Lifestyle

How to make your beauty regime more sustainable



Last year, annual awareness campaign Zero Waste Week reported that over 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the cosmetics industry.

“If we make the assumption that most of those units are plastic, we can begin to see the scale of the problem,” says Rachelle Strauss, founder of Zero Waste Week. 

With experts estimating that by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will weigh more than the amount of fish, small changes we can make seem more significant than ever.

From ditching single-use plastic items for good to choosing sustainable ingredients and packaging, here are a few simple tips for making your beauty regime more sustainable.

Choose glass over plastic 

Paving the way for packaging-free shopping, Lush recently opened its first UK-based ‘naked’ store in Manchester. While we wait for one to come to London, a simple way to improve your packaging footprint is to opt for glass over plastic.

They may be something of an investment, but cult skin care brands like Tata Harper and Herbivore come in iconic glass containers, which can be recycled when empty. A luxurious newcomer to the scene is Cosmydor, an organic French brand that has a strict ‘no-packaging’ policy in place, replacing plastic with glass and aluminium and keeping cardboard usage to a minimum.

Support brands using sustainably sourced ingredients

Plenty of brands are focusing on the sustainability of their ingredients – and the best are using it to benefit local producers and harvesters too. Neal’s Yard Remedies, an early advocate for ethically sourced ingredients, has recently launched Project Frankincense, supporting the regeneration of ancient frankincense trees in Oman. The brand’s Natural Health Director, Susan Curtis, says, “We’re proud to use the most sustainably sourced frankincense available. It is also distilled locally, supporting local collectors and businesses.”

If you’re after a sustainable signature scent, Sana Jardin is enabling female farmers in north Morocco to upcycle floral waste into their own line of products, including orange blossom candles that are sold locally and nationally.

Ditch single-use make up removers

They may be unparalleled for post-night out make up removal but the sad truth is that make up wipes reportedly take up to 100 years to break down in landfill. What’s more, wipes can be harsh on skin and simply move bacteria around. If you want to avoid them (saving money and your skin in the process), try the machine washable Make Up Eraser (£17), which removes make up with just water. To ramp up the luxury, use a balm cleanser to nourish your skin while removing make up – Omorovicza’s Thermal Cleansing Balm (£55) gets rid of every trace, or, if gel cleansers are more your thing, try Dermalogica’s Special Cleansing Gel (£32).

#ShopMyStash

A term popularised by beauty experts – most recently anonymous Instagram collective @esteelaundry – with ever-expanding beauty collections, ‘shopping one’s stash’ is the simple act of going through half-used skincare and make up products (which are still in date!) to rediscover something you may have overlooked. That cleanser you relegated to the back of your bathroom cabinet last month? Give it another go, your skin’s ever-changing needs might be ready for it now. The perfect excuse for a beauty refresh – and no checkout at the end.

Recycle packaging

Many schemes are available to help you cut down on waste (and some come with rewards!). For make up fiends, MAC runs a well-known Back to MAC system; simply return six products to a store to receive a free lipstick – you can choose the colour. For your other beauty products, TerraCycle and Garnier have partnered to create a free recycling programme, through which you can drop off waste at a local collection point, or set up your own if there isn’t one nearby. By recycling, you’ll also earn points that can be donated to the charity of your choice.

Upcycle your candle jars

Got to the end of your beloved Byredo or Diptyque candle? A permanent fixture in every trendy #shelfie going, upcycled jars look chic, not to mention helping your (often hefty) investment go further than the end of your candle’s wick. Simply place an empty jar in the freezer for a few hours, remove any residual wax, give it a wash, then fill with brushes, tools or whatever you need to store.

Try refillable products

Refillable beauty remains at the higher end of the price scale but, if you’re okay with an initial investment, it can be a great way of reducing waste. Ultra-luxe brand Kjaer Weis has created refillable silver compacts that are just too fancy to throw away. A Cream Blush will set you back £41 but, once you’re finished with it, you can pop out the empty pan and a replace it with a refill to the (slightly more affordable) tune of £24. L’Occitane also offers a selection of products in economically friendly refill formats, which use 90 per cent less plastic than their standard sizes of hand wash, shower gel and even cleanser.

Make your period sustainable

Don’t stop at your beauty regime – ditch single use sanitary products for a more sustainable period too. Reporting that 100 billion period products are thrown away every year, DAME launched the world’s first reusable tampon applicator, which fits any brand of tampon. If you need convincing, they’ve also created a period waste calculator – scary stuff. To help you avoid tampons altogether, THINX has created washable, reusable pants that absorb blood with super-absorbent fabric, leak-resistant technology and odour-trapping lining. From thongs to boyshorts, the varying styles offer a range of absorbency for different flows, while looking and feeling like normal underwear. 





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