It will come as no surprise that at Clean Beauty Collective, we love all things beauty. But a recent report revealing that 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry shows that as an industry, it’s often not that pretty at all.

However, when it comes to working towards a healthier planet and keeping it alive for generations to come, your beauty regime can be a great place to start. If you’re looking to make a change – even at the smallest level – read on for some of our top tips.

Repurposing your empties

Finishing a beauty product needn’t be the end of the life of its packaging, and we love looking at new ways to repurpose our empties.

Empty Aleph Beauty pots are the perfect size for a pretty tea light, and you can even share the love by gifting them to your family and friends. All you need to get started is soy wax, your pick of essential oils if you’re opting for fragrance and a candle wick. Once you’ve perfected your wax, carefully pour the mix into an empty jar and hold the wick in the centre while the wax hardens. Too cute!

Bigger jars and empty candle vessels are the perfect way to keep your makeup brushes tidy and upright, meaning they retain their shape and last longer too. Most soy-based candle residue can easily be removed with a good soak in boiling hot water and some elbow grease, then allow to dry. 

Lastly, we all love the look of a cute, travel-sized mini version of our favourite products, but the reality is that they aren’t a good idea for the planet at all. Instead, create your own by keeping clean empties of smaller products on hand. At often half the size or less they definitely come in handy when travelling internationally, and allow plenty of space in your luggage for extra shopping!

Wave Goodbye to Wipes

It can be all too easy to reach for the nearest disposable wipe when it’s late at night and the last thing you want to do is wash your face. The ugly truth is that many wipe options on the market are made of synthetic fibres, pile up quickly in the bathroom rubbish bin, and don’t degrade when they reach the landfill. Synthetic wipes are often made of plastic fibres such as polyester and rayon, and one disposable wipe can take up to a hundred years to decompose. 

Microfibre cloths are the perfect eco-friendly option for removing your makeup, and many do double duty as makeup removers and gentle exfoliators. Be sure to clean the cloths regularly to avoid transferring dirt and bacteria back onto your skin, and always allow them to dry fully between uses. Tailor Skincare’s Towels and Take It Off Makeup Removal Towels are great choices, or invest in a Foreo Luna Fofo – a 2-in-1 facial cleansing and massaging device that removes all traces of oil, makeup, sweat and dead skin to leave it looking fresh, smooth and luminous in just 30 seconds.

Brush With A Conscience

A clean and cruelty-free makeup brush – or several – are our tools of choice, with cotton buds and the like kicked firmly to the curb. Using a soft blending brush to smudge eyeshadow can offer even more precision and control than a cotton bud, and dip an eyeliner brush in makeup remover to perfect your most precise winged eye look ever. Aleph’s collection of brushes most definitely tick all of the boxes, with densely packed vegan bristles that are designed to work just like animal hair, but are hypoallergenic and far less likely to harbour bacteria. Sustainably made in Italy, they are designed to last.

Minimise Your Packaging Output

To make your own beauty journey more sustainable, consider reaching for products that have minimal or no packaging, like bar soap in the shower and shampoo and conditioner bars from New Zealand’s own Ethique. A single Ethique shampoo bar is the equivalent of three bottles of traditional shampoo, and making the change is easier than you think!

Alternatively, choose products that come with refillable packaging, like those from waterless wonder Dust & Glow and Paume.

Rethink Before You Add to Cart

The phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” has never been more important than right now. Every product we purchase has an environmental footprint, from the materials used to create it to the pollution emitted during manufacturing, to the carbon miles that bought it here and the packaging that ends up in landfills. So before you buy something, ask yourself if you really need it. If you do, look for minimal packaging and shipping, and brands close to home. 

Want more clean beauty? We’ve combed the globe to bring you the best natural products, made with the best and cleanest ingredients around. You can browse our full range of natural beauty and skincare here.