In a world of 10-step skincare routines and endless product recommendations, it can feel overwhelming to figure out what your skin actually needs. The good news? When it comes to skincare, less is often more—both for your skin barrier and for the planet. Here's how to build a simple skincare routine sans the plastic bottles.
The Three Essential Steps for Healthy Skin
Dermatologists recommend just three simple steps: cleanse, moisturize, and protect. We're here to help you make this routine single-use plastic free! Trust me, your skin (and our beautiful planet) will thank you!
1. Cleanse: Wash Your Face at Night
Washing your face before bed is perhaps the most important skincare habit you can develop. Throughout the day, your skin accumulates dirt, oil, makeup, and environmental pollutants that can clog pores and accelerate aging if left overnight.
For a sustainable cleansing routine:
- Choose solid cleansers: Opt for a cleansing bar instead of liquid cleansers in plastic bottles. Our gentle facial cleansing bar is gentle and fragrance-free, ideal for the most sensitive skin and folks who wear minimal makeup.
- Consider your skin type: If you have oily or combination skin, you may want to opt for a deeper cleanse like our refillable plant-based gel cleanser which effectively removes impurities without stripping natural oils. For dry or sensitive skin, our cleansing bar provides a gentler option.
- Ditch the disposables: Replace single-use cotton pads with reusable facial rounds. Made from cotton, they can be washed and reused hundreds of times, saving hundreds of disposable cotton rounds from landfills.
Tip: If you wear makeup, consider the double cleanse method—first with an oil-based cleanser to dissolve makeup, followed by a gentle water-based cleanser like those listed above.
2. Moisturize: Nourish Your Skin Barrier
Moisturizing helps maintain your skin's protective barrier, keeping moisture in and irritants out. Apply moisturizer to slightly damp skin to lock in additional hydration.
Sustainable moisturizing options:
- Concentrated formulas: Our Fresh Faced moisturizer contains natural ingredients that hydrate your skin all day. Ideal for all skin types, Fresh Faced provides a lightweight, non-greasy hydration that leaves your complexion refreshed, and naturally radiant.
- Refill: Don't recycle your face moisturizer container, give it a good clean and bring it to your local refill store. Don't have a refill option near you? No worries, we ship refills! Just select "Refill Pouch" and your pouch will arrive with a pre-paid return mailer to send back once you've emptied the contents into your container. When we receive the pouch back, we'll sanitize and refill it for our next happy refiller.
- Look for sustainable ingredients: Choose moisturizers with ethically sourced, plant-based ingredients that don't harm ecosystems during production.
3. Protect: Never Skip Sunscreen
Daily sun protection is non-negotiable if you want to prevent premature aging and reduce your risk of skin cancer. It's also the most powerful anti-aging product you can use. To ensure your sunscreen is providing the protection you need, look for a "Drug Facts" panel on the packaging. If you don't see one, that means the product has not been tested and may not provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
For sustainable sun protection:
- Reef safe formulas: Our sunscreen options are free from harmful chemicals like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, PABA (Aminobenzoic Acid), enzacamene, octisalate, homosalate, avobenzone, and toxic preservatives or additives. While the term "reef-safe" doesn't have an official definition, avoiding these ingredients is essential for protecting marine ecosystems.
- Non-nanoparticle zinc oxide: If you're opting for a zinc based sunscreen look for non-nanoparticle zinc oxide which does not absorb into the skin and provides protection from sunburns and skin cancer.
- Reduce packaging waste: Our bulk sunscreen option lets you refill your container, significantly reducing plastic waste compared to buying new bottles.
- Simplify your routine: Our sunscreen moisturizer combines hydration and provides SPF 50 protection in one step, perfect for minimalist routines.
Tip: Apply approximately a quarter-sized amount of sunscreen for your face and neck, and reapply every two hours when outdoors.
Conclusion
Remember, the most sustainable skincare routine is one that works for your unique skin needs. Start with these three steps, and you might find that your skin—and the planet—thank you for doing less.
What sustainable skincare swaps have you made? Share your experiences in the comments below!
