The world of skincare and makeup is fun, pampering, and important for a lot of people. Sadly, our rising interest in buying more products also means the rise of consumerism, and with it, the increase of pollution, waste, and general damage to the environment. An eco-friendly beauty routine is a great choice for someone who wants to make more conscientious choices, who wants to be responsible, but also for those who want gentle, quality products that will soothe their skin. Whether you’re interested in making a statement to the big corporations that they must make better products and put the consumer before their greed, or you just want to make your own small contribution to preserving the environment, we’re here to help you make the right steps.
Stop wasting water
Let’s start with the easy one: reducing water usage. Far too many of us are used to letting the tap run while we brush our teeth, while we massage the cleanser into our face, while we exfoliate. Our showers also tend to be way too long, and the amount of water wasted during all these actions is huge and entirely unnecessary. There are too many countries in the world where clean water is considered to be a big luxury, and with various environmental factors wrecking havoc all around, our supplies of drinkable water are running out. Turning off the tap is a small, meaningless step to you, yet it can cultivate a great mindset that really makes you consider how your actions influence the environment.
Reduce the use of disposables
Razors, one-use makeup sponges, wet wipes, water bottles, shampoo bottles – all of these create a lot of waste. Try switching to reusable things, such as bamboo makeup brushes, electric razors, DIY body scrubs, refillable shampoo bottles, handkerchiefs, and refillable dish soap. As for water bottles? Just don’t use them. There is literally no significant difference between tap water and bottled water. You don’t need it, so don’t give into their marketing.
Luckily, more and more companies are pushing to make their makeup eco-friendly, vegan, and organic, and you already have a huge, incredible selection of mineral makeup that’s going to make you very happy. You see, as soon as you switch your foundation to something like Youngblood Cosmetics Loose Mineral Foundation, you can expect fewer irritations, fewer breakouts, and better skin quality. Youngblood is a great choice for mineral makeup, but there are a ton of other brands that you can try as well.
Recycle
Sometimes you just can’t avoid using disposables. However, the best thing you can do with those empty bottles and containers is recycled them. For some companies, like Lush Cosmetics, you can actually get a little gift if you bring them back their empty pots and tubes so they can recycle them. For the rest, here’s how you can go about the process of recycling.
Organic skincare
Organic skincare is a really great trend that even celebrities are fully embracing. Kora Organics is an excellent example – the gorgeous Miranda Kerr, former Victoria’s Secret Angel made her own organic line because she firmly believes in the benefits of these products. Sustainably-grown, environmentally-friendly ingredients that are used in this kind of cosmetics are not only good for the planet, but they’re good for you as well.
Same as with mineral makeup, they’re absolutely amazing for people with sensitive skin prone to irritations and buying organic shows the companies that you care about what they put in their products. Moisturizers, serums, cleansers, and other things can absolutely be made with safe, beneficial ingredients that don’t harm the planet, and it’s time for the companies to acknowledge that.
The key to a good beauty routine is doing research, paying attention to the label, and withholding your own consumerist urges to own more and more things. Don’t let the companies spin your mind, don’t let them convince you that you need every single product in their line if you want to look beautiful. Choose trustworthy companies with good customer service and good policies, because the best way to save the environment is to actually make these big corporations pause and reconsider their greed and bad habits. Little things like the ones we mentioned can be your own small ways to protect this beautiful planet and to make all our lives better.
