lav girl

 

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to lead a greener life, and for me, part of that is making my beauty regime a little more eco-friendly. In case you also love the idea of leading a slightly greener life, I thought I would share a few simple steps that you can take to combine beauty and saving the planet…

 

Check The Ingredients

 

If you want to be earth and eco-friendly with your beauty routine, then the first thing that you need to do is to start checking the ingredients of all the products that you use. (I do this already as I have a nut allergy and don’t fancy swelling up after using a face scrub – it’s a habit that’s surprisingly easy to get into!) Every country has different standards and guidelines regarding animal testing – so be careful with the Korean beauty and skincare products that have become popular lately. Stores like Lush are completely cruelty-free with all their toiletries and beauty products, and they also clearly mark everything to let you know whether it’s vegan or not. (I am a major Lush lover and can’t recommend their products enough, if you’re yet to try them, I urge to hit up your closest Lush store!) Always make sure that you talk to people working behind beauty counters to find out the backgrounds of the products you’re buying. 

 

Recycle Your Containers

 

If you’re a big fan of beauty and skincare, then chances are you produce a lot of waste and empty containers – I know I do! If you order your products online, it should be easy to recycle the envelopes and cardboard packaging they come in, but what happens when you’re confronted with a line of empty plastic tubs and bottles? Luckily, some cosmetics companies have launched recycling schemes: for every six empty containers you take back to Mac, you get a free lipstick or lip gloss, and Kiehl’s will give you a stamp card where you can build up points for free products when you bring in your empties. 

 

Cut Down On Water Use

 

I know, I know – if you’re used to washing your hair every day then it seems unimaginable to cut down on that. If you’re a real hippie then why not cut down on using products full of chemicals on your hair altogether? If it feels dull and lifeless then chances are the natural oils have been stripped from your hair by the shampoo that you’re using. Try out the ‘no poo’ (I know, I know) movement which advises you to clean your hair using products like apple cider vinegar instead of shampoo. If that really isn’t your bag, then you could just time yourself in the shower to make sure you get out of there quickly without wasting too much water. If you want to improve your hair and you live in a city then you may have hard water, so try a water softener or rinsing using water filter jugs.

 

Make Your Own Products

 

If you like to get inventive then you can turn to your own kitchen to find products that you can use to help you with your beauty regime. You could use honey, which is a natural antiseptic and antifungal, as part of a face mask, and create a sugar scrub for your lips to help your matte lipsticks look flawless. We all know that oatmeal can help to soothe your skin if you’re having an itchy reaction, and you’ve probably already heard about the coconut oil trend that’s sweeping the beauty world. Not only can you use it as part of your haircare and skincare routines, but you can also use it to cook in, to create healthy meals that will make your skin bright and clear.