The goal: Beauty, naturally

Choosing to follow a natural beauty routine means choosing to be kinder—to yourself and the planet.  Here, we explore how you can select tools and products that are more eco-friendly, use natural ingredients, and limit your body’s toxin exposure.

Reducing beauty waste

Packaging is one of the beauty industry’s largest sustainability issues. It accounts for about 70 percent of the industry’s total waste. With an estimated 95 percent of packaging being thrown away, finding ways to cut down on our contributions to the beauty-waste problem is a must.

Some things you can do

• use fewer products where possible
• select products that use less packaging (think beauty bars instead of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bottles)
• purchase refillable options
• when packaging can’t be avoided, look for reusable or easily recyclable or compostable packages (think glass bottles and jars or post-consumer paper or cardboard)
• thoroughly clean and remove labels and lids before putting used items in the recycling bin

Smart sun care

Protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging rays should be central to any beauty routine but choosing a sunscreen that does its job and is still both good for you and the environment can seem a tricky business.

A good sunscreen

• uses natural sunscreens, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide
• doesn’t contain dangerous ingredients, such as parabens, phthalate, PEG, or parfum
• is well-rated by the Environmental Working Group (https://www.ewg.org/skindeep)
• provides UVB and UVA protection
• comes in the form of a cream
• is SPF 15 or higher

As you build your natural beauty routine, don’t forget about the tools you use, including these simple swaps.

• disposable cotton rounds -> washable cotton pads
• cotton swabs -> washable and reusable bamboo swabs
• plastic brushes -> bamboo brushes with natural bristles (like sisal)
• conventional floss -> natural floss (such as bamboo, silk, or corn)
• plastic loofah -> compostable konjac sponge