It’s 2019 and we’re all taking steps to be more sustainable and look after our planet. If you have switched to metal straws, said no to plastic cutlery, bought a re-usable coffee cup and been more thoughtful with your food shop then go you! But, what’s the next step?
How about tackling your approach to beauty?
If you stand back and take a look at your beauty routine (we’re talking bath, body, skincare and make-up) you’ll probably be overwhelmed with the amount of waste it produces. Bottles, cotton pads, boxes – the list goes on!
We can all take small steps to being better in this part of our lives. Here’s House of Coco’s guide to having a more eco-friendly beauty routine…
1. Switch to re-usable cotton rounds
Have you ever thought about how many cotton pads you sweep over your face once and just chuck in the bin? If you wear make-up you’re bound to go through loads of cotton rounds just by removing your face every night. But, you don’t have to. A simple swap to re-usable pads means you’ll never have to throw another one away! Simply, use as normal and then chuck your pads into the wash and use them again and again.
Unfortunately, there isn’t really a re-usable alternative to cotton buds yet, but you can get ones with paper stems (rather than the traditional plastic ones) which is another great way to ditch single use plastic.
2. Don’t buy travel minis
Travel minatures seem super convenient, but they’re not so good for the environment. Instead, get hold of some of those re-fillable travel bottles. This way, you can decant your usual cosmetics into these again and again – no more waste!
3. Have a plastic-free period
You might not know this, but regular sanitary products contain a surprising amount of plastic – some pads have been found to contain around 90%! This is not only bad for the environment, but it’s not good for your body either. Plastics can trap heat and bacteria, increasing the possibility of infection.
Lucky for us, the industry is doing something about it. Brands like TOTM are revolutionising period products. Made with 100% organic cotton their pads and tampons come in fully recyclable packaging, which is a win for female bodies and a win for the environment.
Menstrual cups are another great swap to make in a bid to say goodbye to period-related waste, with a single cup lasting around ten years!
4. Be conscious with how much product you’re using
An obvious way to reduce waste is to just use less. It sounds obvious, but we can all get carried away with an abundance of bubbles in the bath or slapping on shower gel. But try use a smaller amount and you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised about how far the product goes. The maths is simple. Using less = less waste.
5. Get naked!
Naked products are good because they are, well, naked. Nude. Packaging free. Lush are known for their naked products, in fact from 2018 65% of their products are completely package free and they have three Lush Naked stores – in Manchester, Berlin and Milan. They’ve got your whole routine covered, from deodorant and body wash, to body lotion and even foundation.
READ MORE: #CocoBeauty: Five Fair Trade Beauty Products
6. Make bamboo your best friend
An easy step into waste reduction is exchanging your plastic beauty tools for bamboo ones. You can get bamboo toothbrushes, razors and make-up brushes, so there’s really no excuse.
7. Recycle!
This in another obvious solution, and as a nation we’re definitely improving, but we can better. Read the labels on your bottles to see what can actually be recycled. It’s shocking how much waste gets sent to recycling that can’t be processed, ruining the whole load. And wash them out, if they’re dirty they often can’t be recycled.
Good luck in your quest to be kinder to our planet! Remember, any step in reducing your waste is a step in the right direction.
If you have any more tips please share them below.
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