Reduce, reuse, recycle. You’ve heard it before, maybe a million times, but it is not always easy to reduce waste in all aspects of our lives. Shifting to a zero waste lifestyle or just aiming to be more eco-friendly when you are a beauty addict can be a real challenge. From shampoo bottles to cotton swabs to mascaras, it is unbelievable how makeup and personal care generate a lot of waste unless we take greener, smarter decisions.

Fortunately, small and easy changes can lead up to a big impact on the environment. Here are my 10 tips to reduce waste when you are a beauty addict.

10 tips to generate less waste when you are a beauty addict

1. Swap sheet masks for masks that are in a jar or in a tube. Sheet masks are amazing, but the product/waste ratio is horrible. Every time I use one, it breaks my heart to throw away the packaging AND the mask once I’m done. So. Much. Waste. I decided not to buy sheet masks anymore and to favour ones that come in a tube or a jar instead.
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2. Say no to makeup wipes and cotton pads and opt for a makeup cloth instead. I highly recommend this one that I reviewed back in May 2016 and have been using and loving ever since! I am never going back to anything else to remove my makeup. All you need is warm water and the cloth, which can be reused so many times! It’s good for both your skin and the environment.
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3. Swap bottles of shampoo for a solid shampoo bar. Ugh, plastic bottles. They look cute in the shower caddy but they are so polluting! And did you know that a solid shampoo bar will last you longer than your regular bottle of shampoo? And they’re better for your hair. Yes, ma’am. Lush has some pretty neat options for all hair types or you can also try and make your own at a local cosmetics store that offers courses.
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4. Choose the option that has less packaging or that can at least be reused/recycled. Some brands, such as Lush, sell their products without any packaging, which is the absolute best for the environment. When that option isn’t available, make sure that the packaging can be reused (or repurposed) or is at least recyclable. PS: this tip is also a must when you are grocery shopping 😉
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5. Choose full sized items over travel size. Whether it’s a primer, a foundation or a mascara, buy the full sized one instead of the mini version. It will last longer so you won’t have to repurchase one so soon. Fewer products purchased = less waste.
6. Buy only what’s necessary or what you know you will like and use. If you are curious about a product, read reviews and swatch it in stores before purchasing it. I know this one can be tricky as we can never truly know if we will like a product or not unless we try it for a while… But testing it beforehand may avoid some catastrophes. See tip #7 if you end up not liking the product.
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7. If you don’t like a product that you have, gift it to a friend instead of throwing it away. Used nail polish that you don’t wear anymore? Gift it. A foundation that is too dark or too light? Gift it. Your friends will be happy, and the planet too! It is great that companies with generous return policies such as Sephora accept even slightly used products. However, even if your returned products are refunded (yay), they will end up in the dumpster. So think about it next time you purchase something and return it. Maybe a friend would have liked it 😉
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8. Opt for refillable options as often as possible. This includes bottles of shampoo, but also single eyeshadows (the ones that don’t come in plastic packaging, just the pan). Look for zero-waste grocery stores where you can refill your skincare essentials. When buying makeup, pick single eyeshadows that you know you will use instead of palettes that are meh. Also, buy only the eyeshadow pan instead of the one that comes in individual packaging. You have this option at MAC, for example.
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9. Say no to samples. I know, samples are super tempting, and they’re a great way to test a product. But if you don’t need them to test out a product, say no to these, as there is usually very little product compared to the size of the packaging. A slightly better option is to ask a salesperson to make a sample for you in a tiny plastic jar, like the ones they use at Sephora or at MAC, for example. You get more product and I love to reuse these containers to put my foundation and moisturizer when I go on trips.
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10. Try to buy less and make your own. This is the toughest tip, and I know not everyone can apply it. As a beauty blogger, I am aware that if I stop buying and accepting PR samples, my blog will probably cease to exist. But, for those of you who are willing to make an extra effort, please do! There are so many beauty products that can be made at home with safe ingredients: deodorant, perfume, moisturizer, even mascara, blush and foundation! For example, I have been making my own dry shampoo for years using this recipe, and I never need to buy an aerosol can anymore!

 

PS: Some companies make an extra effort to reduce their waste and help the environment. For example, MAC has the Back to MAC program, where you return 6 empty primary packaging containers and get a free lipstick of your choice. Yay for you and the planet!

Voilà! If you have any other tips, please share them below! I would love to hear from you! <3

-xox- Marika