Makeup is a way of expressing your creativity as well as individuality to others. Social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Tik Tok helped increase the general public’s interest in makeup. However, with this increased interest, we should also raise our awareness on how we can still make responsible choices with make-up—and no, we’re not just talking about your correct foundation shade.
Let’s break it down a little.
The make-up industry is constantly evolving and changing. Dare we say, it’s one of the leading industries that are continually fronting social changes. Remember when Rihanna released Fenty Foundation with a 40 shade range? That was the game-changer for the industry and became a shocking wake-up call for everyone. Customers are also becoming more aware by the day, and their demands help shape and guide brands to become more inclusive.
Albeit the makeup industry still has its cracks, many of them include ethical and environmental issues. However, the whole industry is moving towards being more responsible and aware of these issues. Our duty as consumers is to constantly demand transparency and information about the supply chain and the brand’s accountability towards the environment and their employees.
But today, we wanted to talk about something more specific to what we can do as makeup consumers. Particularly on what we can do to create less waste with our makeup!
(P.S. We will talk more about the issues behind the make-up industry another time. Stay updated on our blogs!)
So, when you think of all your makeup, which one do you think generates the most waste?
Honestly, it would probably be your cleansing products. Think back to all the cotton pads and abundant micellar water you’ve used in the past, specifically the cotton pads. If you’re a heavy makeup user, you would probably use more than a couple of cotton pads at a time to remove your makeup. If you also use wet tissues, then all those sheets will also contribute to the total waste you’re producing in one sitting.
Cotton is one of the most harmful yet abundant materials used on the planet. Not only does it damage the environment from the excessive pesticides and water usage, but many cotton farmers are also underpaid and overworked. Read more about why you should swap out cotton from your makeup here.
There is a solution we want to offer to you: reusable cotton pads!
You’ve probably heard of reusable cotton pads. It was the item to get a couple of years back during the sustainability revival. Some have alternated to reusable cotton pads (great decision!). Unfortunately, there are still plenty that is still a bit out of from using this alternative.
Before you doubt reusable cotton pads, let us give you some insight on why it’s better to use them.
No, reusables are not unhygienic. However, just because you reuse them doesn’t mean you can’t clean them. Clean your reusable cotton pads regularly, more regularly than you wash your makeup brush. (When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?) You should clean reusable cotton pads daily after each use, and they’re pretty good to be reused. Put a tiny amount of detergent or your preferred cleaning product on the pads, rub it thoroughly, rinse and dry. Easy, right? They’re also pretty much practical to use and money-saving (imagine all the packs of cotton pads you don’t need to buy anymore!).
So, what’s the second thing we can do to reduce waste from makeup consumption?
Give away your expired makeup.
No, don’t give it away to your friends! You don’t want to be the reason they have breakouts, do you? So instead, donate them to funeral homes.
Let’s consider this. You may have overindulged in buying makeup once or twice. You could have also been given makeup by your friends or people closest to you. Or you just love collecting makeup in general. From your makeup collection, you probably have a go-to combination you use daily. Others you may use occasionally, but eventually, they expire before you get to finish them. So, rather than contributing to possible chemical waste, isn’t it better to donate them to funeral homes?
Albeit embalming may require a specific type of makeup, but there is no harm in contacting the nearest funeral homes to see if they accept your expired products! You’d be surprised at the amount of makeup they would receive from you.
The last tip we could give you is to find eco-friendly and ethical brands. You can choose a vast range of brands from out there (you can get great brand recommendations here!).
Hopefully, this article has convinced you to start considering these steps to create less waste with your makeup. (We strongly recommend swapping out your disposable cotton pads) Stay tuned for more insights from Well Made World!
Comentários