Your makeup routine is slowly killing the environment. Don’t get me wrong: makeup is probably one of the best inventions in history. It helps you enhance your looks, conceal your beauty dilemmas, and even boost your confidence.
But the problem lies in how you remove your makeup.
So, forget your old practices and follow these 5 cruelty-free and sustainable ways to remove your makeup.
5 Amazing Cruelty-Free And Sustainable Ways To Remove Your Makeup
1. Reusable Wet Wipes
Wet wipes are a convenient makeup remover tool, especially when you’re always on the go. Just grab a wet wipe and you can easily remove all traces of makeup on your skin. Sadly, these are just as harmful as plastic waste.
Wet wipes are troublesome to wastewater systems. They cause sewer blockages and even end up in the ocean. Even worse, these can take up to 100 years before breaking down.
If you use wet wipes to remove your makeup, switch to reusable wipes instead like Magnitone’s WipeOut! MicroFibre Cleansing Cloths. This product is gentle to the skin yet removes even the toughest makeup product. It only requires warm water, and you can reuse it thousands of times.
You can also reuse old clothes made of cotton. Just cut them in sizes you want, and you’ve instantly made yourself some DIY reusable wipes!
2. Reusable Cotton Pads
Cotton pads are a standard makeup remover tool. They are gentle to the skin, absorb liquid easily, and affordable! But did you know that there is a dark side to cotton pads? And unlike plastic, they are getting away with it.
The production of cotton products, especially when non-organic cotton is used, poses a threat to human health and the environment. Farmers use too much water resources just to grow them. For instance, it takes more than 20,000 liters of water to produce a single shirt. And that’s enough water to sustain 133 shower sessions!
Aside from that, farmers use chemicals to keep pests at bay. These chemicals end up contaminating the air, river, and drinking water of communities that live near cotton farms. And as long as you use disposable cotton pads to remove your makeup, you are part of the problem.
Put an end to this with reusable cotton pads by sustainable companies like TruEarth, LastObject, OKO Creations, and many more. These are an alternative to single-use cotton pads and are made of 100% sustainably sourced materials.
These also come in a bio-based case with 7 pieces of cotton pads. When you have used up their life cycle, simply throw them into your compost (yes, they are compostable!).
It’s definitely a cruelty-free and sustainable way to remove your makeup.
3. Natural Cleansing Oils
People use different cleansing products on their skin. Such products help remove all traces of makeup quickly, and some even claim to enhance your skin in the process. Unfortunately, most makeup cleansers contain harsh chemicals that gradually ruin your skin.
But you can avoid this by using natural cleansing oils instead like Leven Rose’s 100% pure Jojoba oil. Not only does it remove your makeup easily, but it also nourishes your skin. Plus, this organic product is unrefined and cold-pressed. It’s definitely good for the environment, unlike commercial cleaning products!
You can also use other oils like coconut oil and olive oil. Just apply a small amount onto your face and wipe away with a reusable cotton pad or a reusable wipe.
4. Milk
Did you know that milk is an effective yet gentle makeup remover? It’s not a fact known by many, but it’s one of the best makeup removers for different skin types. It’s also very beneficial to the skin, thanks to one of its components called lactic acid.
Lactic acid works wonders for your skin. It removes the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. Milk overall also moisturizes your skin. As a result, your face will be smoother, brighter, and younger-looking. No wonder Cleopatra loved bathing in milk!
To use milk as a makeup remover, dip your reusable cotton pad in it and gently rub it on your face. You may use whole milk if your skin is dry, and skimmed milk if your skin is oily.
5. Steaming
Surprisingly, steaming is a wonderful makeup remover. It opens up your pores, which makes it easy to remove any makeup product (and even dirt) from your skin. It also promotes hydration, blood circulation, elastin, collagen, and more!
To steam, soak a facial towel in hot water. Wring it out, and then cover your face with it for 5 minutes. Feel free to soak the towel again when you feel it’s losing heat. Then, wash off with soap and water.
Make this a habit, and your skin will thank you later!
A cruelty-free and sustainable makeup routine can sound like a challenging task. But as long as you follow these tips, you will be reducing your carbon footprint in no time.