There's never been a better or more urgent time to start making more eco-friendly choices - especially considering environmentally-conscious solutions are readily available for just about every aspect of our lives. Many of the products we use to clean our skin, the products we use to take care of ourselves - are actually pretty terrible for us and the environment. If you’re someone who’s been looking to shift to a more eco-conscious lifestyle to help save the earth, we’ve got you covered. Ahead, we give you a few tips so you can get started on your journey to a sustainable lifestyle, starting with your most basic routines: your skincare. 

Turn the water off

Did you know that only 1% of the water on Earth can actually be used by humans to drink, clean, bathe, etc.? Fresh water is a natural resource that we need to be more mindful about as the population grows. Being conscious about water conservation is simple - remember to turn off your faucet while brushing your teeth or washing your face!

Save up

Every last drop counts — this applies to both your water and your skincare products. Throwing out your bottles when there’s a bit left is also a definite no-no. It takes a bit of effort, but use up every last bit you can before giving up on your products. Get every bit of your coin's worth from them.

Ditch the microbeads

One of the most simple changes you can make for a more environmentally friendly skincare routine is to stop buying anything with microbeads. What is a microbead, anyway? They’re those tiny little “exfoliating” plastic pieces that are found in face washes and toothpastes. Not only are they not great for your skin, but they have harmful effects on the environment. These tiny little pieces of plastic are too small to be filtered out through our water systems, so they make their way to oceans and lakes, where they are polluting oceans and being ingested by marine life, fish and animals.

Be wary of greenwashing and ask more questions

The beauty and hygiene industry is probably more prone to greenwashing than any other industry. But wait, what is greenwashing? Basically, it’s when a company markets itself as “eco” or “green,” but really isn’t. That’s why we need to look beyond the labels. Just because the label is green and the product says “Made with Natural Ingredients” doesn’t mean that it’s good for the environment or your skin. So, always dig deeper. Ask more questions, read the ingredients, get on the company’s website, and don’t hesitate to email them for further information!

Pass on all the products containing: phthalates, mercury, toluene, lead, formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, parabens (hormone-disrupting preservatives such as methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, and propylparaben), or BHA.  These chemicals are considered to be the most detrimental to our health and subsequently our planet. Look for alternatives like: beeswax, cocoa butter and vegetable oils.

Find environmentally friendly alternatives

A significant component of green beauty is finding eco-friendly substitutes for the products you’re using alongside your skincare products. A simple solution is to swap out single-use cosmetic products, like makeup wipes, for reusable options like makeup-removing towels.

Making a switch to eco-friendly skincare takes time and effort. It’s not a lifestyle you can magically shift to overnight. So take it one step at a time - aim for realistic goals and don’t pressure yourself. Realistically, you can’t fully expect to be 100 per cent sustainable as we can’t really control the things being produced in the beauty market. Still, research gives us power. Making informed choices helps the world and ultimately us who live on it!