When we think of living life in a way that's kinder to the planet, our first thoughts usually tend to be to do with, recycling waste, using renewable energy sources, or maybe even what we eat. Most of us (myself included) wouldn't instantly consider that our skincare routine and the tools & products that we use can also have an impact.
I try to use brands that are conscious about their effect on the environment.
In all honesty, when I first started using Neal's Yard Remedies products it was pretty much only because they were natural & organic... it was only once I started learning more about their brand that I started to really think about how much of an impact companies can make ethically.
It never even occurred to me before that the nasty chemicals that are in a lot of self-care products, may eventually end up in our oceans when we simply take a shower or rinse them off; this another added bonus of going natural, there is nothing in them that could potentially end up being a harm to sea life. (I've put a link at the bottom of this post that talks about this in a more detail if you'd like to learn more.) This was one of the main motivators for the campaign that successfully banned plastic microbeads in the UK - something that Neal's Yard Remedies were a big part of and have proudly never used plastic microbeads in any of their products.
Neal's Yard Remedies also ensure all of their products are created in recyclable packaging & they often champion the idea of reusing of their famous blue bottles - some of their stores even have chandeliers made out of them!
I want to ditch the single use products!
My biggest downfall when it comes to skincare is relying on makeup wipes; I only wear makeup once or twice a week but for when I do my skincare routine is a bit of a work in progress! I have been using a brand of wipe that is biodegradable called Mum & You, before my usual skincare routine for a few months now, but ideally I want to cut them out all together. It's even more environmentally friendly plus it will be better for my skin too!! To do that I have recently invested in a couple of makeup removal cloths from Primark (not really much of an investment, they were an absolute barg.. something like £2.50 for a pack of 2) They came highly recommended & you only need to use them with water to remove your makeup. I LOVE them!! I was sceptical at first, but they really do work, especially on foundation which I find even with facial wash products takes a couple of attempts to fully remove.
For eye makeup I am trying to remember not to reach for the wipes & instead use coconut oil with cotton wool pads; the only issue with this though is I must go through about 8 cotton wool pads to fully remove all of my eye makeup! So today I have had the most gorgeous little delivery that will hopefully mean I no longer have to go through an insane amount of disposable cotton wool pads every time I wear makeup. There is a gorgeous little brand called Lovesay and Mo that make baby clothes from organic cotton jersey, and with the leftover material they make reusable cotton rounds. The cotton rounds have one side which feels like normal cotton, and another that's a little more fluffy & textured. They're also much bigger than single use cotton wool pads, plus come in a cute little cotton bag for safekeeping; I can't wait to try these out tonight, I can't even tell you how cute they are - so here's some pics so you can see for yourselves!
By adding more reusable products into my skincare routine, it is on it's way to being more sustainable than ever, and it's not an inconvenience... in fact I seem to be finding better, higher quality products by doing so, that will actually save me money in the long run! I hope you found all this info a little insightful - it's small manageable changes like these that we can all make, everyday to take better care of the planet :) Sally x
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