With almost 70 percent of waste from the beauty industry ending up in landfills, cleaning up your beauty routine can be one of the single most beneficial steps you can personally take to help the environment. However, it can still be intimidating to opt for more sustainably made products in lieu of familiar beauty favorites. Thankfully, the old mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” we were taught in elementary school can be a helpful guideline for overhauling your beauty routine.
Remember, anything is better than nothing, and just you taking the time to make a few changes in your beauty routine can make a huge difference for the environment. Here are just a few steps you can take to clean up your beauty routine:
Step 1: Reduce
Mindful consumption can be a key first step to overhaul your beauty routine. Looking at the ingredients in your skincare and makeup when shopping can preemptively reduce the number of chemicals in your beauty routine that is harmful to both your skin and the environment.
Supporting sustainable beauty brands over conventional options is another great step towards creating a sustainable and ethical beauty routine. Research the process and make sure the new products you are buying are made ethically and sustainably. At Moonlit Skincare, we focus on empowering the workers at our factories by providing them with free childcare and fair wages. Supporting companies whose values align with yours can make a huge difference in your carbon footprint and the ethics of your beauty routine.
Courtesy of Henna Color Lab
Obviously, if you never buy products with plastic packaging you are drastically going to reduce your carbon footprint. But in a beauty industry littered with plastic-wrapped in plastic, it can be difficult to find sustainable alternatives to conventional beauty products. One easy solution to reducing your carbon footprint can be found in any local mall. Instead of buying shower products (ie: shampoo, conditioner, body wash) that come packaged in plastic bottles, opt for shampoo and conditioner bars from stores like Lush instead that come in reusable tin packaging.
Reuse:
There are also many products beauty lovers use that can be swapped out for reusable, sustainable options:
Opt for reusable cotton pads like these. The one-time purchase of reusable cotton pads can replace the hundreds of cotton pads you use to apply your skincare and remove your makeup every month. They’re an easy and substantial step to making your skincare routine more sustainable.
Opt for cleansing pads instead of makeup wipes. After a long night out, it can be tough to even take off your makeup let alone go through the full cycle of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. These cleansing pads give you the same convenience of a makeup wipe while dramatically reducing your waste.
Ditch disposable razors for a safety razor. With recyclable blades and a stainless steel handle that’s built to last, safety razors can work out to be cheaper than disposable razors and give you a closer, smoother shave, making them a good investment for your wallet, for your skin, AND for the environment.
Recycle:
Choosing products packaged in recyclable materials like glass (i.e. Moonlit's Midnight Shift Oil) can help reduce the number of beauty products you send to the landfill every year. Take the time to check your products for a recycling symbol when shopping and when you’re decluttering your beauty collection.
Companies like Terracycle also provide a quick and easy way for you to recycle conventional beauty products as well. Doing a little bit of research can go a long way in helping you decide which products are sustainable, eco-friendly choices.
While it can feel overwhelming when faced with articles filled with warnings about the dire consequences of climate change, making just a few small changes to our beauty routine can help reduce our waste and prevent more beauty products from littering landfills. Awareness is key, and taking small, incremental steps toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly beauty routine can affect long-lasting and impactful change.
We encourage you to take just five minutes today to really examine the products you’re using in your daily life and swap one product for a more sustainable option. And if you ever get overwhelmed trying to make the ethical, sustainable choice in beauty just remember the old mantra ‘Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!’