Green your Beauty Routine

Easy swaps to minimise your beauty footprint

Cut down your beauty miles

We all know about buying local when it comes to food, but have you ever thought of the beauty miles linked to your favourite shampoo? One of the easiest ways to make a difference is to choose products that have been made here in the UK. It cuts down on transport emissions and helps to support local businesses. Not all British brands actually make their products in the UK of course. So you’ll need to do your homework. One of my recent discoveries is Soak Sunday (www. soaksunday.com). All products are made right here in the UK and are cruelty-free and vegan friendly. The packaging is glass, aluminium or recycled plastic and delivery boxes are made from FSC-certified cardboard. But Soak Sunday’s green credentials aren’t the only reason I adore the brand. The products are lush. My personal favourite so far is the Rose Utopia Botanical Bath Soak, £14, which is made with real rose and lavender petals, as well as Himalayan salt and plant oils. It turns a regular bath into a spa-like experience.

Check packaging

Many of us have been shocked by images of plastic waste in our oceans. Unfortunately, glass is heavier that plastic, which results in higher transport emissions. So it’s not as easy as you might think to decide which is greener. If you decide to go for plastic packaging, look for recycled bottles that can be recycled again. Avoid cling film and plastic wrap as it’s harder to recycle. Prefer glass? If possible, choose refillable glass bottles, as reusing requires less energy than recycling. You could also switch to solid shampoo, conditioner and soap bars to significantly cut down on both packaging and transport emissions.

Read the ingredients list

Try to avoid palm oil and other ingredients that are destroying the rainforest or are toxic to the environment. When palm oil is included, make sure the brand has committed to sourcing it sustainably.

Switch to marine-safe sunscreen

Around 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen is washed into the sea every year, most of which contains ingredients that are harmful to coral and other marine life. So choose an eco-sunscreen that states it’s reef-safe. Green People’s sunscreens (www.greenpeople.co.uk), for example, are easy to rub in and include plant oils and botanicals to help moisturise skin. They’re non-toxic, offer broad-spectrum sun protection and are available in factors 15 to 30.

Ditch the disposables

Lots of the healthcare products we use are designed to be thrown away after just one use. Swapping to washable versions can really cut down on waste, and may even save you money in the long run. Try www.ogato.co for reusable cleansing pads, www. modibodi.co.uk for period underwear and www. honouryourflow.co.uk for reusable sanitary pads.

Shop ethically

Don’t fancy checking ingredients lists? Make it easier for yourself by buying from an ethical retailer, like Holland & Barratt, www.biggreensmile.co.uk or www. naturalcollection.com, which only stock ethical, sustainable brands.