How To Create a Zero Waste Skincare Routine

Want to know how to create a zero waste skincare routine that is budget friendly? This post is for you.

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Let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as ‘the perfect skincare routine’. What works for one person might not work for someone else. Some people have oily skin, some people have dry skin, and some people have a combination of both.

However, skincare, along with makeup, has become a very wasteful industry. From single use wipes and face masks to products packaged in lots of plastic, it’s clear to see that there’s a problem.

Many skincare products on the market aren’t essential for healthy skin – but they do a great job of tricking you into thinking you need it. For instance, many anti-aging skincare products don’t actually work. And honestly, is aging such a bad thing? Wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes are completely normal and I think it’s time we start to embrace that.

In the past I’ve used eye creams to target my dark circles and I tried many different products targeted at getting rid of acne. None of these products work. In fact, diet and lifestyle factors have a much bigger impact on your skin than most skincare products will.

It’s for this reason that I now like to keep my skincare routine as simple as possible. The products I use daily are a face cleanser, moisturiser and SPF. That’s usually it. Then 2 – 3 times a week, I’ll use a simple face scrub or a face mask. If I’ve been wearing makeup, I’ll use an oil-based makeup remover. Like I said, I like to keep things simple.

Now here are some tips on creating a zero waste skincare routine that is good for your skin and the planet.

Read: 13 Winter Self Care Tips To Improve Your Wellbeing

Use Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

If you normally use single use cotton rounds to remove your makeup, it’s time to stop. Switching to reusable makeup remover pads * saves you money and reduces waste. They’re really kind on your skin and remove makeup effortlessly. However, that’s not all I use them for. They’re also great for removing leftover skincare product and residue. Honestly, reusable makeup remover pads are one of my favourite sustainable skincare swaps.

Choose Plastic Free Where Possible

It’s important to say that plastic free isn’t the only quality to look for in skincare products. You also want to look for cruelty-free products that are made with non-toxic ingredients. You also want to look into how their ingredients are sourced, whether they pay workers a fair wage, and what their packaging is like. There are a lot of elements to consider and being sustainable isn’t only about being plastic free.

I recommended Green Planet Beauty * and Conscious Skincare. These are two brands that I use and they tick all of the right boxes. I also use Wildefruit’s Buff + Run every day, which I love. This brand is only run by one person and she does a fantastic job at being transparent.

Some people enjoy using bars of soap for their face. This is a great zero waste skincare option, however, it doesn’t work for everyone. If you have really dry skin or you live in a hard water area, facial soap bars might not work for you. It’s worth experimenting with a few different products until you find what works for you!

Read: How To Throw An Eco Friendly Birthday Party

Use Up What You Have First

It doesn’t make sense to start a new cleanser and moisturiser before you’ve finished up using the current one first. Many skincare products have a shelf life of 6 months to a year once opened. So you want to make sure you’ve finished all of the product before it expires. Opening too many products at once is likely to create more waste because expired products will end up in the bin. Also, using too many products feeds into the idea of overconsumption. You don’t need more of everything – you actually need less.

The only time it makes sense to open a new product is if your current one isn’t working for you. If that’s the case, you can see if any of your friends or family members might like to try it. Some skincare products can be used for other purposes, too. If a facial soap bar isn’t working for you, try using it for your body instead. If a face scrub feels too harsh on your face, you could use that as a body scrub or a foot scrub. You can see where I’m going with this. There are many ways that you can use up products!

Make Your Own Skincare Products

Not everyone has the time, skills or energy to make their own skincare products. But if you do, it’s a great way to create a zero waste skincare routine on a budget. You could make your own makeup remover with a blend of oils such as castor oil and sesame oil. Another great DIY skincare product is olive oil and brown sugar; this creates a very effective exfoliator. You may need to experiment with different oils, butters and extracts to create the best formula for your skin. Remember that if something doesn’t work well for your face, you can still try and find another use for it.