Sustainability Tip of the Month : Consider Your Cosmetics
November 1, 2016
We all use a variety of products on our bodies, be it shampoo, lotion, makeup or soap. Some of these products may be harmful to your health or the environment. Consider the tips below to reduce the impacts of the products you use.
Make your own: There are all kinds of instructions available for making cosmetics, lotions, soaps, and other products at home with ingredients from your kitchen pantry or medicine cabinet. At least this way you know exactly what is in the products you use.
Go without: Have you ever heard of the ‘No-poo’ shampoo routine? It’s where you wash your hair with water and baking soda instead of shampoo. Some say it makes their hair softer and shinier. Either way, it’s a whole lot cheaper and less toxic than regular shampoo.
Look for organic, biodegradable, or fair trade: If you are going to buy feminine hygiene products or cosmetics, look for brands that are labeled organic, biodegradable, or fair trade to reduce your environmental footprint.
Switch to reusables: Menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicone and can be reused indefinitely. If you’re not a fan of tampon style products, you can buy or make washable fabric pads to replace feminine napkins. Whichever route you go, you’ll save thousands of dollars and pounds of trash.
Interested in more resources?
Good Guide provides ratings on thousands of products’ environmental, health, and social impacts. They also have an app so you can easily scan products with your smart phone to view their listing while shopping!
There are also countless sites with recipes for DIY cosmetics, lotions, soaps, etc. Pinterest is a great place to start!