A sustainable skincare routine is easy to create and apply to your daily life. Many products in the cosmetic industry are wasteful, and lead to harming our environment due to the manufacturing of these products. Along with the damages to our environment, the chemicals and acids produced into unsustainable products is the reason your skin is struggling to identify what changes need to be   made.

This is a key first step, and although it seems obvious, identifying the brands that are labeled with cruelty free, vegan free, and organic will make your routine a whole lot easier. Many brands turn to a sustainable business practice as a way to reduce their carbon footprint and for a more ethical impact to our environment. Having a sustainable brand and using their products makes a huge difference both locally and globally; therefore, being a consumer is essential and a necessary advantage for continuing sustainability. 

The 5 step routine I have provided below with create an improved and eco-friendly skincare routine that impacts your skin and your environment. 

Sustainable products help minimize the other outside damages to our environment. One of the biggest factors of buying sustainable products is the result in lower greenhouse gas emissions, which is a big contribution to our climate change and ecosystems. 

Common ingredients to look out for in products are parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and mineral oils. 

• Hyalournic Acid: hyalournic acid occurs naturally in our bodies and is key for our skin to retain moisture for all skin types. Humid atmospheres cna severally ehydrate your skin, and incorporation a hyalournic acid to your sustainable skincare routine can be a beneficial addition. 
• Retinol: Retinol is a derivative for Vitamin A, which is successfully proven to help skin cell renewel and can be treated as an antixodiant for all types of blemishes. 
• Argan Oil: This is a plant based oil that is less sidated and less heavy on the skins surface. Acne-pron skin, acne scars, and dry skin are most beneficial to the use of argan oil. Along with antixodiant benefits, argan oil promotes outcomes for sun damage and inflammed skin. 
• Vitamin C: A key to anti-aging. Vitamin C repairs UV damage because of its quick absorbation into the skin due to the mixture of ascorbic acid that provides instant results for evening skin tones.
• Vitamin E: Their are several types of vitamin E oils. This is very common in almost all skincare ingredients and paired with Vitamin C are a winner for healing and mostiurizing the skins deep surfaces.
• Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is antibacterial and helps fight acne. It’s anti-inflammatory properties help to enhance healing. 
• Green tea oil: Green tea oil helps to soothe the skin, fight skin aging, moisturize, reduce fine lines, reduce inflammation, and retain elasticity
• Sunflower seed oil: sunflower seed oil contains high concentrations of Vitamins K and E. It is hydrating, protecting, and soothing. It also helps remove dead skin and reduce wrinkles. 

Majority of non-sustainable brands overuse  plastic and styrofoam in their packaging that are unrecyclable. This step is crucial to maintaining your switch to an eco-friendly routine. Products that do consist of recyclable packaging, are normally a reusable option as well,  that can be used indefinitely. 

You want to find packaging that overall has less harm to our environment and humans. The key to eco-friendly packaging is the materials that are specifically designed to not cause pollution. A sustainable routine contributes to your personal well being just as equally as the global impact you are contributing to. You are choosing a lifestyle that will always create a positive change.

Different Eco-Friendly Packaging Alternatives include:

1. Biodegradables

2. Recycled Cardboard or Paper

3. Organice Textiles

4. Edible Films

Skincare is all about what works best for your skin. Every individual’s skin is an experiment of its own. Products that may be too harsh or sensitive to your face, can be beneficial to other areas of your body; neck, back, legs. Instead of diminishing products that are no longer useful for you, there are several organizations, charities, shelters, that are always in need of donations.

Skincare is an all around learning process. You have to experiment first before you know what works best. Finding alternatives in your skincare routine is more than swaping out products. Using alternatives for your makeup removal process is also crucial. Use a gentle makeup remover with organic wipes or cotton pads that can be easily disposed  to eliminate extra waste. There are many brands that have design reusable makeup towels and pads that would be a perfect addition to your sustainable skincare routine.

In a skincare routine, it is important to stick to minimal steps. It is unnesscary to have a 10+ step routine filled with harmful products with no natural ingredients involved.  A three to four natural product routine will allow your skin to learn what works best, and meanwhile result in a positive effects to our environment. Products that are packaged in bulks are not only hurtful to the environment, but in reality expire quickly, leading to more waste in landfills.

Before recycling your products, double check that the bottle is completely empty. Many skincare bottles and tubes are designed with inconvenice to get every drop of the products. Cutting the products will remove excess product, and will make it easier to scoop out anything left. It is important to clean out your empty bottles because recycling companies do not take those that still have over 10% product left in it.