Beauty products are undeniably bad for the environment. According to estimates, the beauty industry contributes 120 billion units of packaging a year. Sometimes the smallest changes (reusable coffee cups, taking tote bags to grocery stores, etc.) can be the things that ultimately make the biggest difference. However, it can still be overwhelming when it seems there is so much that we could all be doing better—it’s hard to know where exactly to begin.
To help you out, we have come up with 4 easy steps to make your beauty routine less harmful to people, animals, and the earth we inabit.
1. Switch out your plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one
How many toothbrushes do you go through in a year? Not that much? Now what about a lifetime though? The amount of plastic waste we dispose of really adds up, so it’s definitely worth opting in a more eco-friendly alternative. Bamboo toothbrushes are 100% biodegradable so you don’t need to feel guilty when disposing them. You can find these in your local drugstore or here for a pretty good price.
2. Use a reusable razor
To minimize your plastic waste you should switch to using a reusable razor instead of those horrible disposable ones that become dull and cut up your leg after two uses. A great, wallet friendly brand that provides you with a recyclable and vegan razor is Estrid. The packaging is mad cute and made completely out of recycled materials and can be recycled afterwards as well. The razor is not only eco-friendly, but also a savvy investment as all you need to do is exchange the blades every few months and this baby will last you for years. (Read more about Estrid in our TITLE feature here)
3. Remove your makeup with reusable cotton pads or a washable cloth
Makeup wipes aren’t biodegradable and are essentially bad for your skin as they smear around whatever makeup and dirt is already on your face, allowing it to become a breeding ground for bacteria. This will lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Also, if you use a makeup wipe, make sure to NEVER flush them down the toilet. Makeup wipes are horrible for nature and take 100 years to decompose, plus, flushing them could cause sewage blocks. Not cute!
Instead of using makeup wipes, tissues, and cotton pads which all create unnecessary waste TITLE recommends using the reusable microfiber cotton pads that you can find here. An easy alternative to that also is just using a washable cloth. This will create less trash and help our little fish friends 🙂
4. Shower with bar shampoo
While the “no-poo” (no shampoo) method works well for some people, it doesn’t work for everyone. Enter Ethique, a line of beauty bars that include everything from shampoo to face scrub. Beyond using biodegradable ingredients and compostable packaging, they eliminate the use of bottles, jars, lids, and pump dispensers. Using bar shampoo instead of bottled shampoo is one of the easiest ways of reducing plastic and it’s like reeeeaaallyyy good for your hair. You can shop the 3 shampoo bars and 2 conditioner bars here or you can go for the Lush bar shampoos which are a little bit more on the pricier side but you have the opportunity to go to the shop avoid the ecological damage of shipping.
Let’s all do what we can to save our planet one small step at a time <3
