Plastic Free Beauty Day
#PlasticFreeBeautyDay is a great opportunity to consider eco-friendly alternatives when you’ve used up your current lotions and potions.
There are so many options available on the high street, online or you can even make your own! Try out these sustainable swaps:
Shampoo Bar
Shampoo bars look like soap and are usually packaged in paper or card, making it completely plastic free. Simply rub the bar in your hands or directly onto your head and use the lather to cleanse your scalp, like this.
There can be an adjustment period if you switch from liquid shampoo to bar shampoo so it can take a few washes before your hair settles, longer if you’re in a hard water area.
Conditioner Bar
Conditioners work in the same way as shampoo bars. Apply to your hair from mid length to ends as you would a liquid conditioner, leave for a few minutes and then wash out.
Cleansing
Be kind to your skin and the environment by ditching single use face wipes in favour of gentle, natural cleansers. Here are just a few options:
- Reusable pads – check out this selection of washable pads that can remove make up with just water!
- Oils – coconut oil removes make up and impurities, leaving skin feeling soft and clean.
Just warm a small amount in your hands, apply to your face and wash off with a warm, damp face cloth.
If you find coconut oil too heavy, try sweet almond or avocado oil instead. You can even create a tailor made blend of oils to suit your skin type.
Exfoliator
Sugar or salt mixed with oil makes a simple but effective exfoliating scrub. Salt is more abrasive so ideal for elbows and any rough patches. Just mix with your choice of oil – coconut or olive oil works well – and gently massage into your skin. Wash off with warm water.
Be careful in the bath or shower as the oil can be slippery.
Make up
You can even make your own cosmetics! Nourishing oils form the basis of most make up so once you’ve got the basics you can create a range of different products at home. Here are a few suggestions:
- Eye shadow, blusher, bronzer and lipstick can be made using a coconut oil base. Create colour by adding beetroot powder, cocoa powder, nutmeg or mica powder. Mica Powder is a naturally occurring mineral silicate with a crystalline shine and can be used to colour lipstick, eye shadow, bath bombs, candles etc. DIY eye liner uses an oil base and activated charcoal or cocoa powder for colour. Find out more about making your own eye liner and eye shadow here.
- Activated charcoal can also be used to make mascara.
- Finish your look with this setting spray and you’re good to go! Natural, budget friendly and plastic free!
Even just one swap will help reduce plastic use so, the next time you run out of something, why not give it a try?
