Here’s an ugly truth about most beauty routines: they harm the environment. If your routine is one of them, then your skin is probably at risk, too. So before it’s too late, read on for 3 eco beauty tips you should incorporate into your beauty routine today.

Less is more

Our culture loves to have everything in excess. We purchase more beauty products than we actually need for different reasons like wanting plenty of options, social pressure, and simply desiring more. Sadly, most of these products end up becoming a waste.

In fact, the beauty industry has become a huge threat to the environment over the years. The toxic chemicals found in beauty products end up being washed down the drain and into the oceans. Some of these toxic chemicals are the following:

●     Microbeads - These are tiny plastic beads found in facial scrubs, toothpaste, shampoo, and more. They are usually made of petrochemical plastics such as polyethylene, and can attract other chemicals as well in the waters. Due to their size, they are easily consumed by sea animals that are part of the human food chain

●     BHA, BHT - These chemicals are used as antioxidants in many beauty products. Unfortunately, they are deadly to different forms of life in marine ecosystems.

●     Triclosan - This is a chemical commonly found in bar soaps, deodorants, and cosmetics. It is used as a preservative, disinfectant, and antiseptic. Although it does its job well, it is deadly to algae, which produces 30 to 50 percent of the world’s oxygen.

●     Parabens - This chemical is used to keep products “fresh” such as sunscreen, lotion, BB and CC creams, and foundation. However, parabens have been linked to reproductive issues and breast cancer. When applied, these enter our body and disrupt our hormones.

●     Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is a thickening agent used in shampoo, lotions, sunscreen, and more. However, it is usually contaminated with carcinogens such as 1,4-Dioxane and ethylene oxide that lead to respiratory issues. It’s also toxic to aquatic animals.

●     Siloxanes - This chemical originates from the silicone family. It is often found in moisturizers to help you achieve smoother and more supple skin. But once you wash your skin, it will go down the drain, end up in the ocean, and gradually kill aquatic animals.

●     Fragrances - You will often see “fragrances” listed as an ingredient for soap bars, moisturizers, lotions, and perfumes. This chemical is actually a mixture of different chemicals that manufacturers are not obliged to disclose, all thanks to trade secret laws. And according to research, fragrances are so toxic not only to our skin but also to the marine environment

To make your beauty routine more sustainable, make it a habit to purchase only what you need. You should also avoid products with chemicals that will take a toll on your health and the environment.

To give you an idea, you can go for sustainable products as these are natural, organic, free from toxins, vegan, preservative-free, and ethically made.

Recycle containers

Did you know that the beauty industry relies so much on plastic? It produces 120 billion units of plastic packaging yearly. Each beauty product is packed in one or more plastic items, and the majority of these items end up polluting the planet.

In fact, only 9 percent gets to be recycled while 79 percent makes its way to the ocean, landfills, and dumps. The rest is incinerated or burned, which releases different toxic gases into the atmosphere, thereby polluting the air.

To make your beauty routine more eco-friendly, you can recycle the containers of your skincare products or dispose of them responsibly. Simply look for a universal recycling symbol on the packaging to help you know if it’s safe to use again.

You will also come across brands that have their own recycling programs. For instance, Nordstrom, Burt’s Bees, and Herbal Essences have partnered with a private recycling business called TerraCycle. They encourage customers to surrender any skincare and beauty product packaging, including unrecyclable ones.

So, if you don’t know what to do with your product packaging, just drop them off at one of these stores’ in-store collection points.

Opt for reusables

There are many single-use skincare and beauty products on the market such as cotton pads, tissue paper, and wet wipes. These are cheap and convenient to use. Unfortunately, they are killing the planet.

In fact, these types of disposables only take minutes to use but hundreds of years to degrade. And as we wait for them to degrade, they are polluting the land, the sea, and even the air.

To make your beauty routine more eco-friendly, opt for reusables instead like LastRound facial cotton pads, Cottonelle GentlePlus wet wipes or NakedSwab makeup q-tips. These products are sustainable, compostable, and biodegradable. They are also made of ingredients that are neither harmful to your skin nor the environment.

There are more ways to incorporate eco beauty tips into your current skincare routine. Once you master these three tips, move on to other practices until your entire routine becomes sustainable.