For those of us wanting to make sustainable changes to our lifestyle, it can seem incredibly daunting to know where to start, especially when it comes to our precious beauty routines.
But it’s easier than you think! We’ve rounded up the top five ways you can reduce your beauty footprint…
1 Replace tampons with a menstrual cup
Rather than most single-use period products that contain loads of plastic packaging, Saalt Menstrual Cups (£25) can be emptied, rinsed and re-inserted. Each cup lasts for up to 10 years, meaning the use of one Saalt Cup stops thousands of tampons and pads from clogging up landfills and oceans. Some Saalt users have experienced shortened periods while using a cup, in case you needed another reason to switch!
2 Ditch the face wipes
Though they seem incredibly handy when you’re too tired to take off your makeup, face wipes are as good for your skin as they are for the planet – aka terrible! They don’t actually cleanse your skin properly, simply moving the makeup, oil and dirt around on your face. Wipes often contain ingredients that can cause inflammation or irritation, so do yourself a favour and use a nourishing cleansing balm or oil.
3 Switch to bar soap
It’s a simple switch, but will substantially cut down on your plastic consumption, as hand soap is one of the most used products in our households, especially during the pandemic. Lyonsleaf’s 100% natural Goat’s Milk & Manuka Honey Soap (£4) contains excellent humectants to keep skin soothed and hydrated.
4 Pick aluminium over black plastic
If you’re not ready to give up your bottled shampoo and conditioner, don’t fret. However, it’s important to note that black plastic bottles aren’t easily recyclable, if at all, as the near infra-red technology that sorts recycling can’t read the black plastic and thus doesn’t sort it.
An easy way to avoid this issue is to use haircare in aluminium bottles, like Nereus London’s Australian Buddha Wood & Bergamot Shampoo and Conditioner (£19.99 each), which is packaged in infinitely recyclable aluminium bottles. Bonus? For every bottle of Nereus purchased, 1kg of ocean-bound plastic will be recovered via Plastic Bank.
5 Go slowly, you don’t have to become a green machine overnight!
If you’re not ready to give up your bottled shampoo and conditioner, don’t fret. We asked Natalie Elliott, Campaigner & Global Speaker on Toxic Beauty, Clean Beauty Expert, Author and founder of SAKRID self-care products for some advice.
Natalie comments, “Make small changes at first. Change your shampoo and conditioner or your facewash and moisturiser first and see how your body responds to this change. You may find you experience small break-outs in acne at first as the body can finally effectively detox itself of all of the toxins that have been building up. But it only takes 1-2 weeks for the body to love the changes you have made. The result is glowing skin and shining hair.
Once you have tried this small change, swap another product. Gradually, you will build up a range of natural products in your self-care routine and I am confident you will never go back to your old routine.”
