Want to do your part to reduce waste? Then it’s time to green your beauty routine!
Do the products you rely on regularly, like shampoo and body wash, come packaged in plastic containers? Are you turning to disposable items, like makeup removal wipes, instead of reusable ones? There are steps you can take to make your beauty regimen much gentler on Mother Nature.
Since the 1950s, approximately 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced, according to Greenpeace.org. And unfortunately, 79 percent “has ended up in landfills or the environment.” Although the beauty industry can’t be held accountable for all the waste that is currently clogging our oceans and crowding our landfills, unsustainable beauty products definitely contribute to the problem.
If you’re ready to reevaluate your beauty regimen, we’d like to help. Following are some popular products that will bring you closer to zero-waste living!
1. Bar shampoo
Replace your bottled shampoo with the Auromere Shampoo Bar with Organic Neem Tulsi-Spice. Formulated for all hair types, it’s free of animal products, gluten, paraben, sulfate and GMOs. Plus, it’s rainforest friendly and perfectly portable for added convenience!
2. Facial bar soap
Many face washes come in plastic containers that eventually find their way to landfills. The Seaweed Bath Co Unscented Purifying Detox Facial Bar With Charcoal and Volcanic Ash “gently softens and purifies for smoother, healthier-looking skin,” without all the waste. Made with sustainably harvested bladderwrack seaweed, it contains an impressive 65 vitamins and minerals!
3. Body bar soap
Love your body wash but hate the plastic bottle it comes in? Try Woods Raw Black Body Bar Soap with Fair Trade organic shea butter, cocoa butter and oats instead! Its nutrient-rich “antioxidant formula helps regenerate skin cells and neutralizes free radicals.” It also helps restore skin’s elasticity, replenish moisture and provide a healthy glow.
4. Bamboo makeup brushes
Seeking a brush set that Mother Nature herself would approve of? The professional-quality Honeybee Gardens Eco-Friendly 6-Piece Professional Brush Set boasts “cruelty-free Taklon bristles, sustainable bamboo handles and recycled aluminum ferrules” for minimal impact on our planet. The set includes a powder brush, an angled lines/lip brush, a lash and brow brush, an angled shadow brush, a concealer brush and a convenient reusable pouch.
5. Pressed powder
Skip the conventional powder compacts and choose the reusable Honeybee Gardens Powder Compact With Puff instead! The compact includes a convenient mirror, a reusable puff and less packaging for “a happier planet.” It's “the perfect carrying case” for Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Powder refills, which are available in a variety of shades, such as Luminous and Malibu.
6. Eyeshadow and blush
Swap out single-use eye shadow and blush (and all that plastic packaging!) for the Ecco Bella Paperback Duo Compact. Then simply select your eye shadow and blush shades and pop them into the luxurious, lightweight paper eco-compact. Tiny magnets will secure the cosmetics in place until you’re ready for your next set of refills.
7. Makeup remover cloth
Say goodbye to disposable makeup wipes! The Original MakeUp Eraser Reusable Cloth removes all your makeup in seconds with just water—even waterproof mascara! The soft, machine washable cloth is free of chemicals and can be used for 1,000 washes.