Published: June 30, 2024
The concept of sustainable beauty is becoming increasingly important for many. Research shows that 62% of beauty consumers now pay more attention to how eco-friendly their cosmetic choices are, recognizing that small tweaks here and there all help to contribute to a greener planet.
However, what does this actually mean for your beauty routine? How do you go about making it more sustainable? Read on as Bionyx shares some practices that will not only benefit your skin but the environment too.
Switch to Reusable or Biodegradable Cloths/Cotton Pads When Cleansing
Many people opt for single-use cotton pads when cleansing or toning their skin. There’s no denying the convenience that comes with this but there’s also no getting away from the fact that each pad you throw away will only end up in a landfill somewhere else.
The solution is to make sure that the pads you’re using are fully biodegradable. Whether they’re made from cotton, bamboo, or anything else, biodegradable pads will break down in the environment quickly.
Better yet, go for reusable pads or cloths instead. These are designed to be washed in between uses to clean away product residue. Dry them appropriately and they’ll be ready for the next time you need them!
Be Mindful of Water Usage
It’s a common practice to leave the water running while a cleanser is being applied, even though the water isn’t being used at that exact time. Once again, this is down to convenience.
What’s the problem with this? Even though it may seem as though the water supply flowing through your taps is never-ending, fresh water is a finite resource. If you want to practice sustainable beauty, you need to be mindful of this and conserve water whenever possible.
So, whenever you aren’t actually using the water, turn that tap off. You could also try cleansing your face while you’re in the shower to save on additional water usage.
Simplify Your Beauty Routine With Multipurpose Products
There’s one very simple way to reduce the impact that your beauty routine has on the environment; use fewer products. After all, the more products you use, the bigger your carbon footprint and waste contribution.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that your skin needs to suffer. Instead, look for multipurpose products that will still do all that you need them to do. Take the Bionyx Alloy Platinum Synergizing Serum as an example. With sodium hyaluronate and peptides, it’s extremely hydrating, to the point where it’ll immediately plump up your complexion. Peptides are also superstars at reducing the appearance of aging and strengthening the feel of the skin barrier. Add to this the vitamin C in the formula, which, again, will tackle the look of skin aging and discoloration, and you have yourself a serum that’s capable of helping your skin in so many ways!
Avoid Harmful Ingredients
There are certain cosmetic ingredients out there that are known for their harmful effect on the environment. Parabens are one, with these preservatives now a growing threat to ecosystems all over the world. Shop with Bionyx and you won’t need to worry about parabens – all of our products are free of them!
Sulfates are also increasingly contaminating the environment. These ingredients are surfactants, which is why they’re often used in cleansers. To practice sustainable beauty, always go for cleansers that don’t contain sulfates, just like the Rhodium Mousse Cleanser from Bionyx! This formula makes use of coconut-derived surfactants instead. Not only are they just as efficient at cleaning the skin but they also have a moisturizing effect as they do so. Even better, they’re much friendlier to the environment!
Finish Your Beauty Products Before Buying New Ones
With so many exciting beauty products out there, it can often be tempting to purchase something new, even though you already own a similar product. After all, experimenting with beauty products can be so much fun!
However, this can also be wasteful and detrimental to the environment. Overdoing it with your beauty purchases means that, further down the line, you’ll end up with several half-used products that then need to be thrown out because they’ve expired (yes, beauty products do expire!).
Put a stop to this habit by finishing off your current products before investing in anything new. Make sure that you’ve emptied each one properly too. Scrape out any lingering remnants from that jar of face cream or cut open your tube of cleanser to fully remove any excess product. Not only does this sustainable beauty practice mean that you’ll be doing the environment a favor, but it will save you money too!
Invest in Multi-Use Beauty Devices
Another way to cut back on the number of beauty products you’re buying is to invest in beauty devices that can be used multiple times. Whether you go with something completely manual or choose an electric-powered device, you’ll be able to use these tools for years – something that topical products can’t compete with!
