Having a green thumb when it comes to purchasing beauty products can be difficult. Products always seem to run out after a month, leaving us to throw away yet another plastic bottle. In the U.S. alone, rigid plastic waste from beauty products amounts to roughly 7.9 billion units annually. Convenience seems to be the priority of the majority of the beauty industry as of late instead of eco-friendly changes. However, smaller beauty brands have committed themselves to sustainable and ethical packaging that is either refillable, reusable or recyclable. Making small changes in our everyday beauty routines through the use of sustainable products has the potential to drastically reduce our carbon footprint. I recommend five products that produce minimal waste, if any waste at all, that will transform your beauty routine for the better!
- Refillable Makeup Palette
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Unfortunately, I am guilty of having way too many makeup palettes. I have to have at least two for blush, bronzer, eye shadow, highlighter and various other products. The only reason I have so many is because they never seem to come in the same set. One of my favorite sustainable products I found on my search for the best eco-friendly switches was Elate’s bamboo capsule palette. The palette has magnets on the bottom that you can connect to various blushes, bronzers, eyeshadows and foundations to create an entire makeup routine in one palette. This bamboo capsule palette is a really cute and sustainable alternative!
Photo via @elatecosmetics
- Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
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Personally, I absolutely hate buying makeup remover wipes. Not only are they expensive, but I also feel like I am always running out. A great remedy to this everlasting makeup remover dilemma is reusable makeup remover pads. These pads are washable cotton rounds that can be used over and over again. Typically, the packaging for these reusable makeup remover pads is sustainable as well since they often come in reusable pouches or bamboo cases.
Photo via @paulaschoice
- Refillable Deodorant
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Deodorant is a product that hopefully all of us will buy throughout our lives. Since it is a product we have to purchase often, deodorant tends to be wasteful. The company Myro has actually released a plant-based deodorant that is said to be just as effective as other leading brands. The product features a refillable deodorant case that reduces plastic production by 50 percent. Also, the recyclable deodorant pods used to refill the case drastically reduce single-use plastic. Not only is this switch eco-friendly, but it is also cost-friendly!
Photo via @itsmymyro
- Plant-Based Beautyblender
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The original pink Beautyblender was made in an effort to reduce waste in the cosmetics industry. Since then, Beautyblender has taken their sustainable efforts to the next level with a 60 percent plant-based sponge made from “waste” sugarcane. The packaging of the new Bio Pure Beautyblender is also sustainably made from post-consumer recycled materials. This eco-friendly Beautyblender will be the same price as the original, so it is a sustainable switch that does not cost more to make!
Photo via @beautyblender
- Organic Bar Soap
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I know that bar soap has a bad reputation because it’s sometimes a nuisance in the shower, but I think it deserves a second chance. A very simple change to your routine could be purchasing organic bar soap, which typically is not packaged at all. Bar soap is a zero waste product that comes in a large variety of scents and is often better for sensitive skin. Also, switching to bar soap is a great way to support a small soap-making business!
Photo via @elatecosmetics