A lot of people spend a fair amount of time on their daily beauty and skincare routine. It’s a daily ritual that has become second nature, and that’s why it can be hard to objectively look at what we’re doing and how we’re doing it and assess whether we might actually be harming the planet in some way. It’s perfectly possible even if you can’t immediately imagine how your face creams and lotions could be an issue. Read on to find out where the major problems lie and how you can make your skincare more eco-friendly in the future.
Stop Using Face Wipes
Face wipes are convenient items that many, if not most, of us have in our skincare routine. They are perfect for wiping away the day’s makeup and dirt and for ensuring the skin is ready for the cleanser and moisturizer that is to come. These wipes are extremely bad for the environment, and to make matters worse, they are bad for your skin.
Face wipes tend to contain ingredients that will strip the skin of its natural oils, drying it out. Add to this the fact that one face wipe takes as much as one hundred years to decompose in a landfill, and you can see how much of an issue they are. Switching from face wipes to a flannel that you can regularly wash is the best option.
Check The Ingredients
Unless you know what ingredients are in your skin creams and moisturizers, you won’t know if they are sustainable or eco-friendly, so you must check before buying anything. The products you use should be ethically made, and the ingredients must not have any negative long-term impact on the planet. Some brands such as Thalgo are known for being particularly good in this regard, and sticking to something that has a good reputation like this is a great way to start.
Opting for natural, clean skincare solutions not only benefits the environment but also your complexion. Beauty products from sustainable sources are far less likely to contain harmful synthetics and chemicals which can dry out your skin and even make spots and imperfections worse.
Recycle Or Re-Use Your Containers
When you look at the items you have already bought, remember that the containers you have can often be recycled, especially if they are glass, although some plastic packaging can be recycled too. Before you do so, however, you’ll need to thoroughly clean the packaging to ensure there are no traces of your skincare lotions left behind.
As an alternative, you can re-use your containers. You can either use them in a package-free store to fill up with more cream or gel, or you can turn them into something else like a jewellery holder or a makeup brush container. You could even store them up and use them at Christmas or for your loved ones’ birthdays to give them something for their own home – homemade gifts are very eco-friendly.
