These beauty switches will help you to do your bit for the environment. Wherever you stand on Extinction Rebellion, Greta Thunberg or Meat-Free Mondays, I think we can pretty much all agree that climate change is most certainly ‘a thing’. I don’t wish to sound flippant about such a serious issue but let’s be honest, I’m a hairdresser not a scientist. However, from putting a recycling bin in your bathroom, to using sustainable beauty products, we can all make a difference.
These beauty switches will help you to do your bit for the environment.
Wherever you stand on Extinction Rebellion, Greta Thunberg or Meat-Free Mondays, I think we can pretty much all agree that climate change is most certainly ‘a thing’.
I don’t wish to sound flippant about such a serious issue but let’s be honest, I’m a hairdresser not a scientist. However, from putting a recycling bin in your bathroom, to using sustainable beauty products, we can all make a difference.
Switch your soap Ditching liquid soaps and going back to good, old-fashioned bars is a start. Why? Well, many are sold in plastic-free packaging and you can find a soap for everything from hands and body, to hair and facial cleansing.
Putting a recycling bin in your bathroom may not sound quite so odd when you consider that the vast majority of beauty packaging is thrown out after just one use, and only 50% of recyclable bathroom waste is currently being recycled.
Also, try to invest in brands that offer refillable products and have refill schemes. Many brands are increasingly introducing in-store recycling initiates with reward schemes, which is a great way to support High Street stores with similar initiatives.
Cotton Buds There has been quite a hoo-hah about cotton buds. It is estimated that a staggering 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds are used in England alone each year. Worryingly, around 10% of them are flushed down the loo after use - ending up in our seas and rivers. It goes without saying that nobody should be doing this, ever! Beyond that, you could replace plastic-stemmed buds with bamboo versions.
Similarly, if you must use face wipes, bin them after use rather than flush down the toilet. Better still, switch to compostable ones or go with a traditional flannel.
Always read the label Checking the sustainability of the ingredients used in your favourite products can help you to decide whether to keep buying them or switch to an alternative brand. Palm oil - used in nearly half of all consumer goods - is the cause of devastating loss of species and massive deforestation. If a product has either the Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance logo on it, this should go some way to reassure you that the ingredients used are sustainable.