Hacks For A ‘Go-Green’ Skincare Routine

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It’s no question that climate change is one of the most pressing global issues facing us today. Although drastic reform on the part of major corporations is essential to reducing the greenhouse emissions affecting our environment, making eco-conscious changes in our own daily routine still has an impact on our individual carbon footprint. One industry that produces some of the highest rates of waste is the cosmetic industry (roughly 120 billion units annually!), so here are some hacks to help your beauty/skincare routine become more eco-friendly:

  1. Replace your single use products. Reusable cotton rounds can be found online with a quick Google search, including from small businesses/sellers like Etsy if you want to avoid Amazon! If you aren’t able to switch, try cutting your cotton rounds and makeup wipes in half. You’ll often find that you don’t need to use the whole product if you’re wearing minimal or no makeup. 
  2. Switch plastic-bottled products with glass-bottled products. Not only is glass easier to break down in the recycling process, but you can also reuse larger glass bottles to hold flowers, coins, etc. Bottles of eight ounces and under can also be used to carry fluids like moisturizer, face cleanser, and liquid foundation for airplane travel. 
  3. Check the ingredients list. Before you buy a new product, look to see if there are any environmentally harmful preservatives or additives. For example, polyethylene is a common form of plastic found in many skincare products, and the run-off caused by washing this product down the drain can have a negative impact on the environment.  
  4. Do your research prior to purchasing. The more well-informed you are about what you buy, the less trial and error you’ll go through (and therefore less waste) when trying to find which products work best for you!