When you decide to take your skin care into your own hands, you are taking steps to protect the environment. Looking after your skin with homemade products can help reduce waste. Using natural ingredients will also help reduce the number of harmful toxins released into your surroundings. Not to mention, you will help save flora and fauna, too. Here’s how making the switch to natural and homemade skin care can make you more sustainable.
Most beauty products have expiration dates. If you can’t use them up before they expire, you’re likely to end up tossing them in the bin. However, making products at home means that you can develop a product that is perfect for you. These kinds of products help you do three things: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Buying fewer beauty products means that you decrease the amount of rubbish you create. There’s fewer boxes, plastic film, bottles and all those other things you get when you buy beauty products at the store. It may not seem like much, but when you’re emptying out your rubbish bin less and less, you’ll realise how much of an impact you’re having on the environment.
Quality containers can always be reused and repurposed for homemade skin care products. Just be sure to clean them properly before filling them with your natural concoctions. Brown and blue glass make ideal containers for handmade products as they protect the ingredients from the sunlight.
It’s crucial to find out what plastic packaging can be recycled near you. Unfortunately, plenty of smaller items usually end up in landfills. Finding creative and unconventional ways to upcycle packaging helps decrease rubbish. When you make an active effort to recycle your plastic packaging, you keep it from littering beaches or filling up our oceans. Makeup palettes can become jewellery cases, and lipstick tubes can be used to keep your kirby grips in one place.
The last thirty to forty years taught the world about the danger of irresponsible beauty products. In the 1970s, hairspray companies had to remove synthetic ozone layer depleting chemicals from their aerosol products. Today, plastic micro beads have drastically decreased in popularity since studies showed that they harmed natural water sources. Creating your own products means that you can make a conscious effort to avoid things that can hurt you and the environment.
Factories that create beauty products cause a lot of pollution. They pump harmful toxins and synthetic chemicals into the air as a by-product of their production process. Making skin care products on a small scale eliminates these harmful by-products. Also, having your own natural ingredients growing at home can help reduce air pollution. Trees and plants clean the air and eat up any CO2 that is around.
We should always remember the circular nature of things. Any synthetic or harmful chemicals that we put on our bodies gets washed away when we shower and re-enter our waterways. Using natural ingredients means that you can reduce water contamination. While it may take you a while to completely ‘go green’ with your beauty regime, stay mindful. Take care disposing of any products such as nail varnish or hair dye or replace them with eco-friendly options altogether.
Natural skin care can protect you and those around you, as well. We’re not talking about your neighbors, we’re talking about our furry little friends. Animals are much more susceptible to diseases than humans. By eliminating toxins from our beauty regime, we can help our pets healthier too.
There’s that big elephant in the room! Going vegan is more popular than ever. People are deciding that they don’t want to support brands that hurt animals. As more people choose natural ingredients and oils, animals testing is decreasing immensely. There’s no need to test tried and true components that come from mother nature’s garden. When you choose to make your own products at home, you know exactly what effect they will have on your skin. There are no scary side effects or mystery rashes. Also, you don’t have to worry about tortured bunnies either!
It’s important to mention the effect that natural skin care can have on plants, as well. The majority of plants are very sensitive. When there is pollution in the air or water, they will be the first indicator. Reducing pollution and steering clear of harmful chemicals will allow you to ensure they have a better quality of life. Even though plants can’t speak, they will be grateful. In return, they will grow strong and provide you potent ingredients to make your natural skin care products.
Homemade skin care can help save your skin and the environment. However, it is a learning process. You shouldn’t feel pressured to get it completely right from the beginning. Being sustainable takes practice! What matters most is that you actively work to diminish your impact on the environment. Do your best to reduce packaging waste, decrease pollution and help the plants and animals. If you are looking for some guidance, consider signing up for Wapo Beauty’s Shampoo Bar Workshop. You’ll get hands-on experience and tips on how to craft all-natural shampoo at home.
Ashuni Pérez is an American writer based in Valencia, Spain. She has a passion for natural beauty and the environment. Ashuni loves to cycle and drink smoothies in the sun. Follow her on Instagram at @ashuuuuni
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