Your beauty routines can include excessive packaging, unsustainable manufacturing processes, and other habits that can negatively impact the environment. Here’s the good news: you can help minimize these environmental impacts even with just minor changes in your routines.
Here are five small changes that can make your beauty regimen more environmentally friendly.
1. Switch to Natural Skincare Products
Synthetic or chemical-based skincare products often contain parabens, sulfates, and other ingredients that can irritate your skin and contribute to pollution.
With natural skincare products, you are nourishing your skin effectively and safely while reducing your environmental impact. There are natural skincare products for all aspects of your beauty routine, such as:
| Routine | Sample Natural Ingredient | Sample Product |
| Anti-Aging | Hyaluronic Acid | Face creams that plump up the skin and reduce fine lines |
| Brightening | MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) | Eye gels that brighten the dull skin around the eyes |
| Hydration | Cocoa Seed Butter | Moisturizers that also slow down skin water loss |
| Soothing | Green Tea | Face serums that neutralize free radicals |
2. Choose Minimalist Intimate Skincare
The intimate area is one of the body’s most delicate and sensitive regions. It requires extra care, so it is important to select intimate skincare products carefully. Some products may have harmful ingredients and non-recyclable packaging, harming your intimate area and the planet.
Consider switching to minimalist, intimate skincare products. These products use fewer ingredients and minimal packaging. They help minimize risk, reduce environmental impact, and simplify your skincare routine.
There is a minimalist, intimate skincare product for every situation. Whether you need a product for everyday use or one for hyperpigmentation or itch relief, there are companies worldwide that aim to provide the safest and most environmentally friendly option for your intimate area.
| Vaginal pH Value: The normal vaginal pH range is from 3.8 to 5.0. This is considered moderately acidic since the naturally neutral pH level is 7. The acidic environment is designed to protect women from opportunistic infections and sexually transmitted pathogens. |
3. Avoid Unsustainable Makeup Packaging
The beauty and personal care industry is expected to generate $736 billion in global revenue by 2028. There are just so many products being launched and sold, but you should be very careful not to get swept away by the latest lipstick launch or eyeshadow palette release. The industry is just in love with unsustainable packaging, particularly plastic.
Here are some tips to avoid unsustainable makeup packaging:
- Look for products with little to no plastic in their packaging
- Choose options with more recyclable packaging like glass or aluminum
- Consider those with biodegradable packaging like cardboard and cork
For more plus points in sustainability, keep an eye out for makeup products with cruelty-free and vegan credentials. These options typically prioritize ethically sourced materials and small-batch productions.
4. Avoid Single-Use Items
Single-use beauty products may be convenient, but they lead to more trash in landfills. There is a better way: reusable beauty products. Use reusable alternatives to your beauty products to help the environment, save your wallet, and improve your routines.
Here are some reusable alternatives to common single-use beauty products and how they improve your routines:
| Single-Use Items | Reusable Alternatives | How They Improve Your Beauty Routine |
| Disposable Razors | Stainless Steel Razors | Avoid dull blades and lead to a smoother shave |
| Face Wipes | Cloth Facial Towels | Provide better textures for exfoliating and cleaning |
| Makeup Sponges | Washable Sponges | Hold their shape better for more consistent makeup application |
| Sheet Masks | Silicone Sheet Mask Covers | Allow you to customize products for different skincare routines |
5. Conserve Water
Can you even talk about sustainability without mentioning water conservation? Water is easy to take for granted when doing your skincare routines, but there is a growing global concern for water scarcity that you just can’t ignore.
Here are a few simple tweaks in your beauty routine to reduce your water consumption:
- Turn off the tap while scrubbing your face or brushing your teeth
- Use a bowl with water for water-intensive routines like double-cleansing
- Take shorter showers by washing and rinsing efficiently and avoiding delays
- Clean your beauty tools in a bowl of soapy water and not in a running faucet
Water is a limited resource. What each of us does in the world, how we live, does make a difference. As we learn the value of clean, safe water and how scarce it truly is, we can take steps to protect it and to get it to people who lack access today.
— The Water Project (thewaterproject.org)
Small Steps with Big Effects
You don’t need grand gestures to make your beauty routines eco-friendly. Even simple changes like using natural and minimalist products and conserving water can go a long way.
Take the first step today. Your skin and the planet will thank you for it.