Take These 4 Steps To Create Your Eco-Friendly Beauty Routine

For many of us, our looks are important, and we are prepared to do a lot to achieve our goal. No wonder the beauty industry is worth billions.

But, like so many other things we do, what we do to look good has a huge environmental impact. From harmful or toxic ingredients to plastic packaging, our personal care and beauty products can harm our environment.

So what can we do to reduce the impact our beauty regime has on the environment? By creating an eco-friendly beauty routine, we can continue to take care of ourselves, but without harming the planet.

All you have to do is follow these 4 steps to make your beauty regime greener:

1. Use fewer products – do you really need all these cosmetics you currently use?
2. Switch to eco-friendly alternatives for the beauty products you want to use
3. Swap your single-use cosmetic accessories, such as cleaning wipes, for reusable alternatives
4. Using makeup and cosmetics less often will reduce the environmental impact even further

Let’s look at them in more detail, you’ll see it’s not as difficult as it might sound.

1. Less Is More

The more products we use, the more of an impact we have on our environment. And this doesn’t just apply to our body care routine. We live in a consumerist society where we are constantly told to buy more of everything.

We have written in detail about the environmental impact of conventional shampoos, why traditional deodorants are bad for our planet, and how commonly used cosmetics impact on our environment. Our article about why chemical sunscreens are harmful to our environment is another good read.

And it all boils down to the same two reasons: the ingredients used and the packaging.

The vast majority of ingredients used in personal care and beauty products are synthetic ingredients. This means they have been made in a lab, using energy-intensive processes.

In addition to this, most are made from petrochemicals, which means fossil fuels. Both facts combined are responsible for the big carbon footprint of synthetic ingredients.

And that’s just the start. Once they get into the environment, many synthetic ingredients are harmful or even toxic to aquatic life. (Wirtu 2024) How do they get there? Many of the products you use get washed down the drain.

Whether this is your sunscreen, makeup, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, or body wash.

On top of all this, most personal care and beauty products come in plastic packaging. And while some of it is recyclable, much of it isn’t. Besides, recycling plastic isn’t the answer to our plastic waste problem.

First, because it can only be recycled 2 to 3 times before its quality is too low to do anything else with. Second, because over 90% of plastic is made from fossil fuels.

Now think about how many products you use as part of your beauty routine.

If you reduce the amount of products you use, you’ll also reduce the impact you have on our environment.

I’m not going to lie, this isn’t an easy task. Because it means you have to decide which products you absolutely need and which ones you can do without.

Our whole life, the beauty industry told us that we needed all these products to be beautiful, desirable, and happy. It’s quite difficult to get out of this way of thinking.

But let me tell you, if you succeed, you can reduce your carbon footprint considerably. And you won’t just save money doing it, but likely also time.

Here is what I did:

1. Get all the products you use out and put them on the kitchen table
2. Be amazed at the amount of stuff you use (might not apply to everyone)
3. Divide them into two groups: things that are necessary for hygiene or health reasons (like shampoo, body wash, deodorant, etc.) and products that aren’t (like makeup, anti-ageing cream, hair mask, etc.)
4. Look at the second (probably bigger) pile and consider each product carefully as to whether you really need it, and put the ones you don’t into another pile
5. The products in the last pile you finish using (you don’t want to waste them) and then don’t buy again
6. You are left with products that you consider really necessary, which is hopefully quite a lot fewer than you started with

Step 4 is the most difficult one, because the reason you have all these products is because you think you need them.

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My Experience Of Getting Rid Of Beauty Products

In order to reduce the amount of products I use considerably, I had to change my approach to beauty and age. In a society where being young and beautiful is the main goal for every woman, this wasn’t easy.

The first step was to accept myself for who I was. So I’m not perfect: my skin isn’t flawless, my lips aren’t plump, and I’m getting older.

But then, the beauty ideal we are told we have to achieve, is just that: an ideal. It’s not achievable for the vast majority of women. Where does this leave me?

I decided, as difficult as it seems at times, to just be me. So I ditched anti-ageing products, eye creams, and face masks. All I kept was my moisturiser, which I need to keep my face from getting red and dry, or angry as I call it.

Next, I looked at my makeup. Do I really need all that stuff? Let’s take the concealer: what do I have to conceal? If I’m to be me, I have nothing to hide. Everything that was meant to cover up who I was had to go.

All I kept was the foundation, because although it does cover up my face, I do quite like how my skin looks. It might be a sign of weakness, but I can accept that.

I also kept the mascara, lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush, because they aren’t so much for hiding but highlighting.

