Sharpening the Skincare Routine


Sharpening the Skincare Routine

    Keeping in theme with lifestyle choices that impact plastic waste on the planet, it is time that we approach a heavyweight industry that has been dependent on plastic, and is easily disregarded as a single-use contributor since it stays on our shelves for longer than a plastic straw or utensil would. A blog article in Forbes referenced Zero Waste Week’s observation that, “more than 120 billion units of packaging are produced globally every year by the cosmetics industry, contributing to the loss of 18 million acres of forest annually (Sherriff, 2019). Personal care products ranging in price and quality are supplied in plastic containers which are some of the most difficult materials to recycle, either because of their composition or size, or their difficulty to clean excess product out of (Zero Waste, 2021). Newer bathing methods saw a shift in the way that our cleansers and products needed to be presented, too, which called for larger bottles of liquid that could run down the drain and be stored in showers. Like the unsatisfactory surprise of a bag of chips filled half with air, these bottles are often mostly made up of watered-down concentrates. Rhoda Trimingham, an expert in sustainable design based at the University of Loughborough, observed that, “we’re really just shipping tons of water around the world in plastic containers, which is bad for the carbon footprint, the water footprint, and also the plastic footprint.” (Borunda, 2021).
    Using makeup to either enhance or adjust our appearances is a creative right that has been a standard for some for generations. Though it is important that we embrace ourselves and our natural beauty with love and confidence, cosmetics can be a healthy form of expression. When it comes to ethical beauty, there are several points at which we can intercept the industry’s tendency to take advantage of individual or environmental well-being. Many companies have recently committed to being labeled as vegan or cruelty-free, Free Trade certified, natural ingredient-derived, or organic, but plastic-free packaging is still a missed opportunity overall. In the case of cosmetics, we wouldn’t be giving up the use of a product like we would with plastic bags or straws. Realistically, we are opting for a version of the product that is made in a concentrated form. Tubes of mascara, encased in plastic, are presented in a paste form made up mostly of water so that it can be applied to the lashes. Alternative products with sustainable packaging are made in little pigment paddies that can be wet and brushed with an applicator for use, prolonging its use since the product drying out is kind of the point. Products with innovative use such as this, as well as products that come with refills, save consumers a lot of money in the long run. Kjaer Weiss makes a foundation that comes in a metal compact that can swap out the actual product once it has been used. The refills are cheaper than the initial product, and the pigment can be adjusted based on your application, doubling its use as a concealer!
    When it comes to exploring our relationship with plastic, personal care products are truly one of the most overwhelming to address. Hygiene and beauty are incredibly important to us, and there are billions of dollars invested in an industry that keeps us smelling and looking clean (Sherriff, 2019). Our appearance is not something that any of us want to (or should have to) sacrifice in order to satisfy our needs to be aligned with our values. The good news, advocate, is that recent trends in intercepting climate concerns have inspired a rise in producing product alternatives that are produced ethically. It is up to us, as consumers, to show these companies that our values are important to us, and that we want to support products that are made with those values in mind. In Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey identifies the final habit of ‘sharpening the saw’ (Covey, 2020). Establishing habits and maintaining wellbeing are dependent on forming and practicing rituals until they become an established routine. We brush our teeth everyday, wash our hair and hands, and apply creams and lotions as needed because we have practiced these habits our whole lives so that we are taken care of. Swapping out products for sustainable materials requires that we adjust our habits, and practice at them until they become ingrained in our routines. This time, though, our routine can be aligned with our mission and values.
    Take a look at your makeup bag or personal-care cabinet. How many of the products inside are stored in a plastic container? Is there a label somewhere near the bottom that indicates its recycling potential? How hard would it be to wash out any residue product before sending it off to be recycled? If you can’t find a way to ensure that the material will be recycled, consider this: somewhere out there is a company whose innovation has developed a plastic-free alternative. Haircare, lotions, and cleansers can all be produced in bars, makeup can be packaged in glass or metal (or bamboo!) materials, and even toothpaste or mouthwash can come in tabs, as we discussed last week. When your product’s life comes to an end, and it is time to be replaced, consider an alternative that doesn’t use any plastic. Zero Waste provides a list of their favorite zero waste products, as a head start shopping list! So that you can plan ahead, consider taking a look at the products which are nearing their end, and purchase a replacement ahead of time. If you wait until the last minute, you may end up panic buying a whole new plastic product from your local drugstore, starting the process over again.



(Refinery29, 2019)

(Sedona Christina, 2019)


References


Borunda, A. (2021, February 10). The beauty industry relies on plastic. can it change? Retrieved 

from 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/beauty-personal-care-industry-p

lastic

Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition. New 

York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Sherriff, L. (2019, September 18). The minimalist beauty company tackling the industry's waste

problem. Retrieved from 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucysherriff/2019/09/17/the-minimalist-beauty-company-tac

kling-the-industrys-waste-problem/?sh=6a078a674326

Zero Waste. (2021, February 05). The best zero-waste cosmetics – check out our top 10. 

Retrieved from https://www.zerowaste.com/blog/the-best-zero-waste-cosmetics-top-10/



Media Sources

Refinery29. (2019, May 4). The dark secret behind your favorite makeup products [Video]. 

Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeR-h9C2fgc

Sedona Christina. (2019, March 3). Zero waste makeup routine | plastic free & natural brands 

and products that work! [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from

Walker, D. (2012). Birchbox Travel. [Photograph]. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/ceB3Lm

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