If you think you are too small to make a difference. you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.
African Proverb
That quote is one of my personal, all-time favorites. When I look at any daunting task or challenge or change, and I wonder “what difference can I make REALLY in the grand scheme of things” I go back to this quote. We CAN make a difference. Collectively as the groundswell grows, that difference expands exponentially.
I’ve never given a lot of thought to sustainable beauty. I find solace and relief in the “self-care” and pampering of my spa-like activities.
But this week…I was watching a youtube video by one of my favorite “beauty gurus”, Dr. Shereene Idriss. In her video Skincare You Don’t Need!, she mentions that sheet masks aren’t biodegradable. It floored me. I never really thought about it. As I stopped in my tracks and looked around, I realized that I had already eliminated some practices in the interest of sustainable beauty, but I’d never talked about it as a “thing” and certainly if I overlooked sheetmasks – what other blindspot did I have?
This list isn’t exhaustive. As Dr. Idriss prompted me to consider, I’m sure I can find more opportunities to move towards sustainable beauty and packaging if I stay vigilant. Here’s my starting point to help you consider what small changes you might make in your beauty routine to shit towards sustainable beauty.
Products I Won’t Buy Again
Better stated, it’s probably packaging and beauty delivery I will avoid in the future. This isn’t about the efficacy of any individual brand or product. Sadly, some of my very favorite things will fall by the wayside with this commitment.
Microbeads
Microbeads are, as they sound, microscope plastic beads included in beauty products, often to exfoliate. They became common in products and often have the very satisfying visual appeal of small colorful orbs suspended in a translucent material. The problem with microbeads is that they are SO small that they can’t be captured by water filteration systems so they end up directly in the water supply and eventually into the stomachs of our food sources. They don’t biodegrade. They don’t go away. The only way to stop the pollution is to stop ADDING them to the environment by being selective in our purchases.
This is one shift I made several years ago towards sustainable beauty because it seemed pretty easy to do, and I couldn’t un-know this information once I learned about it. As I purchase products now, I read the packaging or research online before I purchase. If there is any “grittiness” to a product, I want to know what it is.
Two of my KP scrubs pass the test. KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub 10% AHA uses pumice stone beads to exfoliate and Skinfix Resurface+ Glycolic Renewing Scrub uses biodegradable bamboo beads to polish the skin.
As you may remember, I do not use scrubs on my face, but on my body, that’s okay by me!
I DID have to go back and check my toothpaste to make sure there weren’t any microbeads in there. I use charcoal paste for tooth whitener these days, but it hadn’t occurred to me that microbeads were in toothpaste! Fortunately the versions I like have baking soda and not microbeads – but please consider your alternatives.
Makeup Wipes
For years I used the Neutrogena make up wipes to take the first pass at removing my makeup. They were easy and convenient to use, easy to travel with, and didn’t take up precious liquid space when I was traveling by plane. I stopped using them initially because I realized that my skin didn’t love the ingredients and there were products I like better. Once I stopped using them daily, I realized that I wasn’t generating as much trash in my bathroom. Go figure. Single-use products which do not biodegrade make up a substantial portion of the trash we generate in the world. This is one happy accident. Once I put those pieces together, they became additional incentive to avoid makeup wipes at all costs.
Instead, I purchased a bunch of inexpensive washcloths at Target. I rotate them daily, but they go into the hamper instead of the trash. I use an oil-based cleanser (which works much better too!) and then a regular cleanser to remove any excess oil and lingering makeup or sunscreen. I pat my face dry with a nice clean washcloth every night. It still feels luxurious but it isn’t generating trash. Bonus!
Cotton Rounds
A couple of years ago, I said goodbye to my beloved cotton rounds in favor of reusable and washable bamboo rounds. Obviously cotton will biodegrade but in this case, inspired by the shift to washcloths, I thought it was a better use of resources to wash reusable bamboo rounds over purchasing cotton rounds. I throw them in the wash and it doesn’t cost me any extra water or detergent than I was already using. I haven’t missed single-use cotton rounds at all!
Pantyhose
Have you been looking for a reason to ditch the pantyhose for good? It’s been easily twenty years since I last wore pantyhose and it may barely be a “thing” anymore. For me, I was rough on hosiery so these were often single use for me because I was prone to putting a nail through them or running them at some point during the day. They are made with a polyester blend that gives it all of the stretchy and compression qualities we crave – but it also means pantyhose are forever.
