8 Beauty Products That Are Actually Harmful For The Environment
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Very often, beauty means pain, especially when it comes to the environment. As climate change slowly gets worse, it is up to us to fix things and make things easier on the environment. Unfortunately, some popular beauty products can often worsen the environment. While we might be obsessed with beauty products that enhance our looks, we need to start looking for eco-friendly options that are also non-damaging for the environment. Sure, it takes a lot of work trying to find the right beauty and cosmetic products, especially if you’ve managed to find the product after a long period of time. So, here is a list of beauty products that are harmful for the environment as well as the alternatives you can find instead:
1. Sheet Masks
A lot of people believe that the “s” in “self-care” stands for sheet masks and are thus highly reluctant to skip using this product. Sure, they can be super relaxing and help you calm down if you’re in an anxious state, but they are quite damaging to the environment. Yes, those very same Korean sheet masks that you enjoy will land up in major dumping grounds and the packaging is always plastic. Instead, you should opt for purchasing packaged masks that you apply topically and wash off, or make your own natural homemade face mask instead.
2. Makeup Wipes
After a long day outside your home and having your makeup collect dust and dirt along the way, your first thought is probably to get home and just grab a makeup wipe and take everything off. But we should warn you that doing this will just end up with these wipes getting washed up in the sea. As an alternative, you should check out cleansing oils, face washes and even creams. You can use a clean piece of reusable face towel as well.
3. Bath Poufs
Who doesn’t love bath poufs? Sadly, poufs that are made of plastic will end up in beautiful natural ecosystems like oceans, lakes, or if not, eventually in landfills. This will lead to animals getting trapped in or accidentally swallowing them and worse. Instead, you can check out loofahs which are safe, natural, as well as more economic. They will help clean out not just the dirt on your body but your guilty conscience as well (from using bath poufs all these years).
4. Exfoliants With Micro Beads
Many different kinds of exfoliators contain microbeads that are not safe for the environment. These microbeads are made of an ingredient called polyethylene that are toxic and not degradable. These will land up in oceans and lakes which are damaging to the environment. You can also opt for using coffee, salt, sugar, and even jojoba beads.
5. Regular Glitter
Glitter cosmetics are a major craze and have been popular since the 2000s. Glitter can be quite damaging to the environment and due to this there are new biodegradable options available instead. As an alternative, you can use crushed flower petals and edible glitter which are better eco-friendly options.
6. Single Use Products
Just like sheet masks and different kinds of makeup remover wipes, single-use cotton pads can also end up straight inside landfills. Besides that, growing cotton will require the use of pesticide and cause significant damage to the environment. Instead, you should consider reusable cotton buds and reusable makeup wipes. These will be more cost effective in the long run and your wallet will thank you for choosing to go eco-friendly.
7. Hair Dye
Hair dyes contain ammonia which can be harmful to the environment. They can affect marine life and even in lower concentrations can be harmful for the plant and animal life. Instead, you can look for alternatives like ammonia-free hair dyes or maybe even the natural henna hair dye. Making this switch will not just be good for the environment but better for your hair as well.
8. Nail Polish
Yes, those pretty, glitter nail paints can wreak havoc on the environment. Nail paints are problematic enough to be marked as flammable and even toxic. They are also difficult to be recycled and this will contribute to their threat to nature. You can find plenty of alternatives and eco-friendly brands and alternatives. You should also make sure that you properly dispose of the nail paints once you are done using them.
There are plenty of alternatives to beauty products that you can find online or you can always make your own DIY face masks and removers at home. In the end, whatever future beauty product and cosmetic makeup choices you make, you should make sure that you choose to take a more eco-friendly route and try other options instead of sticking to just the regular stuff. Let us know if this article was helpful to you in the comment section down below.
