2020 is the first year that I can remember the environment, sustainability and consumption greed being at the forefront of major conversations both globally and in my day-to-day life. I’ve never felt more inspired to go green. I learned very recently that many beauty products have harmful effects on the environment. From the plastic they’re being stored in to the toxins in their ingredients, our everyday beauty products are continuously polluting and disrupting every aspect of our ecosystem. After hearing this, I started looking through my products and I realized that almost every single one I owned was stored in plastic and made of ingredients I could barely pronounce. I was shocked. Since this discovery, I’ve made a conscious effort to replace my products with more environmentally-friendly and natural alternatives, and the effects these small changes have had on my skin are undeniable. Not only am I making greener choices, but my skin looks the best it has in years. Did I mention that all these alternatives are cost-effective, as well? My skin is happy, my bank account is happy, and I’m happy as I continue to reduce my carbon footprint. Here’s a list of some of the easy changes I made to adopt a greener routine. I hope these inspire you just as much as they’ve inspired me!
DISCLAIMER
Everybody’s skin is different. As humans, our skin cells can change depending on the season, our diet, our exercise habits, our hormonal balance and even our mental health. Any combination of these can be responsible for your skin’s appearance and capability to positively respond to new products. Leading a healthy lifestyle, being kind to others, and loving yourself and the earth is the easiest and most cost-effective way to always look and feel beautiful.
TONER REPLACEMENT
The previous toner I’d been using was stocked full of different alcohols and acids. A friend of mine enlightened me on the magic I’d been missing: witch hazel. She told me I would love it and she was right. I love it. I love it so much. Probably will forever.
I’ve started using witch hazel twice a day every day, and my skin is more even, bright and hydrated than ever before. It also feels so much cleaner! Some of witch hazel’s benefits include: soothing irritated skin, reducing redness, shrinking pores, fighting acne-causing bacteria and reducing oil production. All while tightening and toning skin! Your skin deserves this little bottle of wonder, and so do you, your wallet and our ecosystem. It’s awesome!
I buy a big bottle of witch hazel at the drug store and refill a glass bottle whenever I run out. It is much cheaper than any brand of drugstore toner I’ve ever come across, and it’s all-natural. Winner, winner, cost-effective-environmentally-friendly-while-working-really-well dinner!
Something you can start today:
Consider opting out of using cotton pads to apply witch hazel (or whatever toner you use) and instead just pour it directly into your (clean) hands to apply it. It is a small change, but it is something I have easily been able to go without, and it reduces my waste. Small changes can have lasting impacts!
SERUM REPLACEMENT
Aloe Vera has quickly become a favourite part of my skincare routine. I started using it every morning, and my friends always ask me what highlighter I use. I have the pleasure and satisfaction of smugly replying, “I don’t wear highlighter, it’s actually my aloe vera plant”. Mother nature: 1, beauty industry: 0.
Not only does Aloe Vera help with your skin’s radiance, but it is fantastic for soothing, hydrating and nourishing skin. Plus, Aloe Vera helps with skin cell turnover and aids in the replenishment of skin’s elasticity to reduce early signs of aging. It reduces inflammation and improves the skin’s natural firmness while bringing added oxygen to skin cells to improve your skin’s overall health and appearance. If glowing and healthy skin is something you are after, Aloe Vera is your new best friend!
In addition to the plenty of skin benefits, this is also a great sustainable alternative, as it grows itself. Aloe Vera is a house plant! I’ve named mine Gerald and we have become quite close. I take watering him and giving him sunlight very seriously and his thank you is the skin magic he produces within his stems. Within about a week of using it, I began noticing the positive change. Seriously, in addition to drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep and eating right, this is the best thing you can do for your skin!
Something you can start today:
Since we’ve been in isolation, I started to only wash my face with a cleanser at night. I’ve found that a quick rinse of cold water in the morning is perfectly effective. I have been doing far less than ever and going far fewer places than ever, so my skin isn’t getting nearly as dirty. Using a cleanser twice a day was actually drying out my face, and this simple switch has my skin feeling very happy while reducing the products I send down the drain and into our water systems. A lovely little two-birds-one-stone kind of scenario.
As I said before, these skincare changes I have made since becoming more environmentally conscientious have honestly had great effects. I am not exaggerating when I say that my skin looks the best it has in years, and it honestly feels so good to save money and go green. I hope you give these products and suggestions a try and that they have positive effects on you! If not, at the very least, I hope this has inspired you to check out what it is in your products and where they go when we are done with them. There are millions of other ways to make your life a little greener, you just have to take the first step! Think green and live clean, Queen!