6 Tips to Help Save the Planet

You want to look your best, but our planet does too. Fortunately, we can have it both ways – looking fabulous and doing our part to help save the planet. Even the smallest change can net big results. In honor of Earth Day, here are 6 tips that will help save the planet by going green with your beauty routine!

1. Use every last drop

Not only are you cheating yourself out of valuable product, but leaving any behind in your cosmetics containers could leech out into the environment. Even those natural and organic formulas will introduce things into our waters that don’t belong. 

2. Recycle empty products

When you do have an empty makeup container or jar of cream, it makes sense to recycle them. But don’t just toss it in your recycling bin. Your local municipality may have different recycling requirements so check with your town to find out what you can and can’t recycle when it comes to your beauty products.

Some brands notoriously recycle like MAC cosmetics. Even Garnier lets you send your products to TerraCycle and donates to a charity of your choice every time you do. You can also contact TerraCycle to recycle these old makeup products. Or look for brands that do refills or make a point of recyclable packaging. 

3. Use reusable bags

Still using plastic bags? They leave a huge environmental footprint behind plus they take at least 15 years and on up to 1,000 years to breakdown in a landfill. Using a reusable bag minimizes that waste. Plus, they’re more fashionable anyway!

4. Ditch disposable razors

Want smooth and silky legs and nether regions? Use a rechargeable electric razor to save gobs of plastic from the landfill. If you want a closer shave, try a straight razor, though be prepared for nicks and cuts along the way. And if you absolutely must use a disposable razor, seek out the brands that uses recycled plastics, like Preserve. 

5. Avoid micro-plastics in cosmetics

In some cosmetics, you may see microplastics with your naked eye while others are too small to see that way. They’re in your makeup products as well as shower gels, sunscreens, and even baby products. As we know natural formulations are better for our health overall, it’s yet another reason to seek out mineral and natural products. Reading labels is your best defense to avoid them so don’t use anything with polymer, nylon-12, nylon-6, polybutylene, polyethylene, or polypropylene, to name a few. 

6. Turn off faucet while washing your face

If you already turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, that’s great! But don’t forget to turn it off while washing your face too. Only wet your face as necessary, then shut off the faucet while you gently massage your cleanser into your skin. You’ll get a better clean and you’ll save water too!

Work on incorporating these small green changes into your beauty routine. It will take some time but once you do, you’ll be making bigger strides for the environment.