Creating a sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard or overwhelming. It’s all about introducing those small steps, one at a time, and turning them into consistent habits that you don’t think twice about in your day-to-day life.

We believe this is true for your skincare and beauty routines, too! Creating a more sustainable and eco-friendly routine starts with a single step – perhaps one that feels easiest for you to make, such as buying more locally made products – and then working towards those big goals, like going low-waste.

If you’re looking for some ideas about where to start or how to take the next step in your sustainable skincare routine for you and your family, read on.

BUT FIRST, WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE?

Don’t worry, sustainable skincare doesn’t have to be about growing, making, and mixing all your own creams and lotions at home! There’s more to it than meets the eye. In fact, going sustainable with your beauty products can be a pretty easy swap to make.

However, there are a few factors to consider when it comes to sustainable skincare. We like to think of sustainability as having at least three pillars: environment, social, and economic. It can help to consider these pillars as well as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals when making any sustainable change in your life.

When it comes to beauty and skincare, these factors can include:

• The environmental impact of the product in both its packaging, ingredients, and production
• The social impact of the product, including whether it is safe for us and our families, and whether the people who made the product work in safe conditions and are paid a living wage
• The economic impact of the product, such as how the product benefits the local economy and community at large

If you’re curious to learn more about the key elements and certifications to look out for when shopping for skincare, haircare, make-up, fragrance, laundry, and cleaning products, you can join our mailing list and download our FREE Shopping Small & Sustainable Checklist below.

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So, how can you begin switching to more socially and environmentally-friendly skincare products?

STEP 1. LOOK AT WHAT’S IN YOUR SKINCARE

Do you read the label of the products you buy? If not, this is a great place to start. Often, beauty and skincare products will be full of nasties such as parabens, synthetic fragrances, and SLS, which do more harm than good to your skin, or in the case of sunscreens, octinoxate and oxybenzone which can harm coral reefs.

The basic rule of thumb with reading skincare labels is that if you come across an ingredient that you don’t know or can’t read, research it. Chances are, you might find out that there is a clean and toxin-free alternative for it. Learning about and understanding ingredients makes it a lot easier to find and choose natural, skin-loving alternatives that nourish your body and don’t harm the environment (and quite often, the labels are much easier to read!).

STEP 2. CONSIDER WHERE YOUR PRODUCTS ARE SOURCED AND MADE

Firstly, this step is about growing and sourcing natural ingredients sustainably. It’s important to remember that not all ingredients can be grown sustainably in Australia, so it’s about finding balance here and asking:

• Does the brand share where they source their ingredients? Or would they if you asked nicely?
• Do they make their products locally to help reduce shipping emissions?
• Do they include organically grown ingredients where possible?

Secondly, it’s about supporting small and local Australian brands to give back to your community and to help create jobs for your friends and neighbours. Check out our blog post about why shopping small matters to learn more.

STEP 3. IS YOUR PACKAGING POLLUTING? LET’S GO PLASTIC-FREE!

Scary news: Plastics never biodegrade. Instead, they only break down, sitting in landfills or making their way to the ocean. Plastic beauty and skincare products aren’t exempt from this journey.

Did you know that microplastics have been found both in the Mariana Trench (the deepest point of the ocean) and near Mount Everest’s peak (the tallest point on Earth), as well as in human bloodstreams and in the placentas of unborn babies?

Unfortunately, microplastics are all around us. The good news is that choosing plastic free and refillable products, and recycling your skincare containers and pumps all makes a huge difference.

Check out some of our favourite plastic-free beauty and skincare products:

We can all make those small and simple steps towards more sustainable skincare and beauty routines. Most importantly, let’s remember that for every beauty product out there, there is a clean and toxin-free alternative made by a small Australian business (we guarantee it!).

What’s your favourite sustainable skincare swap? Do you have a small Australian beauty brand that you love? Connect with us on Instagram. We’d love to know your thoughts.