Paradoxically, the beauty industry’s impact on the environment is quite ugly. Generating nearly 120 billion units of packaging per year, cosmetics and skincare contribute to a loss of 18 million acres of forest annually.
But the devastation does not stop there. Toxic ingredients can cause harm not only to the environment, but to humans too. While the EU has banned over 1,300 cosmetic ingredients, only 11 are banned in the US. This leaves Americans especially vulnerable to the adverse health effects caused by exposure to these formulas.
To protect ourselves and the planet, we must take responsibility over our beauty regimens and invest in eco-friendly, clean beauty products.
Impakter Eco Marketplace: Beauty Products
The Impakter Eco Marketplace only works with brands that reach a significant level of sustainability in their business operations and product development. This makes your job as an eco-conscious consumer much easier as the Impakter Eco team has done the research for you.
You can rest assured that any product for purchase on the Eco Marketplace has been sustainably verified and therefore, impacts its creators, consumers, and the environment in a positive way. When it comes to skincare and cosmetics, the Eco Marketplace has a lot to offer with zero risk of toxic ingredients or wasteful packaging.
Related Articles: Is Compostable Beauty Too Good To Be True? | Skincare Stakeout: Toxic Ingredients to Avoid
A Requisite Routine
A viral internet trend of recent is an 11-step skincare routine, to be executed in the morning and night. In addition to this practice being extremely wasteful, in terms of packaging and costs, it also is highly unnatural.
While our skin should be tended to regularly, can we all agree that 11-steps of daily product usage seems like overkill? Sufficient skincare can be executed in three to four steps including a cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer.
Boiling down our beauty routines to only the essentials is a critical change to making them more sustainable.
Whittle Away Waste
Besides seeking out products with minimal packaging, we can switch some disposable products out for reusable and renewable substitutes.
Disposable makeup remover wipes can be replaced by washable, cotton pads that can be tossed in with the rest of your laundry and used many times. These could also be used to apply makeup.
Additionally, single use sheet masks may smell delicious and make your skin super soft but they’re rough on the environment. Swap these paper sheets out for a washcloth. You can infuse it with oils, creams, or serums and simply cleanse it to reuse again. If it’s a spare cloth, you could even cut small holes for your eyes and mouth.
Instead of throwing coffee grounds in the trash, repurpose them as an exfoliator. But if you have sensitive skin, be careful when using them on your face as they may cause irritation.
Beauty Calls for Creativity
Even a small step toward a more sustainable skincare routine is beneficial for Earth. Today, we’re consistently expected to buy new products, follow new trends, and keep up with new beauty standards so it’s more important than ever to think outside of the box for ways we can prioritize the planet.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com. — In the Featured Photo: Beauty Routine. Featured Photo Credit: Kalos Skincare.
