8 Beauty Products That are Harming the Environment and 8 You Can Use Instead

Beauty doesn’t have to mean pain — and this applies both to us and the environment. Unfortunately, some beauty products aggravate our already-existing environmental problems. There’s even an estimation that states we could build 19 life-size Empire State Buildings with the amount of plastic in our oceans.

In this article, Bright Side wants to make you aware of beauty products that may enhance your looks but are bad for mother nature. Most importantly, we’ll introduce you to some eco-friendly options to help the planet and keep you looking fabulous as ever.

1. Sheet masks

Whoever has tried sheet masks before knows how soothing and relaxing they can be, but this beauty product also has a negative impact. Both the packaging and the sheet mask itself, after it’s used, end up in landfills, which is a major problem for our environment. An alternative to sheet masks? Homemade face masks made according to your needs, of course!

2. Makeup wipes

After a long day, makeup removal wipes come in handy. But the truth is, just like the aforementioned sheet masks, makeup removal wipes are a problem for the environment and end up getting washed up on coastlines. As an alternative to makeup wipes, cleansing creams and oils are an excellent choice!

3. Bath poufs

Bath poufs are awesome for creating that exfoliating shower experience we all love. Unfortunately, poufs made of plastic end up in landfills and oceans, causing big problems in nature and life. Knowing this, we don’t have to abolish bath poufs altogether, but rather, we can replace them with loofahs, which are a safe, natural, and very economical alternative!

4. Skin exfoliants with microbeads

Many face and body exfoliants use plastic microbeads in order to remove excess skin. These microbeads, made of polyethylene, are not degradable and end up in lakes and oceans, which is damaging to the environment. If you want to maintain smooth skin without using dangerous exfoliants with microbeads, check out natural DIY skin exfoliants made of salt, coffee, oats, jojoba beads, and even sugar!

5. Glittery makeup

Most of us love glittery cosmetics! However, you may have also heard of regular glitter having a negative environmental impact, which is why a new alternative was developed, known as “biodegradable” glitter.

However, a recent study concluded that both conventional and alternative glitter can have a negative ecological impact on aquatic ecosystems, which may be shocking for all of us to learn.

As an alternative, using tiny flowers and petals or edible glitter may be interesting for those of us who love to shine and still be eco-friendly!

6. Cotton rounds and cotton buds

Like sheet masks and makeup removal wipes, single-use cotton pads also end up going straight to landfills. Not only that, but growing cotton requires the use of pesticides, causing a significant environmental impact.

As an alternative to reduce the amount of cotton used for beauty routines, consider reusable cotton rounds and biodegradable cotton buds as eco-friendly substitutes.

7. Nail polish

Nail polish is considered a household hazardous item as it can be problematic in landfills and is considered to be toxic and flammable. Not only that, nail polish bottles are difficult to recycle, which contributes to its threat to nature.

As an alternative, you can choose eco-friendly brands and properly dispose of your nail polishes.

8. Hair dye

Ammonia, which is usually present in hair dyes, may be harmful to aquatic life, even in low concentrations. But this doesn’t mean you need to stop coloring your hair. There are still other options such as henna dyes and ammonia-free hair dyes.

Were you aware of the impact these beauty products have on our planet? Are you excited to try out these new alternatives? If you are, let us know how about your experience!