Of course, in line with the sustainable beauty advice that we gave you earlier, the device you choose should, ideally, be a multi-purpose one. This is where LED light therapy devices shine. They can be used to tackle so many different visible skin concerns. From the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles to the appearance of inflammation and acne, the right device will offer features that you’ll be able to turn to time and time again.
If you’re interested in LED light therapy, the Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand would be a good place to start. Designed to deal with visible skin concerns that arise in the eye area, you’ll be able to clear your complexion of crow’s feet, puffiness, and dark circles with this single tool.
Seek Out Products With Recyclable Packaging
When it comes to the beauty industry’s environmental impact, packaging is a huge problem. Out of the 120 billion tons of waste the industry produces each year, 70% of that consists of packaging.
Fortunately, more and more brands are starting to recognize this. As a result, they’re taking sustainable beauty measures by implementing more recyclable packaging. The only way to further encourage this throughout the industry is to choose those brands when shopping for beauty products. The more something is in demand, the more companies will respond.
At Bionyx, recyclable packaging is something that we prioritize. You won’t have to worry about your beauty purchases contributing to landfills – you’ll be able to shop guilt-free!
Repurpose Empty Containers
So, what should you do if you already have a few beauty products with containers/packaging that can’t be recycled? This is where repurposing comes in…
Repurposing is when you find a new use for an item, and there’s plenty that can be done with empty beauty products. For example, an empty toner bottle could be filled with shampoo or conditioner for when you’re traveling. Mascara wands can be used to shape your brows or smooth down frizzy hairs while the droppers from your serums could be used with essential oils, or even for adding food coloring when baking (you’ll need to thoroughly wash them out first!).
You can always do this with recyclable containers too. After all, some are just too nice to be recycled! The sleek moisturizer jars from Bionyx would make a perfect container to hold your jewelry when you’re packing for a vacation.
Consider Refillable Beauty Products
Of course, repurposing and recycling aren’t the only things that you could do with empty packaging…
You could also refill them and use them for their original purpose once again! More and more beauty brands are now taking the refillable route. You purchase the original product and then opt for pouches in the future, which can then be used with the original packaging. It goes without saying that you’ll need to make sure that the pouches are recyclable otherwise this defeats the purpose!
Be Aware of Greenwashing
With consumers now becoming more eco-aware, many companies who aren’t eco-friendly try to appear to be. This is known as greenwashing.
How can you tell if a beauty brand is greenwashing?
By taking a closer look at the claims that they’re making. For instance, if a product promises to be completely organic, check to see if they have a USDA Organic certification. Likewise, an EWG label would certify that the product is completely non-toxic.
Prioritize Cruelty-Free Cosmetics
Being eco-friendly isn’t only about reducing your direct impact on the environment. Sustainable beauty also encompasses the indirect effect that your choices have on the planet.
One way in which you may be causing harm without realizing is by purchasing products that aren’t cruelty-free. Animal testing is an outdated way to ensure the safety of a product. Many companies still do it because it’s often cheaper than the alternative testing methods but those alternatives are also much more accurate.
At Bionyx, we’re proud to say that none of our products have been tested on animals. We make use of alternative testing procedures to ensure that our products are completely safe for use without causing unnecessary suffering to the creatures of the planet.
Buy in Bulk
We know, we know…a little while ago, we told you to stop buying quite so many beauty products to reduce your environmental impact. However, when you do make a purchase, buying in bulk can often be the more eco-friendly method.
This doesn’t mean that you have to buy five year’s worth of face cream in one go. Instead, simply attempt to make your purchases from the same place at the same time. This way, it’s all handled in one transaction with just a single shipment to get those products to you. It’s far kinder to the environment than ordering a new product every month.
Practicing Sustainable Beauty With Bionyx
At Bionyx, we try to incorporate sustainable beauty practices as much as possible. From our recyclable packaging to our cruelty-free formulas, we’re continuously making changes to better our brand. At the same time, we don’t compromise on quality. Our products contain some of the very best ingredients out there, enabling you to improve your complexion while reducing your impact on the planet.
Click here to browse the bestselling skincare products from Bionyx.