Sustainable Self-Care Summer: Skincare & Shaving
- ECOLLEGEY
- Jun 22, 2020
- 3 min read
For shaving (if you choose to!)
Hair removal can be a tedious and extremely wasteful task. It is estimated that the average disposable razor cartridge should only be used about 6-9 times before being thrown away, resulting in over 2 billion razors ending up in the landfill each year. The average disposable razor is ~$10 for women, so if you shave at least 3x per week, you can easily spend up to $240 on razors per year. A great alternative to expensive and wasteful razors is investing in a higher quality razor that can be reused for years.
Here's some tips for sustainable shaving:
1. Use a sustainable razor
Rockwell Razors ($50)
Billie ($9 starter kit, monthly subscription for refills)
joy + glee ($10 starter kit, monthly subscription for refills)
• Partnered with company to recycle blades
Explore more options on Etsy
Billie razor, lush shaving bar, mason jar for rinsing
2. Use a glass of water to rinse your razor instead of leaving the water running while you shave - this way you can take as long as you want in the shower, you’re not wasting any water!
3. Use a DIY/plastic free scrub for exfoliating your freshly shaven skin
The microbeads in many face/body exfoliators are microplastics and are washed into waterways, eventually making it into the ocean
• Microbeads actually act similarly to a sponge by absorbing chemicals such as pesticides and flame retardants, which are ingested by marine animals and so the harmful substances can work their way up the food chain
Great ingredients for a natural DIY scrub:
Oats
Salt
Coffee
Sugar
4. Try using a solid shaving bar instead of cream from an aerosol or plastic bottle
Lush shave creams
Lush exfoliators
Exfoliating gloves are another great option
Explore less expensive options
Exfoliating glove & soap bar
5. Use a low waste body wash and loofah
6. Or, opt to try sugaring instead (wax strips produce a lot of waste, while sugaring is made of natural products and doesn’t require strips)
Sugar Me Smooth is a great all-natural and affordable option
For face care
It can be overwhelming to find a skincare brand that works with your skin’s needs. In my unprofessional opinion, I only aim to inform you about what you can look for to make sure your skincare is safe for the planet!
Look for products that are …
All-natural / organic
Vegan
Cruelty-free
Palm oil free
Made from ethically-sourced ingredients
In compostable, reusable, or zero waste packaging
Some great options:
Bar facial cleansers
Bar facial moisturisers
Lush options
Booda Butter face lotion
More Etsy options
Body lotion bars
Etsy has lots of affordable options as well
Waste free/DIY face masks
Homemade face masks (made with things you can find in your kitchen!)
Other things
Zero/low waste deodorant: it can be hard to find a deodorant that works for your particular needs, but here are some that we would recommend!
Lush deodorant bars & dusting powders - Lush allows you to sample their products at a very affordable price
Schmidt's deodorant - Schmidt’s also has a recycling program: return 5, get 1 free
Again, more Etsy deodorant options
Sunscreen: it is important to make sure your sunscreen is reef-safe and free of harsh chemicals, especially when you are in natural bodies of water
Eco Collective reef safe sunscreen (comes in compostable packaging)
Etsy options! (super affordable)
The bottom line: Consume consciously! Take the extra 30 seconds to read the label or do a quick search for the brand’s sustainability & ethical practices. And, most importantly, encourage your family and friends to try more sustainable skincare options!
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