Building a makeup routine can be difficult, especially in India. With the heat requiring high-quality products that last, counterfeits that are harmful for the skin and your health being everywhere and the lack of shade ranges when it comes to foundations and concealers, it’s easy to just settle for non-ethical products that are not great for the environment from lack of choice.
When you think about saving the environment, many often forget about the beauty and skincare industry and its devastating effects on the world. In a recent study, it was found that the beauty industry produces over 12 billion units of packaging, with only 14% of that packaging actually being recycled. This huge figure highlights the necessity of women switching to more sustainable alternatives, especially as the Indian beauty market grows every year.
So if this has persuaded you to start an eco-conscious journey with your beauty and skincare routine, or you want to make the switch to eco-consciousness and you don’t know how, this article will explore how you can build a low-waste beauty and skincare routine, so you can start saving the environment with every application.
Opting for products that have more than one purpose is an easy way to cut down on packaging waste. This includes eyeliners that can double up as eyebrow pencils, as well as moisturisers that have SPF and face primer in them. This means that there is less waste once you have finished with the product, as well as saving money on buying multiple products. In addition, for those who have busy mornings and need to rush out the door, multi-use products can save valuable time in your routine, giving you more time to relax in the mornings. Overall, these kinds of products only have positive benefits for you and the environment.
Choosing brands that are actively eco-conscious is another way to lower your footprint and reduce the waste in your skincare routine. This includes brands that offer eco-conscious packaging made from recycled materials or other companies that offer refillables rather than plastic outer packaging. In addition, ensuring that products are also cruelty-free is beneficial for the environment, including shopping from brands such as Refy Beauty, which are Leaping Bunny approved.
Those actively choosing these brands, you can support companies that are putting in the effort to improve the environment. Even if this is just replacing a few of your products in your routine with sustainable and eco-friendly products, this can still make a noticeable impact over time.
In the age of TikTok and Instagram, it’s easy to over-consume. Constantly seeing new makeup and skincare products that influencers are using every day, it’s easy to think that you need more and more products, even though there are probably plenty of products in your current beauty routine that do the same job, with nearly the same formula. This highlights the issue of over-consumerism that many of us fall into, pushed by societal pressures. Therefore, you should avoid over-purchasing products just for the viral hype, only to hoard them for years.
To further ensure that you avoid overbuying, a tip is to only buy a new product when another item is finished to replace. This keeps your makeup and skincare collection efficient and small, making it easier when you travel long distances without time to manage your makeup.
Disposing of packing responsibly is another way to make your skin care routine low-waste and reduce your footprint. To ensure that the product packaging you dispose of is disposed of properly and responsibly. This includes recycling any plastic or glass by checking the back of the packaging and following the guidance for disposal. This ensures that the materials are disposed of using the correct techniques so that they can have a new lease of life.
Another way to give new life to old packaging is to reuse containers creatively. This includes using old cream pots as planters for small plants, old tubs as storage containers for rings and bracelets and using an old spray bottle to fill with water and use to spray plants or as travel body sprays when you go abroad. Allowing these containers to have a second life revolves around the single-use aspect of them and ensures that the plastic’s lifecycle is extended.
Most makeup routines are filled with single-use products that you may not even realise or think about when it comes to creating a low-waste skin care routine. Have you ever got some mascara on your eyelid when applying it and reached for a cotton wool bud to wipe it off, or do you take off your make-up every evening by using a cotton pad? Well, both of these are unnecessary waste that could be avoided through using materials that are multi-use rather than single-use.
Instead, opt to use products such as reusable make up pads and face cloths to remove and wipe off any makeup. When you are finished with it, you can put these into the wash and reuse them. If you do still want to use these products, then there are more sustainable options, such as bamboo cotton wool buds and recycled cotton wool pads. Even eliminating the smallest waste from your routine can make a big difference, not only to the environment but financially, as you will never have to worry about buying these products again.
Small changes to your routine do not have to be drastic but can give you a chance to help our environment in your own way. If you only do one or two of these things in your beauty and skincare routine, it’s a positive step forward to activate a routine that not only makes you feel good but is also beneficial for the environment at the same time.
So what are you waiting for? Create a low-impact and low waste skincare and makeup routine today and start putting the environment first.
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