Minimise Your Beauty Waste!
Let’s face it – being a beauty product enthusiast is great fun. Not only do we anticipate exciting new launches constantly, but we get to collect every glittery eyeshadow on the market and have a dressing table reminiscent of a Boots store. However, there is a flip side to every pleasure. When it comes to beauty, feeling guilty about our planetary impact can take the shine off your new favourite lip gloss. Nevertheless, there are ways to enjoy beauty products while not wreaking such havoc on mother earth. Here are our top beauty waste reduction tips.
Spray, Delay, and Walk Away
If you use a toner, it’s an excellent idea to go for a product that comes in a spray bottle. Then, you can apply a mist to your face without using cotton wool. Cotton is one of the least sustainable plants on earth, and cutting back on two pads per day will significantly alter your environmental impact. If your favourite formula doesn’t come in a spray bottle, you can always purchase a reusable one and decant it instead.
Beauty Waste? Ban Wipes!
Wipes are the enemy. Remember that fatberg? Beauty Waste is one of the prime culprits. The plastic content in makeup removal and facial wipes binds together all manner of grime and causes huge issues for our plumbing system. As a result, they can take an incredibly long time to break down after use. Instead, buy yourself a nice pack of microfibre cloths (Primark do great ones for a more affordable price) and use them with warm water or cleanser to remove your makeup. I promise you’re not “too tired” to walk to the sink.
Mix and Match
Take your time with purchasing if you see a trendy new eyeshadow or lipstick shade and want a piece of the action. If you already have a substantial makeup collection (guilty), you have the colour palette to create almost any shade. Try mixing products you already have before assuming you need to consume yet more makeup items.
One In, One Out
If you’re experiencing issues with overconsuming (buying more beauty products than you can use), try to opt for a stricter policy. For example, suppose you only purchase a new thing when you finish something else. It’ll stop your collection from expanding exponentially and be a great impetus to finish your beauty products in full!
Get to the Finish
On a similar note, many of us toss away half-finished beauty products due to poorly designed packaging. To tackle this common issue, invest in mini beauty spatulas. You’ll be amazed at how many perfectly usable products you’ve been throwing away. Of course, the biggest offenders are anything that comes in a pump bottle – so it’s usually pricier items, like foundations or serums. Saving money while saving the planet? Now that’s some eco-warriors we can get on board with any day!
Shop Beauty in Store
I’ll be the first to admit that online shopping is enjoyable and easy. However, considering the extra packaging needed to ship, plus the carbon used to transport your product from the shipping facility to your front door, it starts to seem a little crazy, too. If you need a stock-up, how about waiting until you’re in-store and picking it up then?
A Happy (Waste-Free) Period
Having your period isn’t just an unpleasant experience – it’s not too kind on the planet, either. Despite this, there are ways to lessen your monthly impact on mother earth. Period-safe underwear and swimwear are becoming increasingly popular for a good reason. For example, I am personally absolutely obsessed with Cheeky Pants. Their period underwear comes in a range of comfy (and surprisingly stylish) options, and their swimsuit is even more ingenious! In addition, gentle exercise can help massively with period pain and low mood. With this costume, you can splash about without any fear of leakage and reduce your beauty waste.
Looking for more on Fashion, Beauty, and Sustainability? Check out our article on Greenwashing here!