Instead if I need some good looking legs in the short skirts I favor, I moisturize, fake tan or use some leg makeup in a pinch, and away we go! I hate pantyhose so I love this as the perfect “excuse” to say good bye to them forever.
Let me also acknowledge that my disdain for pantyhose is tempered by my absolute love of tights. If I’m honest, they are basically the same thing. I’ve often used tights as a warmth layer under jeans in cold weather. But this matters to me. I will continue to use the tights I already own, but I pledge not to purchase any more.
I am closing the door to this environmental pollution.
Plastic Q-Tips
Should I take credit for walking away from these? I’ve never loved plastic Q-tips. I am a full cotton Q-tip gal. If I ever have a Q-tip emergency (I’m not exactly sure what that would look like, but you get the point) I would never buy plastic shaft Q-tips. Of course, the reality is that Q-tips are single use and therefore still something I’d like to eliminate. I am actively searching for solutions and alternatives.
If you have suggestions, let me know!
Travel Sized Products
I will confess that I have some bizarre fascination with small versions of things. I am enamored by travel sized products. However, it’s also clear that with a travel sized product, you are getting a disproportionate amount of packaging to product. Even though for years I’ve argued convenience and “necessity” for compact packing, the reality is that I’m better off getting reusable containers to “decant” larger products into. I am writing this here to bring it into reality.
Travel-sized products NO MORE!
The same goes for “sample packets” of products. I’m just adding to the landfill, albeit slowly. I pledge to be conscious about the impact of these choices and just say no – no matter how cute they may be!
Sheet Masks
Ah, sheet masks. I won’t lie to you, dear ones. This hurts a little. Sheet masks have been part of my obsession and self-care routine for years. I love testing them out. I love ten minutes of beauty on a weekend to pamper myself. But Dr. Idriss really made me think. How does the convenience and luxury of single-use sheet masks (which are packaged in non-biodegradable plastic pouches) compare to my commitment to safeguard our environment by doing my little part – and encouraging you to do yours?
No contest. The environment will win every time.
Though I do have a backlog of sheet masks I will continue to use, rather than search for biodegradable masks which some brands now tout, I am going back to basics. When I purchase masks, they will be in a jar. Fortunately I have a lot of favorite masks in this format.
I recommend you purchase a face mask brush (this adds to the luxury spa feel AND it keeps your fingers out of your product!). Here are a few longtime favorites: Origins Hello Calm™ Relaxing & Hydrating Face Mask with Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Mask, and Kiehl’s Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask.
The Bottom Line
I’m sure this list will continue to grow over time as new options become available or as I uncover more blind spots. In general, I will choose bulk (quantity) to have a better packaging to product ratio and I will favor glass packaging over plastic. I will take the time to tell retailers and brands that I would prefer to have products in glass bottles and I will reflect that preference in my purchasing decisions.
As I was writing this, I realized I have moisturizers in glass bottles that no only feel more “high end” but also are more recyclable.
One of the dirty secrets with “recycling” plastics is that bottom fell out of the Chinese market for purchasing bulk plastic waste from the US for recycling.
We may still put it out in “recycling bins” but at least in my community, it isn’t recycled at all. It’s burned.
If I take the time to separate out my glass, I can take that to a recycling center where it IS recycled because it is still valuable.
Though I’ve chosen to focus on sustainable beauty for this article, moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle informs choices in all facets of your life. I now purchase milk in glass bottles. They come with a hefty deposit, but I’m glad to not contribute to the landfill with either waxed paper or plastic (see note above about how the trash is actually handled!). I just went to the store to repurchase white vinegar and I chose to buy the glass bottle instead of the cheaper plastic bottle. I am trying to let go of the convenience of cleaning wipes to return to cleaning cloths and products in more sustainable packaging.
You can see, once the ball gets rolling, it really doesn’t stop. And once you make the commitment, it’s not as hard as you might think.
What areas of your life have you already committed to moving to a more sustainable path? In what additional areas are you considering expanding your focus? Even better, in what areas would you challenge me to try to do better?
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Some of these links are affiliate links. If you click a link and buy something, I may receive a commission for the sale. It does not cost you anything extra and you are free to use the link or not. Product purchases for review are made with my own money and my opinions are my own. If product is ever provided or the article is sponsored, it will be clearly noted at the top of the page.
