These days, beauty consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about the impact that their shopping habits have on the planet. Sustainable beauty and all of the terms that fall underneath it [1] have spiked in popularity over the last few years, and now, in an effort to help fight our current climate crisis, beauty brands are putting in extra effort to help consumers produce less waste [2]. One of the biggest subcategories has come in the form of "zero-waste" beauty products.
Zero-waste beauty [3] can be defined in a handful of ways, but simply put, these are items designed with as minimal impact on the environment as possible. This includes plastic-free products, waterless formulas [4], recyclable packing, and biodegradable solutions.
"The less waste you have to throw out, the better," Ashlene Nand of Vaycay Beauty [5] told POPSUGAR. "Aside from cardboard, which is generally compostable and biodegradable, many zero-waste beauty products use reusable tins or glass mason jars to hold the actual product instead of plastic. As a general rule, I try not to buy beauty products unless I know I will reuse the packageing supplied."
According to a previous report from Zero Waste Week [6], the beauty industry alone produces over 120 billion units of packageing a year, and while that isn't to say that it's the only industry that contributes to our landfill crisis — think of all the plastic that clothing and some of your go-to household items are packaged in — there are still tweaks we can make to our beauty routines to make them even just a little more sustainable.
The idea of switching to a zero-waste routine may sound slightly intimidating, but despite what you might assume, it doesn't call for a complete overhaul of your entire beauty routine. "Similar to the approach of eating one vegan meal a day, if we try to switch out two or more of our core products, collectively, we can make a difference to our planet," Nand said.
Additionally, there are dozens of brands out there that specialise in products that can be reused, refilled, or are packaged in biodegradable materials. Read ahead to check out a few that you can add to your regimen.
Vaycay Beauty Maldives With Marula Shampoo and Conditioner Bundle
The Vaycay Beauty Maldives With Marula Shampoo and Conditioner Bundle [7] ($40) is the equivalent of four bottles of traditional shampoo and conditioner.
Kjaer Weis Lipstick
The Kjaer Weis Lipstick [8] ($32) comes in 12 pigmented hues with colour capsules that can easily be swapped out once they're all used up.
Daily Concepts Daily Bio-Cotton Makeup Removers
Because of how wasteful single-use makeup removing wipes can be, these Daily Concepts Daily Bio-Cotton Makeup Removers [9] ($12) are a good swap when you need something to deeply cleanse your skin of makeup, dirt, and oil. All you have to do is wet them with warm water (they each have a gentle side and an exfoliating side) and combine them with a cleanser or makeup remover, and you can throw them in the laundry when you're done.
Axiology Out of Office 3 in 1 Balmie Crayon Set
The Axiology Out of Office 3 in 1 Balmie Crayon Set [10] ($36) are lipstick balms that don't come in an actual tube. They're wrapped up in recyclable paper and can even be used as multitasking products for your eyes and cheeks.
Hello Antiplaque Toothpaste Tablets
We're big fans of these Hello Antiplaque Toothpaste Tablets [11] ($18) not just because you don't have to worry about losing the cap as you would with a traditional tube of toothpaste, but they're also a lot less messy. Additionally, they make it easier to not be as excessive with the amount of toothpaste you use, and they're stored in a reusable container.
Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash Refillable Glass
The Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash Refillable Glass [12] ($35) comes with enough cleanser to last at least 80 showers, and you can refill the bottle at specific locations in the northeast.