Can Your Skincare Routine Be More Eco-Friendly?
Skincare can be an important way to feel happy and healthy. There are endless products on the market that offer different benefits, but a product's packaging and ingredients directly impact the global ecosystem. The cosmetic industry notoriously produces single-use products made with plastic containers. However, ethical consumers can shrink their footprints and improve their appearance by adopting sustainable skincare routines. Individuals can bolster ecological conservation efforts by using eco-friendly goods. Before heading to the store, it’s important to know what makes certain products more sustainable than others.
What Makes Skincare Unsustainable?
A significant feature of unsustainable beauty products is non-recyclable containers and packages. In the U.S. alone, container and packaging waste makes up nearly 82.2 million tons of landfill pollution. Some products also contain single-use plastic components. When plastics degrade in landfills, storm water can carry them to the ocean. Marine creatures often mistake microplastics for food and ingest the toxic materials. Microplastics cause growth stunting, appetite limitations, liver damage, reproductive disruption, and tissue inflammation.
Another ecological challenge in the cosmetic industry is resource exploitation. Products that contain toxins or require large quantities of freshwater deplete Earth’s finite elements. Environmentalists keep discovering sustainability-enhancing methods to reduce product pollution and encouraging people to make lifestyle changes.
Ways to Improve Your Skincare Routine
For those looking to reduce the amount of waste they produce, take a look at your current beauty routine. You can start by researching the brands you buy frequently to see what kind of materials they use, both in their packaging and formulas. A quick Google search can help you find alternatives to any brands you choose to cut from your routine. When you’re in a store, look for eco-friendly labels on products, including vegan, cruelty-free, recyclable or reusable. Buying all new products isn’t the only solution, though. Here are a few changes you can make every day to cut down on your waste and improve your routine.
Stop Using Single-Use Face Wipes
You can improve your skincare routine’s sustainability by ditching single-use makeup wipes. Makeup wipe manufacturers use synthetic fibers to create their products. The fibers are non-compostable and non-recyclable, which creates landfill pollution. Some makeup wipes also contain toxins and alcohol mixtures that irritate a user’s skin. You can reduce pollution and protect their skin by using washable microfiber cloths. Many of these products are vegan and hypoallergenic, which supports the environment and healthy skin.
Simply wet the cloth and use it to wipe away makeup. These cloths don’t require any additional products, and they can be thrown in the washing machine with the rest of your towels. Cleansing oils can also replace wipes as a greener solution. Companies like Boscia produce makeup breakup oil that clears your skin without towels or wipes. The makeup remover is vegan, cruelty-free, and contains anti-aging elements.
Sustainable Behavior Changes
Companies are constantly marketing new “must have” products to increase their sales. While some products are beneficial and recommended by professionals, such as SPF and daily moisturizer, others are unnecessary. Instead of buying into the latest beauty fad, there are simple behavioral improvements you can try first to get the same results in a natural and healthy way.
Many of your daily habits can contribute to poor skin. Try to eat healthier, get more sleep, quit smoking, and avoid touching your face. While some skin conditions are genetic and will require a trip to the dermatologist or a prescription medication to resolve, others come from bad habits. For example, researchers discovered that cigarettes cause melanoma and eczema. Tanning is another habit to avoid. Tanning beds use significant amounts of electricity, and tanning increases your risk of melanoma and early aging. By cutting out these habits and replacing them with healthier ones, you can reduce your waste all while achieving healthier skin.
Refill Your Product Containers
Refillable products have been on the rise. Companies like Lush take the “reduce, reuse, recycle” pledge seriously. About 90% of their products’ containers are recyclable and reusable. Customers can bring their empty containers back to Lush stores for discounted refills.
The company also offers packaging-free products like shampoo and conditioner bars. You can even find a shower cream shaped like a body gel bottle. Most of the package-less skincare products also last longer than the conventional alternatives.
Reduce Your Water Use
Another lifestyle change supporting sustainable skincare routines is water conservation. Of the water covering Earth’s surface, only .5% is freshwater. Turning off the faucet when you wash your face, or using a spray bottle, can minimize resource exploitation and wastewater production.
How Can You Adopt an Eco-Friendly Skincare Routine?
While it can be tempting to buy every new beauty product on the market, rethinking your skincare routine is a great way to live more sustainably. There are plenty of beauty companies working hard to prioritize eco-friendly packaging and reusable solutions. When you need to buy new products, do some research on the brand to see what sustainable practices they might follow. Spending money on new products is not the only solution, however, Take a look at your behaviors and find natural and healthy ways to improve your skin while helping the planet.
