There are so many different kinds of beauty and skincare products to try, with new formulas constantly being developed, so it’s very easy to find yourself with a much bigger collection than you originally intended. Unfortunately, the more make-up and skincare that you own, the more likely you are to have to throw away old, dried up, or forgotten products, which is bad for both the planet and your wallet.
Below, Margo Marrone, Co-Founder of The Organic Pharmacy, shares her tips for improving the eco credentials of your make-up and skincare collection.
Understand your skin
If you find yourself constantly chasing the next miracle product, one option you should consider is to slow down and be patient. While it would be nice to see immediate results and it can be tempting to keep trying new products, it actually takes your skin at least 10 days to adjust to a new beauty regime. So, you may see a delayed effect or even experience breakouts while your skin adapts to suit your new product. This is completely normal, and you should resist the temptation to throw out your products if they don’t seem to work straight away.
Use natural, ethically-sourced products
Choosing natural make-up and skincare made from botanical extracts is much kinder to the planet for two reasons. The way they are developed and manufactured is much less damaging to the environment, and disposing of waste product is far less polluting since they are made from organic materials. Plus, all-natural skincare and make-up already contains everything you need for your beauty regime. The average woman uses 10–30 potentially hormone-disrupting cosmetics every day, but by going organic, you can avoid things like parabens, sulfates, and microbeads while still benefitting from skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid.
Look for sustainable packaging
It’s important to reduce the amount of make-up and skincare packaging you send to landfill, which is getting easier as more and more skincare and make-up brands embrace eco-friendly packaging made from recycled or recyclable materials. The best kinds to look out for are 100% natural and compostable and, ideally, made from tree-free paper. Alternatives to paper and plastic we use at The Organic Pharmacy include hemp, bamboo, bagasse fibres, and vegetable inks.
When your bottles, tubes, and other containers are empty, be sure to wash them thoroughly before you recycle them. And why not see if you can use them to store anything else? Many containers are ideal for mixing new shades, and it’s always handy to have a few extra containers handy in case one breaks. Or, get creative and see if you can find another use for them like storing mixed paints for crafting.
The tips in this guide can help you put together a beauty collection that’s more sustainable, and more effective too. Try them out now and change the way you think about make-up.
Images: Unsplash
