by Alania Moss
It’s officially spring! The green in nature returns and so does Earth Day (April 22). In honor of Mother Earth I’d like to highlight beauty practices and brands that are making a difference to our environment.
Go Green in Your Beauty Routine
Several years ago when it came to light that waste from the beauty industry is a significant contributor to our environmental crisis, consumers demanded a response. The statistics were – and still are – alarming: over 120 billion pieces of plastic packaging for beauty products are being produced in the USA every year, and most end up in a landfill. Microplastics are found in many products, and those end up in the ocean and eventually back in our bodies. Thankfully many brands listened to our concerns, and now eco-friendly products and packaging are easier to find.
As consumers, we have the power to prioritize what we use by supporting brands/products that practice sustainability. We can also adopt daily habits that reduce our own carbon footprint. Here is a guide for implementing a fresh spring clean, green, beauty routine!
At Home Practices:
Replace single use cottons and wipes with washable, reusable ones. Whether starting the day applying a toner or tonic, or in the evening removing the remnants of the day, single use cottons and wipes need to exit our daily routines. Thankfully there are many options. I like Clean Circle Reusable Skincare Pads made out of a bamboo/cotton blend and Sarah Chapman Skinesis professional cleansing mitt which has dual sides for the sensitive eye area. Both are machine washable.
Use up every last drop. I remember when I first discovered the Spatty Daddy teeny tiny spatula, I thought I’d use this genius little tool in my professional kit for depotting products, but I use it for my personal products just as much if not more! Not wasting products gives us more bang for our buck and also helps when it’s time to recycle or refill.
Recycle. Look for the recycle symbol on your package (and if there isn’t one try to find a replacement that has it). Make sure the containers are empty and clean, and be sure that lids are attached (loose lids can clog recycling machines). Besides curbside recycling for your home, there are many great recycle programs like Pact Collective which focuses on “hard-to-recycle” beauty product containers. Co-founded by Credo Beauty and available at all Credo Beauty locations, Pact can also be found at select Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom locations, and they offer a mail back option.
What to Look for in Products:
Packaging: Look for reusable/refillable options, like aluminum, stainless steel, or glass as well as sustainable options such as paper/fiber containers and PCR materials (post consumer recycled). Some products (primarily face/body washes, hair shampoos and conditioners) are now being made as solids/bars which need no packaging at all!
Ingredients: Consider the ingredients that are in the products you choose. I am not here to tell you to use/not use certain ingredients; that would be a much bigger topic for another article! But I do encourage you to educate yourself and know what you are putting on your skin, because skin absorbs approx 64% of what it comes in contact with. Make informed decisions on what is important to you (e.g. non toxic, cruelty free, fair trade, sustainably sourced, environmentally friendly).
Here are some fresh spring beauty products that you and the planet will love:
Makeup:
Foundations: As we enter warmer months, it’s a good time to reassess your foundation and move to lighter formulas/tints like these:
Everyday & Travel-Friendly: I’m loving Axiology’s Fungdation, which features reishi and snow mushrooms and has a buildable formula from light to medium coverage. Axiology is a completely plastic-free line that is lightweight and earth-friendly, with beautiful & compact paper packaging recycled from ocean trash.
Foundation with SPF: RMS Suncoverup super tint SPF50 looks natural, is longwearing and is packaged in recycled glass.
Luxury foundation: Monika Blunder Blunder Cover is a versatile and easily buildable foundation that gives sheer to full coverage with natural botanicals. This clean beauty line comes in eco-friendly glass packaging.
Multi Use Products: I’m always a fan of products that serve more than one function. Here are some really great clean-and-green products to try:
Contour/Bronzer: Axiology Shape Sticks have a gorgeous consistency, the shade range is spot-on, and they come in convenient and completely plastic-free packaging.
All over color: Ilia’s Multi Sticks might be tiny, but they pack a powerful punch of color that can be worn all over (and Ilia uses PCR packaging)
Eyes: Mascara: I’m obsessed with Monika Blunder Architect Eyes Buildable mascara, which has one of the best brown options available that goes well with this year’s mocha mousse trend.
Shadow: Gen See mixed media liquid eyeshadows come in a variety of colors and finishes from natural to colorful, matte to metallic, are longwear, crease resistant and have PCR packaging.
Lips: Lip Gloss: TOK Beauty lip tonic is a plant-based gloss with natural sun protection and gorgeous pigmented colors that are never tacky or sticky.
Lip Stick: La Buoche Rouge (LBR), pick your elegant refillable case and then customize from an extensive range that leaves a sumptuous satin finish.
Lip Tint: Fresh sugar lip balm hydrating treatment is an oldie but goodie and still a staple in my kit and personal makeup bag (with aluminum packaging).
Skincare: Dr. Rogers products provide a simple and effective line while meeting the highest standards (EU compliant) of biodegradable ingredients and sustainable packaging.
Tata Harper has a farm-to-face philosophy that completely encapsulates being green and has expanded from skincare to bodycare. The hydrating floral essence has been a longtime favorite of mine and is loved by many of my colleagues and clients!
Kypris is a completely naturally derived line with gorgeous glass container packaging. Their signature serum, Antioxidant Dew, is a must-have for every skin type.
Shower/Bath/Body: Necessaire is a luxurious line that hits several green points: they are certified climate and plastic neutral and give a percentage pack to environmental causes. I love their body washes, lotions and treatments, available both fragranced and fragrance-free.
Spoiled child has recyclable and refillable packaging, making them another great line that controls waste, with a curated range of products from hair masks (love!) to serums.
Viori is a completely plastic- free, natural line of hair care with gorgeous products. I love their essential oil line of shampoo and conditioner bars.
So many great lines are expanding into the green & clean beauty market! These are just a few of my favorites, and I hope they inspire you to try something new in honor of Earth Day. Together we can create real change, because beauty and the environment go hand in hand.
Fun ideas to show that you support going “green” in your makeup routine:
This Earth day why not incorporate green color into your makeup look? I love a green accent for the eyes, it can work on any eye color and especially pops if you already have some green in your eyes.
For a soft green wash try sweeping RMS eyelights cream eyeshadow in Eclipse across your lids.
The deep emerald color of Kosa’s soulgazer intensifying gel liner is a beautiful swap for your traditional black or brown liner. Feeling a little extra flirty? Try winging it out!
For a subtle hint of green try sweeping on a coat of Thrive Cosmetics liquid lash extensions mascara in Donna, a limited edition deep green color.
As always I want to hear from you! Message me your green tips or favorite clean products lines, and any questions you might have and I will feature them in a future article!