With some products, I wasn’t sure if I needed them or not, so I decided to try not using them for a week or two. These products included body lotion, hair mask, hand cream, and lip balm.

To my surprise, there was no difference in the way my skin felt with or without the body lotion. So I decided it wasn’t needed. Equally, although the hair mask did make my hair softer just after I used it, I didn’t feel it made enough of a difference, so it too went.

The hand cream I decided to keep, because my hands did start to feel dry, and the same with my lips.

Find Your Sustainable Deodorant Quiz

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In the end, I managed to reduce the amount of products I used by quite a lot. Here is what I kept:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Face cleanser and moisturising cream
• Foundation, mascara, lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush
• Body wash and deodorant
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm and hand cream
• Razor

I was quite pleased with myself, because not only did I now have much more space on my bathroom shelf, but I will also save money in future and time.

If you end up with fewer products than me, well done you. And if you need more than me, that’s OK, the point is to find what works for you.

Once I had my list of beauty products I wanted to keep, I was ready to move on to the next step to create a sustainable beauty routine.

2. Switch To Sustainable Alternatives

Creating an eco-friendly beauty routine doesn’t mean you have to give up cosmetics completely.

Take your list of products you decided you need and start looking for alternatives. This isn’t as difficult as it might sound, because sustainable beauty products are out there.

When it comes to considering eco-friendly alternatives, there are a few factors to take into acount:

• Sustainable company – buy from a business that puts sustainability into their business model
• Natural ingredients – you want to keep away from harmful synthetic ingredients as much as possible
• Eco-friendly packaging – your products should come in packaging that is plastic-free, recyclable, or even reusable – zero waste is the ultimate goal

I explain this in more detail in my article about finding eco-friendly cosmetics in the UK.

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Using my own list from above as an example, here are sustainable alternative products you can switch to:

• Liquid shampoo and conditioner – switch to a solid shampoo and conditioner bar
• Body wash – switch to a body bar/soap
• Deodorant/Antiperspirant – switch to a natural deodorant with natural ingredients
• Makeup – switch to mineral makeup that doesn’t contain synthetic chemcials
• Sunscreen – switch from chemical to mineral sunscreen
• Lip balm – switch to eco-friendly alternatives that only contain natural or plant-based ingredients
• Hand cream – switch to solid hand cream bars without synthetic ingredients
• Face cleanser and moisturiser – switch to alternatives that only contain natural ingredients
• Razor – switch to a safety razor made of metal that uses recyclable razor blades

Of course, all of the ones you choose should also come in sustainable packaging. Also see if you can get multi-purpose products.

For example, some cheek blushes can also be used to colour your lips.

How I Experienced Swapping To Eco-Friendly Options

I started at the top of my list, with my shampoo and conditioner, and swapped them for shampoo and conditioner bars. It was a very simple but effective swap. And what’s more, since I did, I don’t need a conditioner anymore.

After looking into the topic for a while, I realised that the surfactants used in most conventional liquid shampoos are sulphates, which can dry out hair, making them more difficult to manage.

I took the plunge and tried a sulphate-free shampoo bar without a conditioner. And I’m very happy to report, I no longer need to condition my hair after washing. The shampoo bar alone is enough to make my hair soft and easy to brush.

So I managed to get rid of a further item, which is great.

Body wash and hand cream were equally easy to replace. A simple soap made from natural ingredients did a great job instead of a liquid body wash. If soap isn’t your thing, there are eco-friendly liquid body wash products too.

Instead of a hand cream, I now use a bar. It looks like a soap, but you don’t need water. You just rub it in your hands and the warmth releases the nourishing cream.

It comes in a recyclable cardboard box, and doesn’t contain any nasty chemicals. Another bonus point: you use much less than with an actual cream and you can use the last bit without an issue.

I remember how frustrated I used to get when I knew there was still some cream left in the tube, but I just couldn’t get it out. This is a thing of the past now.

Sunscreen is a care product I just can’t do without, neither should you. I burn easily and want to make sure my skin is protected from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

But conventional sunscreen is really bad for our environment. The ingredients used in so-called chemical sunscreen are made from petrochemicals, and they are toxic to aquatic life. (Thorel et al., 2020)

The solution: mineral sunscreen, which is made from minerals rather than synthetic chemicals. While no sunscreen is absolutely safe for our environment, mineral sunscreen has less of an environmental impact than the chemical version.

Again, this was quite an easy swap, after I found truly mineral sunscreens that didn’t contain chemical UV filters at the same time.

Next up, my deodorant. For years I have been using an aerosol antiperspirant. But after finding out that conventional deodorants are bad for our planet and so are aerosol ones, I looked for eco-friendly alternatives.

