own fewer items that actually do more. I’m obsessed with this “less is more” concept because I like seeing my drawers and shelves neatly organized with “breathing space” and not packed with hundreds of things.
Some of my current favorite multi-purpose products include Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser that also removes makeup, the creamy Lip2Cheek by RMS which can be used on lips and cheeks, a face and hair hydrating algae oil by One Ocean, and Lano’s multi-purpose ointment balm for hydrating lips, cuticles and more.
The 4-in-1 makeup pen
This creative makeup product comes with the convenience of having 4 essential products all in one click pen. Just click down for eyeliner, highlighter, lip liner, or eyebrow pencil! How awesome is that!
(GIF: alleyoop)
4. Support eco-conscious beauty brands
The easiest way to ensure an eco-friendly beauty routine is to shop with eco-conscious brands! Whether they’re a brand that uses recyclable packaging or a company that sources sustainable, clean ingredients for their products — all of them help you move toward a greener lifestyle, one way or another.
One of the best places to shop for sustainable skincare products is Pink Moon, a wellcare-focused e-shop that features a carefully-curated collection of eco-conscious and clean beauty products.
Some of the other brands and sites to check out include:
Zero-waste shampoo and conditioner bars
These plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars are made with salon quality, non-harmful ingredients.
One bar is estimated to last around 100 washes, which will save two bottles of liquid shampoo or conditioner.
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5. Buy refillable beauty products
Purchasing refillable beauty products will always be more environmentally friendly because they generate less waste than non-refillable products. Fortunately, a growing number of companies are implementing a refill program to reduce our overall plastic footprint.
Some of the beauty brands that are helping to create less waste include:
Kjaer Weis — One of my favorite certified organic makeup brands makes their packaging from metal which is built to be longer-lasting than other materials, so you can refill over and over again. Refillable products include foundation, eyeshadow, lipstick, and more.
by Humankind — A line of non-harmful everyday products designed to be refilled. The brand eliminates single-use plastic by 90 percent or more.
Natura Brasil — The 100% vegan beauty giant that features products made with ingredients from the Amazon Forest was the first in Brazil to offer refills.
Le Labo — The luxury perfume brand offers refills for their travel tubes that are made in the U.S.
6. Recycle with beauty brands
A lot of companies have a recycling program. They take back emptied products and recycle them for you. This allows the companies to re-use the materials efficiently. Sometimes, you get rewarded for your efforts, too!
Some of these brands and retailers include Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, L’OCCITANE, Josie Maran, Kiehl’s, Pacifica, and many more.
What are some tips you have that helps when it comes to creating a more sustainable beauty routine? Share with me by leaving a comment below! I would love to learn more from you.
As always, thank you for stopping by Happily Ever Style.
xoxo,
Tricia
My new skincare must-haves.