The beauty industry is often depicted as a glamourous globe of lotions, potions, and brightly coloured bottles, but it has an ugly side. Unfortunately, the cosmetic industry is also known for its adverse effect on the environment, as it is also known for its adverse effects on the environment, it is contributing to pollution especially during festivals. But there is still a long way of change on its way, with many beauty brands and consumers making sustainable, eco-friendly choices that can make a big difference. Here's how you can make your beauty routine eco-friendly and sustainable:
Purchase brands that don’t use harmful chemicals
The term ' natural ' does not always imply organic products from nature. For a product to be truly organic, some global norms need to be met. For example, the product must have ingredients grown on farmland that has been free of synthetic chemicals. Certification matters, just because a brand has in its name the word ' organic ' doesn't imply to be a natural product. If we see any of the chemicals like parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, Propylene Glycol, alcohol, Butylated compound, Phthalate then it is best to not purchase the item as it will not only affect the environment but will also negatively impact your skin.
Opt for recycling of packages
Choose those with smart packaging when shopping for makeup, skincare, and hair care products. Opt for make-up in refillable packaging so that you don't throw away plastic whenever your product gets over. You can also buy products in recyclable packagings such as glass, metal or cardboard. Also, make sure that your pipes and vials are recycled rather than chucked. Place a bin in your toilet for recyclables.
Choose multitasking products
While splurging on the recent must-have beauty product could be alluring, the environment does not always value the relevance of the purchase. So why not begin investing in multi-use, hybrid goods that deal with two rather than just one thing? This will help us save money, reduce waste, and recycle packaging as well! Even if a product is not marked as a product of multiple uses, we can be creative by using our DIYs like a highlighter palette can easily be used as a shimmer shadow, and your favourite eyeshadow palette can sometimes double up for contouring, blush, and highlighting.
Avoid the use of microplastics
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic which are less than five millimetres long. They’re known to be harmful to the environment, and, unfortunately, the beauty industry is a major producer of the same. The microbeads found in our face scrub and toothpaste are tiny pieces of plastic that end up in our oceans and may be ingested by marine animals.
Use microfibre or muslin cloths
Using a microfiber or muslin cloths is another excellent eco-friendly way to remove your make-up. These remove make-up more carefully than a pad of cotton and can be washed and reused readily. You can also use microfibre cloths to wash your face and exfoliate. Just make sure to frequently clean the clothes to prevent the transfer of dirt and bacteria back to your skin!
Inputs by Sargam Dhawan, Director, Paul Penders