I’ve been thinking about my responsibility as a lifestyle editor when it comes to telling you of the latest in fashion and beauty but also giving your tips on how to be more conscious of the environment.
It’s not just a trend. Recently, a Vogue article I came across mentioned how a lot of brands produced pieces to acknowledge that unless drastic changes are made in the next few years, our world will change drastically.
In the article, there’s a mention of Gabriela Hearst staging a carbon-neutral fashion show for her Spring 2020 collection: all local models to save on airplane fuel, minimal backstage lighting, and no use of hot tools for hairstyling. The article then reveals a tip I want you to try to lessen your carbon footprint: Drop the hairdryer.
Apparently, blow-dryers create 57 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. It’s a crazy number when you think about how small blow-dryers can be but also how many salons are out there in the world.
Though it is but a small contribution, I think it still counts. Opt for sleeping with your hair damp. Tying it loosely will produce those Olsen-approved tousle.
From this, I tried to gather more little hacks to reduce the damage caused by your beauty routine. Obviously, if you’re going for a carbon-free hair care system, you should be ditching the aerosol cans. These days, you can get hairstyling products in regular spray bottles. Opt for stores that accept your empty bottles so your waste just doesn’t go to the dump.
When it comes to products with microbeads, steer clear. Read and research your toothpaste and body scrub as they may contain these tiny plastic particles. They may help you get a better clean efficiently but they only contribute to the water pollution. What’s really terrible is how these particles are too small and get past the filtration at water treatment plants. Women’s Health advises that you check out the labels for the following: oxidized polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), nylon and polypropylene. All of these are a no-no.
You’re better off with skin products that use only all-natural ingredients like Frank Body, Clean Beauty Co., and Bare Minerals.
If you find yourself checking into hotels often for travel, look up their toiletry provisions. Single-use dental kits and the little plastic bottles for complimentary shampoo are only contributing to our overall waste. Luckily, more and more accommodations are moving to refillable squeeze bottles for your hand soap and shampoo. Try to make this part of your checklist before booking!
I’ve long stayed away from sheet masks also because they only create waste the way we can’t seem to get rid of plastic straws. Their packaging alone is damaging as they are often made of aluminum and plastic that make them almost impossible to recycle.
On top of that, the mask contains ingredients that are either non-organic, non-biodegradable rending the mask–whether it be made of organic cotton or bamboo– unfit for composting.
If you really must mask, I’m a fan of those than come in tubs that involve less waste. If you insist on sheet masks look into those who are conscious of using organic, biodegradable and recyclable materials such as Innisfree and Andalou Naturals.
