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Last Updated on August 8, 2021
Although many of us are starting to do our part to protect the planet, the reality is that the average person still generates more than four pounds of trash each day. And while July has been designated as a month for plastic-free and zero-waste initiatives, there’s no reason why you can’t continue that effort throughout the rest of the summer — especially when it comes to your personal care routine. Whether you’re continuing to stay home or you’re venturing outside with a mask covering half your face, you still deserve to feel beautiful. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you achieve a gorgeous look while keeping waste to a minimum.
DIY Your Beauty Products at Home
One of the greenest beauty tips is to use what you already have at home to create your own pampering products. You can make a simple body scrub out of honey, brown sugar, and coconut oil or a mask especially for dry skin and hair out of banana, avocado, unsweetened yogurt, olive oil, and aloe vera. There are tons of DIY recipes you can use to replace beauty products you might otherwise buy at the store (many of which have a ton of unnecessary packaging). Although making your own cosmetic products will probably require some additional ingredient sourcing, this can be a great way to make use of all-natural (and vegan!) items while completely avoiding both the makeup aisle and the wastebin.
Switch From Bottles to Bars
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, perfume, face wash, moisturizers, and all sorts of other shower and beauty products come in plastic bottles. More than likely, customers are inclined to throw these bottles away once the products themselves are used up — and that can contribute to our already astronomical waste problem. You should consider switching to shampoo and conditioner bars instead, which are typically sold with less packaging and allow you to get more for your money. Solid fragrances, also known as perfume bars, can be a great and green alternative, too. Face cleansing bars are nothing new, but there are also blocks of body butter available on the market to replace your conventional lotion. If you’re not into bars, at least think about utilizing products that come in jars, which you can often refill or repurpose. There are even toothpaste jars to help you ditch the tube!
Try Reusable Makeup Removers
Maintaining beautiful skin is a must for many people. While some resort to Botox, which lasts only three months, others are perfectly content with using a great moisturizer and some full-coverage foundation. As such, you’ve probably used a lot of makeup wipes and cotton pads in your day to get the makeup off. But those products do a number on the environment. There are a number of greener options available, like reusable cotton rounds, reusable makeup remover cloths, cleansing oils, and wipes that are biodegradable or compostable. Although you might spend a bit more on these products than on a pack of wipes at your local pharmacy, many of them last far longer and can help you be a bit more conscious of your use.
Use Sustainable Brushes
A lot of makeup brushes are decidedly non-vegan, but there are more on the market that are cruelty-free and sustainable. EcoTools, for example, specializes in brushes with bamboo handles and synthetic bristles; they also contain recycled aluminum. There are a number of other brands that have similar designs. Just make sure that whatever brush set you buy will last you a while and comes in some kind of eco-friendly or reusable packaging.
Don’t forget that your teeth are an important part of your beauty routine, too! Although 64% of people say that discolored teeth are their main reason for being unhappy with their smile, you can reduce waste here, as well. There are whitening toothpastes and other products that come in reusable jars, as well as toothbrushes with bamboo handles. When you need to replace your toothbrush, you can actually remove the bristles and add the handle to your compost bin.
It takes conviction to shop in an eco-conscious matter. But with these waste-reducing tips in mind, you can feel even better about your beauty routine.
