Your beauty routine, minus the plastic

A not-so-pretty problem

If you close your eyes and picture your favourite beauty product, chances are, it contains plastic packaging.

There’s no doubt packaging plays a key role in getting us to part with our hard-earned cash, but according to the British Beauty Council, we throw away a staggering 95% of cosmetic packaging.

As I’ve got older, I’m not only more conscious about the ingredients I’m putting on my skin, but also my environmental impact as a customer. If the product doesn’t meet my high ethical demands, I simply won’t buy it.

More and more brands are slapping on their green credentials, including ‘plastic free’, ‘reusable/refillable’ and ‘biodegradable’ to show they share our environmental concerns. A step in the right direction at least.

As the industry gears up for The UK Plastics Pact, which comes into force in 2025, big name brands are setting out targets on how they plan to make the switch to greener alternatives. Garnier, for example, has committed to use zero virgin plastic in their packaging. Others have committed to use 100% recycled plastic or glass bottles.

This Plastic Free July I’m sharing some of the ways I’ve made my beauty routine more sustainable. I hope these tips inspire you to make a few easy swaps:

Embracing refillables

Many brands now offer refillable options and stations. Take Unilever for example, who set up refill stations in select Asda and Co-Op stores so customers can top-up on brands including Simple on-the-go. As well as stocking up on your favourite skincare and makeup, did you know you can buy deodorant in refillable format?

Reusable cotton pads

The ones I’ve tried are larger than your standard cotton pad, which means one does the job nicely. They’re easy to wash and come in a handy pouch you can easily throw in the washing machine. They’re ideal for travel and mean you no longer go through conventional cotton pads in plastic packaging.

Bamboo toothbrush

Wave goodbye to your plastic toothbrush! I made the switch to a bamboo and wood toothbrush a while ago and find the bristlers feel gentler on my teeth and gums. I carry a small one with me to stay fresh on the go.

Facial and body soap bars

I decided to ditch my usual cleanser and opt for a gentle facial soap containing only a few ingredients – ones I could actually pronounce too. This is not only a cheaper alternative, but the soap box I store it in is plastic-free too! Right now, I’m using a shea butter facial soap bar.

The key for me as a consumer, is knowing where my products have come from and where they’re going to.

To learn more about Plastic Free July, visit: Plastic Free July – Be Part of the Plastic Pollution Solution