Green Beauty Routine | Eco Friendly Tips
A green beauty routine will reduce your environmental footprint. Learn eco-friendly tips about saving water and reducing waste.
By Elizabeth Keefe
Recycle the Packaging
Shampoo and conditioner bottles, toothpaste boxes, and toilet paper rolls are all recyclable, among many other household plastics and paper. Visit Recyclebank to learn how your recycling efforts can earn you points toward rewards and discounts on groceries, entertainment and more.
Save Bathroom Power
You may need to keep the lights on when you’re showering or applying your makeup, but you can save power in other ways while you’re doing it. Cut down on blow-drying time by using a microfiber or other type of absorbent towel first to soak up moisture. You’ll save electricity—and your strands! Also, unplug unused appliances like electric toothbrushes or your hair dryer regularly, as appliances do draw power even when they are switched off!
Consider Dry Shampoo or 2-in-1s to Reduce Shower Time
If your hair is dry to normal, washing it two or three times a week is probably sufficient. If it’s thin or greasy, go for once every other day. On off days, blast your roots with a non-aerosol dry shampoo to sop up excess oil. Reduce your shower time overall with 2-in-1 products like Dove Men+Care Body and Face Wash (Link opens in new window.), Shampoo & Conditioner (Link opens in new window.), or Axe’s 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (Link opens in new window.). You can also save water for baby with SheaMoisture’s Wash & Shampoo (Link opens in new window.).
Buy Larger Sizes and Refill into Smaller Bottles
Stock up with large-sized versions of products you use a lot to save money and plastic. If you find that the bigger bottles are unwieldy, decant into reusable plastic containers for a more manageable experience.
Conserve Water
Water scarcity is a growing concern around the world, particularly in developing countries. Do your part by being mindful. Turn off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth or washing your face, and limit the time you spend in the shower’s steamy stream. It may sound speedy, but five minutes should be more than enough time to lather, rinse and repeat. If you find that you’re having trouble cutting down your water usage, you can also try installing low-flow showerheads or opt to take a shower over a bath.
Another way to save water is with Love Beauty and Planet’s conditioners (Link opens in new window.), designed with a fast-rinse technology to use less water while not sacrificing its ability to help your hair shine!
Plant-Based Clean
Another great way to help make your beauty regimen more eco-friendly is to use products that are plant-based, like Dove Men+Care’s Reinvigorating Lime+Avocado Oil body wash (Link opens in new window.) or Love Beauty and Planet’s body wash (Link opens in new window.)! These body washes utilize plant-based cleansers and moisturizers, nutrients and minerals to create a formula that works for your skin as much as it does the environment!
Know Your Routine
Knowing exactly what you need out of your everyday beauty routine—why you use certain products and what your body needs to feel refreshed—will help you identify how you can make it more sustainable. For inspiration, watch this video (Link opens in new window.) about a family in the UK who took a closer look at their showering habits, and realized that they could save time, money and water by making a few small adjustments to their daily routine.
Elizabeth Keefe is a beauty writer living in New York City. Her work has appeared on Makeup.com and in Allure, Details, InStyle, Lucky and Women’s Health
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