10 Ways To Give Your Beauty Routine An Eco Overhaul

1. Switch to soap

Sure, we love the high volumes of amazing cruelty-free shower gels on the market, but most of them are packaged in vast amounts of plastic. We recommend ditching this altogether and going back to basics with traditional soap. There are plenty of brands popping up on the market, but one of our favourites is Nuddy. Its soaps are free from plastic and animal-derived products, whilst being high-quality. Bars also usually last longer than a shower gel, so you’ll save money at the same time! Coconut Soap, £4.95, https://nuddy.co.uk/

2. Go multi-use

An easy way to cut down on your products is to find an alternative that works for multiple tasks; a favourite of the Veggie team that does just that comes from iconic clean beauty brand, BYBI. The wellknown Babe Balm is a cult beauty hero, and can be used as a lip balm, cuticle cream, or mixed with a face oil for a nourishing treatment, amongst other uses. Babe Balm, £18, https://bybi.com/

3. Stay hydrated

Drinking more water, or at least getting the recommended two litres per day, can do wonders for your skin. Staying hydrated will keep skin spot-free, clear, and glowing, and the effects will last far longer than a tub of expensive face cream. We’re not suggesting you ditch skincare altogether, but rather than a 12-step day and night beauty routine, maybe take it down a notch to 2-3 steps, and invest in a reusable water bottle to give yourself the natural boost. We love Chilly’s Giraffe bottle, £25, https://chillysbottles.com/

4. Go refillable

We don't have to eliminate each and every product from our beauty routines to make it more sustainable, and it’s okay to still feel the urge to pamper ourselves once in a while, provided we stick to eco-wise brands; one of which is the winner of the make-up category at the Veggie Awards 2019, Zao! Almost the entire make-up range is refillable, so you can revamp your make-up bag with your favourite products, and then collect refills instead of shopping again and collecting more packaging. Better still, the refills are made of recyclable materials. We love the Shine-up Powder, £23.50, refill costs £13, https://zaoessenceofnature.co.uk

5. Ditch make-up wipes for good

There are plenty of make-up wipes on the market which are biodegradable, and if you think you’d struggle to cut them out completely, it’s worth doing your research. However, the most sustainable way to take off your war paint is by using a muslin cloth and a milky cleanser; this will last a while, and the cloth is reusable, sparing any damage to the planet. We’re big fans of PIXI Hydrating Milky Makeup Remover, £24, https://www.lookfantastic.com/

6. Try DIY

Challenge yourself and have a go at whipping up your own products! This way you’re cutting out the middleman and can make things in big batches, not only for yourself but to gift to friends and family to spread the eco-beauty love. Gingerbread & Coffee Scrub This scrub will create a lovely, soft exfoliant, with a warm and rich aroma getting you ready for the winter months. 20g emulsifying wax BP 8g stearic acid 15g shea butter (refined or unrefined) 45g grapeseed oil 2 drops vitamin E oil 3g coffee exfoliant hygeia 1g gingerbread fragrance 80g dendritic salt 20g epsom salts (FCC) 1 Prepare a hot water bath. Place your first four ingredients into a heat-proof bowl and place over the water bath to melt. 2 Once melted, remove from the heat and leave to harden. 3 When solidified, add the remainder of your ingredients, and mix until light and fluffy. 4 Lightly spoon the whipped scrub into a 250ml tin. All ingredients available from https://thesoapkitchen.com

7. Wash your hair less

This might come as a surprise, but you shouldn’t be washing your hair every day. We’re by no means suggesting you should cut out your shampoo session entirely, but doing it less will save on shampoo, as well as giving you back time and money. Obviously, each of us has different hair types, so some will need to wash more regularly than others. For example, if you have flat or fine hair, or hair that is prone to getting oily, then every other day is probably preferred. However, if you have coloured, textured, or dry hair, it can stretch to once a week! If you choose to go down this route, we’d recommend using a good-quality shampoo on wash days to keep your tresses in good condition. Why not try John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo? £19, https://johnmastersorganics.co.uk/

8. Invest in a safety razor

This is a simple one, which can be done quickly if you haven’t already made the switch. Rather than picking up countless packets of disposable razors which pollute the environment, invest in a reusable one; you’ll immediately eliminate the plastic, and the constant need to buy replacements. We recommend the Edwin Jagger Pearly Effect DE Razor, £27, https://edwinjagger.co.uk

9. Embrace the natural

Not everyone will be up for this, but it’s a simple way to save yourself product, money, and help the planet at the same time. By giving yourself one or two days a week where you leave your hair empty of products and styling, and your face free of make-up, you’ll give your hair and skin a break. You might even rediscover a love for those waves and kinks you’ve been straightening out, and learn to appreciate the benefits of a clear face. We 100% recommend giving the barefaced look a go, particularly for #selfcaresunday.

10. Read the label

For the products that you ‘just can’t live without’, we suggest doing some label research. While some brands are clearly labelled with the Vegan Society or leaping bunny cruelty-free logos, it can be tricky to see the eco credentials. If you’re unsure, we recommend looking for the arrows in a triangle (top right) – this means the packaging is recyclable, which is the minimum you should be looking for. Eco Cert (left), is another label to look for, as it shows that products are organic, and ensures the ingredients are derived from renewable resources and manufactured using environmentally- friendly processes.

Looking for more ways to be more eco-friendly? Check out these essentials for a zero-waste lifestyle!