Looking to make your beauty routine more sustainable? Here are some of our best tips on how you can follow a more sustainable routine that does not hurt the beauty of nature!
- Simplify your beauty routine
I know many of us adore skincare and makeup and want to try out everything new, but this habit could be costing the environment as it is unsustainable. By purchasing only what we need, lesser waste is left behind after using beauty products. This means that you avoid wasting natural resources too, while also reducing problems like overconsumption and excess demand.
2) Multi purpose products are your best friend
Making your beauty routine minimal doesn_t mean you have to choose between two products. Why not buy a product that can do both instead? Multi purpose products like our Oats and Roses Face Cleanser or Hair Treatment Oil are the best option for many reasons. You get multiple uses from one product which means lesser packaging waste. It is also extremely convenient to carry around or travel with.
3) Buy products with sustainable packaging
There was a time when there were no alternatives to plastic packaging, but today they are very much available. Plastic packaging once thrown away end up in landfills and oceans. They do not decompose for decades, sometimes even centuries. Glass and tins are two packaging options that are sustainable since they can be reused for many years. If these two are not an option, there are also plastic alternatives like PET which are used for products that are prone to breakage ( think travel friendly). PET is biodegradable.
4) Minimal packaging
When choosing products to buy, look out for items that come with as little packaging or even better, packaging free. This discourages the practise of unnecessary packaging that several companies still use for absolutely no reason.
5) Refill and reuse old packaging
Many brands have actually started refill policies. Some also sell refills for their products. This minimises wastage which means lesser garbage, lesser dumping. And more sustainability.
6) Recycle empty bottles
When a company says the packaging of a product is recyclable, we need to also keep in mind that these aren_t going to recycle themselves. Millions of shampoo bottles land up in landfills even if they can be recycled. Why does this happen? Because we aren_t starting from our home. Make it a point to segregate your waste into items that can be recycled and those that cannot be. If you are unsure of how to recycle a certain product, you can always get in touch with the brand to know how!
7) Ditch the cotton pads and wipes
Most of us use cotton pads or makeup wipes in our daily beauty routines. Makeup wipes are terrible for the environment because most of them are not biodegradable and like all waste, end up in landfills. While cotton pads are not too bad, they aren_t a sustainable alternative. Your hands are your best tool when it comes to applying products, but the good news is there are alternatives to cotton pads as well! Reusable pads made out of bamboo are available which do not have to be tossed away because they can be washed and reused.
8) Use organic and natural ingredients
I will always be an advocate for clean beauty products because they are not only great for your skin, but also nature. I_m sure you are aware of the fact that ingredients like exfoliating microbeads used in scrubs are not biodegradable and cause water pollution. Similarly, toxic chemicals like triclosan, oxybenzone and many more, pollute the environment and are harmful to marine life. Natural ingredients are biodegradable and decompose for the most part, so switching to clean beauty will improve your health and be kind to earth.
9) Not every natural ingredient is sustainable
Even though natural products are biodegradable, not at all sustainable. For example, an ingredient like argan oil takes many years to grow while there is excess demand for it. It_s a non-renewable resource. When purchasing any products, opt those those which utilise sustainable natural products.
10) Support sustainable brands
Do you research and learn more about how brands source their ingredients and what goes into making their products. Always choose cruelty free brands. Unfortunately, many businesses carry out unethical sourcing of their ingredients. Instead, purchase from brands that practise sustainable sourcing for their products. This not only supports them but also means you_re doing better for the environment.
11) Do not waste water
Most skincare products require the use of water. I know it_s not avoidable, but we can certainly be more mindful of its usage. Taking quicker showers, turning the tap off when not used, etc are small ways we can save water and use just how much is required to make our beauty routine sustainable.