Do you have dozens of beauty products adorning your bathroom shelves? You’re not alone. Every day, American women use on average 12 personal care items containing 168 chemicals, while men apply 6 skincare products with 85 potentially toxic ingredients. And that’s not all. Most cosmetic packaging is made of non-recyclable materials that will ultimately end up in a landfill. The good news is, there are plenty of sustainable alternatives that can benefit your health, your budget, and the environment. Read on to find out what they are.
Sustainable Bathroom Swaps
There is a lot we can do to make our personal care habits more sustainable and reduce our environmental impact. Swapping our regular beauty essentials with zero-waste ones is an easy first step:
- Opt for eco-friendly biodegradable bamboo versions of plastic toothbrushes, combs, and hairbrushes.
- Choose washable bamboo makeup remover pads instead of single-use cotton ones.
- Try aluminum-free deodorants without plastic packaging. All-natural deodorants by Natural Vegan Club and Meow Meow Tweet are gentle yet effective, and come in pretty cardboard tubs.
- Replace non-recyclable plastic tubes of toothpaste, full of potentially harmful chemicals, with non-abrasive tooth powders and toothpaste tablets. Several brands such as Georganics and Butter Me Up Organics offer good zero-waste alternatives.
- Regular dental floss not only comes in disposable plastic containers but is coated with a toxic Teflon-like substance. For an environmentally-friendly, healthier option, switch to Dental Lace mulberry silk floss. It is compostable and sold in refillable glass packaging.
Homemade Beauty Products
Making your own personal care products is easier than you might think. It allows you to look your best without exposing your skin to toxins, reduces your carbon footprint, and is budget-friendly. Here are a few DIY beauty essentials recipes to try:
Lip balm
This homemade balm will make your lips look glossy and nourished. All you need to do is combine equal parts of cacao butter, coconut oil, and beeswax in a mason jar placed in a pot of simmering water. Once the mixture has melted, pour it into a lip-balm tin, and let cool to room temperature.
Makeup remover
Replace your makeup remover lotion or wipes with plain coconut oil. Liquify the oil in your hands and gently rub onto dry skin, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
Hair conditioner
To make a simple hydrating conditioner, combine 1 cup apple cider vinegar and 3 cups water. And that’s it. No more need to resort to chemical-laden products to make your hair shiny and smooth.
Sugar scrub
It takes just a few minutes to make this exfoliating sugar scrub that will leave your skin soft and glowing. Simply melt 1/2 cup coconut oil in a double boiler or the microwave. Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup organic cane sugar together with 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil or vanilla extract.
Shaving cream
To make your own protective and soothing shaving cream, combine 1/2 cup shea butter and 1/2 cup coconut oil with 1/4 cup aloe vera. Place in a double boiler, heat until melted, then strain and add a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Once the cream is solidified, whip it into fluffy peaks using a hand mixer.
Zero Waste Cosmetic Brands
Some beauty products, including makeup, require more intricate ingredients and are not as simple to make at home. Luckily, there is an increasing number of zero-waste cosmetic brands to choose from. They offer natural skincare that is gentle both on your skin and the environment.
New York-based Apothecary Muse specializes in sustainable skincare for outdoor enthusiasts and has everything from strong zero-waste deodorants to sore-muscle balms.
Besides being a committed zero-waste brand, Loli guarantees that their products are completely waterless. They use exclusively upcycled food-grade ingredients and compostable packaging.
For a wide range of zero-waste makeup, skincare, and bath products, look no further than Beautycounter. Not only is this clean-beauty brand fully transparent about their ingredients and packaging, but their products have stellar reviews and affordable price tags.
Embracing Sustainable Personal Care
Whether you’d like to try making your own beauty products or prefer using zero-waste cosmetic brands, here are a few basic rules to keep in mind:
- Avoid impulse purchases. Buy less—when it comes to skincare, more is not always better.
- Select the items you buy carefully. Check out the Skin Deep Database for potential toxins in your personal care products.
- Be a conscious consumer. Keep in mind that beauty brands are not under strict regulations with regard to labeling and testing of ingredients for safety.
- Simplify your skincare. Develop a minimalist skin routine that is limited to only a few essentials.
- Reduce waste. Use up products entirely before moving onto new ones.
With zero-waste beauty turning into a booming trend, making sustainable personal care part of everyday routine is easier than ever. This may just be the perfect place to start your journey toward a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
