Can you love beauty and be truly sustainable?

Our Beauty Director investigates...

As we as consumers become more and more aware of our impact on the planet, so too are we are of how much plastic is in our daily lives – including in our beauty routines. 

But it’s not all doom and gloom, as you absolutely can love beauty and be sustainable too. Not all beauty products are created equal and there are several ways to make sure your routine has less of an environmental impact.

Garnier’s One Green Step report recently revealed that three in four of us want to be more sustainable, and more than a quarter had started to make changes to their lifestyle following the pandemic. 

In light of this, our Beauty and Style Director Lisa Oxenham sat down with Global Brand President, Adrien Koskas, Plastics for Change’s Chief Impact Officer Shifrah Jacobs, wellbeing expert Jasmine Hemsley and consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk to discuss some of the ways you can make your beauty routine more sustainable. Here are a few top tips from our experts...

Choose environmentally-friendly packaging

Avoiding plastic – especially non-recyclable plastics – wherever possible is a great first step. Adrien tells us that Garnier has pledged to be zero virgin plastic by 2025, meaning no newly-created plastic across the brand. They are also innovating when it comes to current products. For example, the Ultimate Blends Shampoo Bars use no plastic packaging whatsoever and contain 94% natural ingredients, but don’t compromise on product performance. They also offer Reusable Make-up Removal Pads, a sustainable alternative to cotton wool. 

Look for sustainable formulas

In 2021, many natural and sustainable beauty products now rival their synthetic counterparts. “There doesn’t have to be a trade-off between embracing naturality and high performance [any more],” says Dr Kluk. 

We’ve already heard about the shampoo bars, but in terms of skin, Garnier’s Hemp Seed Cream and Sleeping Oil both get Dr Kluk’s approval. “There doesn’t have to be exclusivity between having products that perform well and are effective for your skin, and that contain dermatological actives but are also respectful of nature,” she adds. 

Limit your beauty waste

That jam-packed shelfie might look great, but all products have a shelf life. Most need to be used within a 12-month period, so only shop products you know you can use up within that timeframe to avoid throwing any out. Ensure that you’re recycling all empties properly, too, either in your green bin or via in-store recycling services. 

Here’s to all of us pledging to take (at least) One Green Step in improving our beauty habits.