I found natural deodorants, which aren’t antiperspirants. The difference is that an antiperspirant stops you from sweating. Without sweat, there is no body odour.

A natural deodorant includes ingredients that absorb moisture, neutralise odour-causing bacteria, and a pleasant scent. But you’ll still sweat, as is normal.

I have tried several eco-friendly deodorants and found they work well. But you have to be aware that it’s likely you’ll have to go through a transition period, if you switch from an antiperspirant to a natural deodorant.

I had to go through it, and while not necessarily pleasant, it was OK, and once it was over, everything goes back to normal.

When it came to cosmetics, I switched to mineral makeup. It contains naturally occurring minerals, rather than synthetic ingredients. As it usually comes in powder form, it also doesn’t need any inactive ingredients, such as preservatives.

The fewer ingredients, the better for our environment.

I got a powder foundation, eyeshadow, blush, all only containing minerals. They all come in a refillable tin, with the refills being sent in recyclable packaging.

The lipstick and mascara also come in reusable cases and refills. They only contain natural ingredients, so no harmful synthetic chemicals.

I used to use a plastic razor with razor blades that also contained plastic. Because both contained different types of plastic as well as metal in the blades, none were recyclable.

I found a safety razor that is made to last and the razor blades aren’t just recyclable, but also much cheaper than my old ones. Using a safety razor is different though, and I had to get used to it.

But now I wouldn’t want to go back.

My biggest challenge was to find an eco-friendly alternative to create a sustainable skincare routine. I have, what I call, angry skin, which gets red and dry, especially around my eyes.

The cleanser and moisturiser I use were recommended by a dermatologist when I was in my twenties, and I’m nervous about switching to new ones. I’m still looking to find a sustainable alternative that doesn’t cause my skin to get angry.

3. Move Away From Single-Use And Plastic Items

The next step to create an eco-friendly beauty routine is to get rid of single-use and plastic items. These include:

• Cotton pads
• Makeup removal wipes
• Sheet masks
• Disposable makeup applicators
• Plastic beauty accessories, such as makeup and hair brushes
• Disposable plastic razors

There are many more, and I’m sure you’ll identify others when you look at the items you use as part of your beauty routine.

The problem with single-use items is that they create a huge amount of waste, especially if you use them every day. In addition, many of them are made of or contain plastic.

Let’s take makeup removal wipes as an example. There are several problems with them. Firstly, most of them are made from plastic, which means fossil fuels.

They don’t biodegrade and take ages to break down. As they degrade, they shed microfibres, which cause similar harm to microplastics, and have been found in species, including penguins. (Zhang et al, 2021)

The surfactants the wipes are soaked in and which help clean off the makeup can harm aquatic life. The most commonly used surfactants, Disodium EDTA and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), have been studied.

EDTA can harm green algae in our waterways. (Kim et al., 2023). SLES has been found to be toxic to aquatic life. (Bhattacharya et al., 2021)

Now think about how many of these wipes are thrown away every day? Some will end up in landfill, others are flushed down the toilet, and others again will find their way into our environment through littering.

Even cotton pads, which are often used to remove makeup, aren’t eco-friendly, even if they are made from a natural material. Producing cotton needs a lot of water. According to WWF, cotton production is the most water-intensive of all agricultural commodities.

The more we use, the more needs to be produced. High demand can lead to deforestation or habitat loss as cotton production expands. Now think about how many cotton pads are used daily.

So what’s the solution? Move away from single-use or disposable items. Here is what you can use instead:

• Reusable makeup removal pads that you can wash and use again and again
• Natural face masks that come in eco-friendly packaging
• Plastic-free makeup accessories that you can reuse
• Plastic-free safety razor that uses recyclable steel blades

We are far too fond of disposable and single-use items, because they are convenient. But not only do they have a huge impact on our environment, they also cost more money. If you don’t just use something once but reuse it again and again, you’ll save money.

We have already said that one issue with plastic is that the vast majority is made from fossil fuels. It also takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years to break down. And while it does so, it releases toxic chemicals and microplastics.

Neither of which is good news for our environment. It has to be said that plastic can also be a durable material and items made of it can be reused again and again. A makeup brush is a good example.

But at some point, it will be thrown away, and then all this plastic will have an impact on the planet. So if we can reduce the amount of plastic, it’ll be better for our environment.

