How to Make Your Beauty Routine More Green

The makeup and skincare industries aim to make consumers feel beautiful with luxurious products in gorgeous packaging. But, unfortunately, the harsh chemicals that are used and the plastic packaging that’s wasted have some pretty ugly impacts on the environment. So, if you want to feel glamorous without feeling guilty, keep reading to learn how you can make your beauty routine more green.

1. Start small. It can be overwhelming and expensive to replace every product and practice in your current beauty routine at once. So, the easiest way to make your beauty routine fully sustainable is one step at a time. If you switch up one or two products/practices periodically (once they run out), you’ll be making small, easy changes that will ultimately make a huge difference.
2. Find sustainable swaps. One of the most effective ways to make your beauty routine more eco-friendly is to swap your everyday products for more sustainable ones. Thankfully, Just Honest has you covered with a ton of products that will keep you (and the environment) looking beautiful! Check out our huge selection of guilt-free glam products, like our all-natural and eco-friendly concealers, blush sticks, cream bronzers, eyeshadows, eyeliners, mascaras and lip stains. And, at the end of the night, take it all off with our eco-friendly makeup remover bar.
3. Don’t spend on trends. With all the makeup and skincare influencers on the internet, it can be tempting to constantly pick up the latest trendy products. But this practice leads consumers to waste massive amounts of product and packaging, as most people don’t use up everything they buy. So, try to slow down your consumption by only buying a new product once you’ve finished an old one. And, if a product doesn’t work for you, try donating it to a friend or finding another use for it. For example, powder blushes make great eyeshadows, lip glosses can be used as dewy highlighters, creamy lip products make excellent blushes, and concealers are perfect as eyeshadow bases.
4. Pass on plastic. These days it’s challenging not to get caught up in the allure of beauty products with stylish packaging. But, unfortunately, most of the packaging designed to draw consumers majorly contributes to plastic waste production. To combat this, look for products with non-plastic, recycled, recyclable or refillable packaging instead. For example, try these plastic-free shampoo bars, these post-consumer recycled soap bars, and this sugar scrub packaged in reusable/recyclable glass jars. And, for any products you already own, check out this in-depth guide if you need some help figuring out the recyclability of their containers.
5. Find a purpose for packaging. So much of the product packaging that gets turned into waste after being thrown out can be upcycled and repurposed. Got a squeeze bottle from an old face wash? Use it as a travel shampoo, conditioner or body wash container. Have old jars from used-up skincare products? Put your different types of jewelry inside each one and use them as organizers. Got an empty glass dropper after you’ve run out of a serum? Use it as a precise essential oil dispenser. Check out this guide if you need more great ideas.
6. Ditch disposables. There are tons of easy swaps you can make to help you cut down on waste from single-use products. For example, use Just Honest’s reusable cotton rounds instead of makeup wipes, our reusable ‘cotton’ buds instead of Q-tips, and our refillable safety razors instead of disposable plastic ones.
7. Search for certifications. Many big brands market themselves as being all-natural or eco-friendly, but it’s often just a greenwashing tactic meant to fool consumers. Be sure to check for these certification labels on the backs of products to ensure that you don’t fall for any fake claims on the front.