Low Waste Skin Care

Now more than ever, we know how our habits impact the environment. Your skincare routine can be effective, professional-grade, and environmentally friendly. 

Skincare and wellness go hand in hand. Our health can encompass every part of our life, from the foods we eat to the products we use and, as we now know, our environment. Reducing waste is an excellent way to help the environment and be more mindful of your routine. 

There are so many ways to reduce your skincare waste: your products, the ingredients, their sources, and even your skincare tools and accessories. Finding products that work for you is essential; then, it's easier to find lower waste options!

Some great low-waste options include:

• Reusable, refillable, or recyclable packaging

• Sustainable and locally sourced ingredients

• Minimal or single ingredients

• Concentrated products

• Reusable and multi-use products

Reusable, refillable, or recyclable packaging

I love using glass or aluminum bottles because you can refill or recycle them. You can also clean and reuse them for DIY projects! 

Sustainable and locally sourced ingredients

An ingredient can be sustainable if it:

• It takes minimal energy or water to produce.

• It is sourced or produced locally, benefitting your community and minimizing your carbon footprint.

• It's from a resource that renews quickly.

The Superfood Luminance Ampoule by Earth Harbor is an excellent example because the dropper bottle is reusable or recyclable, and the ingredients are plant-based. Ingredients like hemp, seaweed, and lavender are sustainable crops, too!

The PCA Daily Defense Mist comes in an aluminum bottle, and it's great for all skin types, including sensitive and healing skin. This product includes dandelion and seaweed, which are both pretty eco-friendly. Dandelion is beneficial for soil and is wildly available. Seaweed is a low environmental impact ingredient because it is renewable, beneficial for its ecosystem, and has a wide range of beauty uses.

And did you know that most jelly masks are also sustainably sourced? Our Super Greens Mask by Esthemax is seaweed based and comes in a biodegradable pouch. 

Minimal or single ingredients

Fewer ingredients mean less environmental impact. You can use plant oils and butter for moisturizing, water (hydrosol) for hydration, and even grains, salt, or plant matter for exfoliation. Even swapping out a single product, like a body exfoliant, with a sustainable option makes a difference!

Keeping whole ingredients on hand makes it easy to make your infusions and skin care products home. For example, infusing green tea into oil makes an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-packed body oil.

Concentrated products

Bars, powders, and other concentrated products have a longer useful life and a smaller carbon footprint. They do not contain water or liquid ingredients, making them easier to store, ship, and refill! 

I love using full bars like the Lumi Peppermint + Matcha Moisturizing bar; no packaging, and they last longer than a single bottle of lotion.

Multi-use products

A multi-use product can replace multiple products in your regimen. You'll often see active ingredients combined with a moisturizer or an essence. For example, a two-in-one moisturizer with vitamin C reduces the need for multiple products. 

Accessories are multi-use, too. Our Biodegradable Sisal Soap Pouch combines a cleaning and exfoliating! 

Investing in low-waste products is easier than you thought, right?