Here are beauty items that are commonly made of plastic, but more eco-friendly alternatives are available:

• Makeup accessories such as brushes – look for brushes without plastic handles and search for wooden or bamboo handles instead
• Compact powder cases – opt for ones made from aluminium or other plastic-free materials
• Hair brushes – there are plastic-free ones available, made from bamboo
• Plastic makeup application sponges – plastic-free, biodegradable sponges
• Plastic hair accessories – look for plastic-free ones

These are just some examples, but I’m sure you get the picture. By switching away from these plastic items, you can make sure that you reduce the plastic in your home, but also the plastic waste you produce.

Even more reason to ditch these wasteful products and embrace reusable and plastic-free ones instead.

4. Use Less

Finally, whatever it is that you do want or need, try to use it less. What do I mean by that?

Even eco-friendly products have some impact on our environment, albeit a much smaller one than conventional ones. So not using them at all is the most sustainable option.

With certain things, this just isn’t possible. Brushing your teeth twice is necessary to keep them healthy, so shouldn’t be reduced. Equally, sunscreen should be applied whenever you are exposed to the sun’s UV rays for a period of time.

Not doing so could be very harmful for the health of your skin.

But many other things, such as makeup, deodorant, shampoo, etc, aren’t essential for our health. So the question is: can we use them less?

Ask yourself, do you need to wear makeup every day? Do you need to wash your hair every day? What about your deodorant or hand cream?

You can probably see what I’m trying to say. Like with step one, where we tried to ditch some of the beauty products we used, now we try to use them less.

The aim is to find a frequency that works for us, but that will reduce our impact on the environment further. This will make sure your eco-friendly beauty routine is as green as it can be.

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Which Products I Use Less And How It Affected Me

When I was younger, I washed my hair every day. And I told myself that this was necessary, otherwise my hair would look filthy.

But as I started my journey to living a more sustainable life, I decided to see what happens if I only wash my hair every other day.

And to my surprise, my hair didn’t look filthy. In fact, I didn’t even see or feel any difference. Because the week has 7 days, washing my hair every other day would cause a problem with my exercise schedule.

After a run, I have to wash my hair because of all the sweat. As I do my runs on Mondays and Fridays, I decided not to wash them over the weekend.

And you know what? It’s absolutely fine. My hair doesn’t get greasy or smell bad, and it feels and looks healthy even after not having washed it for two days.

So this was great, because it meant I could reduce using shampoo by 4 days a week. Yay!

Next, I looked at my makeup. I used to use foundation, lipstick and mascara every day, unless I spent it lounging about at home. And if I went out on a night, I added more and also used concealer, blush, eyeliner and eyeshadow.

I already got rid of some of these cosmetics, but I wondered if I needed to wear any makeup at work. It felt weird, as I was so used to my face with makeup on.

First, I stopped using foundation and lipstick, and only put mascara on. Once I got used to that, I also stopped the mascara. It felt weird, but I got used to it. And I got more time in bed in the mornings.

What surprised me most was that the vast majority of my colleagues didn’t even notice. I’m very pleased I reduced the amount of makeup I wear, not just for the environment, but it also gave me a new sense of self-confidence.

Another product I experimented with is my deodorant. I used to spray it on in the morning and after I showered in the evening if I did my exercise after work rather than in the morning.

If I went out in the evening, I would put more on again. After switching to a natural deodorant balm, I decided to use it less.

I still use it in the morning, but I do use a smaller amount if all I’m doing is working. After my workouts in the evening, I don’t put any deodorant on, unless I go out.

After all, watching telly won’t make me sweat. Finally, on weekends when I’m home all day and don’t get visitors, I don’t use deodorant either. While I had to get used to this new regime, I’m quite pleased with it now.

I used to use hand cream every morning and evening before going to bed. Now I only put it on before bed, if my hands feel a bit dry. And I only wash my face with a cleanser in the evening. In the morning I just use water.

My fear that I might get spots didn’t come true. I do still use my moisturiser twice a day, because of my angry skin.

As you can see, if you put your mind to it and are willing to experiment, you can reduce how often you use your beauty products by quite a bit.

Create Your Eco-Friendly Beauty Routine Today

I hope sharing how I created my new sustainable beauty routine helps you to create yours. Take your time, especially in step one.

And don’t feel pressure to get rid of as many products as possible. You have to be happy with what you’re left with, otherwise you might not keep it up.

Don’t be afraid to try different eco-friendly alternatives until you find the right one for you. When available, buy samples so you can give the product a go without committing to a full size.

I managed to use the products I kept less. But remember, you are on your own journey. What worked for me might not work for you. All I say is try it.

Even if you decide you don’t want to use any product less, if you have followed steps one to three, you have a green beauty routine.

So what are you waiting for? Make your beauty regime more sustainable!