Earth Day is coming up fast, and one of the most wasteful sectors of life worth addressing is the cosmetics industry, a vast web of brands, manufacturers, retailers, products and waste items that many of us fashion fanatics financially support.
Think about the typical makeup item, perhaps a tube of lipstick or a powder compact. Think about every product used on every face in the U.S. (the average woman uses 16 per day) and picture each empty makeup container sitting in an ever-growing landfill. The image may be sickening, but for
The good news is that there are still options. Obviously, the simplest way to eliminate your makeup ecological footprint is to stop using makeup. Of course, there are plenty of other options that may be a bit pricier and could involve some effort. But if you’re willing to make the sacrifice, greening out your makeup collection could be the best thing you do for your planet and yourself.
A cost-effective and possibly fun idea to break away from store-bought makeup is to make it at home. There are recipes and how-to videos all over the web for anyone interested in making their own creams, pigments and powders. Cream foundation can be made with a few natural ingredients and a pot of boiling water. Basic black mascara is not so hard to whip up from scratch. An empty lipstick tube can be refilled with simple ingredients and natural pigments — easily recycled. Though the time commitment may be greater, and the effects might not always be the same, homemade makeup is fun and can be a nice way of eliminating harmful ingredients from a daily face routine.
Still, it’s always easier to buy something from the store than to make it at home. Luckily, there are brands trying to make it easier for makeup lovers to make cleaner choices. Throwing old or used makeup in the trash bin doesn’t throw it out of life completely. Tossed containers wind up in a landfill, and some of the more toxic ingredients in products can pollute surrounding water sources. For that reason, it’s important to dispose of excess makeup properly (in a sealed jar or container so it can’t contaminate the landfill) and recycle the remaining containers.
It can often be difficult, but it pays to inspect things like plastic tubes and eyeshadow palettes to see if they may be recyclable, as well as to invest in reusable or recyclable materials from the beginning. More and more brands, like RMS Beauty and Beauty Counter, are making conscious decisions to use recyclable or reusable packaging and limit toxic ingredients. Some major retailers will even reward customers for returning empty makeup containers to recycle them. The key to maintaining a sustainable makeup bag is to remain diligent, vigilant, and willing to do whatever you can to make a difference — for you and for the Earth.
Kayla Beard is a senior studying journalism with a focus in web design at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What other makeup brands are eco-friendly? Let Kayla know by tweeting her @QKayK.
