The Skin Nerd: Here's how to make the right choices for your skin — and the planet

Last week, I hosted a Skingredients Live with Pat Kane, an award-winning sustainability advocate. 

Pat is also the founder of reuzi, Ireland’s one-stop shop for sustainably made, reusable goods and an educational hub centred on sustainable living. 

We discussed the beauty industry and its impact on the planet and how even small changes can make a big difference in environmental outcomes. As the founder and CEO of two global brands, I feel the responsibility both personally and professionally. 

Each year, the global beauty industry produces a massive 142 billion units of packaging. What’s more, 95% of beauty packaging is thrown out after one use and never gets recycled! 

These are sobering stats and even more so when you consider the prediction that in less than 15 years, worldwide waste is expected to double.

Sustainability may be trending now but it’s so much more than a trend and I believe that we should all be embracing going ‘green.’ 

This can be as simple as making small eco-friendly choices like recycling all household waste or supporting brands that are committed to reducing their impact on the environment. 

These decisions can collectively make a huge difference to the future of our wonderful planet. The culture of ‘buying-using-and-binning’ isn’t acceptable anymore and customers are within their rights to demand more than the status quo. 

I think it’s interesting that 78% of Gen Z consumers would stop supporting brands that don’t align with their eco-friendly values and are 1.3 times more likely to want to try environmentally friendly products. 

At Skingredients, our refillable inner tubes are fully recyclable, while the durable outer tubes are designed to last multiple uses and cannot be recycled currently. 

By using our Skingredients’ Key Four refills 4 times a year (that’s the typical usage), you are reducing your carbon emissions by approximately 63% (versus using our non-refillable packaging.)

Education is also vital as even the term sustainability can be interpreted in different ways. 

A recent study by the British Beauty Council found that 48% of 23,000 beauty shoppers are looking for more clarity about beauty brands’ environmental commitments. 

This shows the urgency with which we need to decipher the meaning of ‘sustainability’ when it comes to the beauty industry. 

Better education surrounding the environmental consequences of the beauty products we buy and the regimes we carry out means that consumers can make conscious and informed choices when it comes to the products consumers use and how they use them. 

This could mean opting for beauty products made with natural ingredients or looking at the packaging that formulas are encased within. 

A huge 95% of cosmetic packaging is thrown away, and so many brands are now looking to more sustainable solutions, including:

• Refillable or reusable options – Refillable or reusable packaging is a great alternative to single-use packaging, reducing both the amount of packaging and the subsequent environmental impact of transportation and manufacturing.
• Use of eco-friendly materials – such as paper, cardboard or glass and typically made from materials that are biodegradable or recyclable. This can also include compostable or biodegradable materials that break down naturally.

Sustainable beauty swaps we can all make

• Cotton wool or wipes for reusable cloths
• This is a massive one – not only are one-use wipes and cotton pads inadequate when it comes to removing makeup and cleansing the skin, but they are top of the wasteful list. A reusable cloth or Cleanse Off Mitt is a sustainable alternative. The Cleanse Off Mitt (€6.50, theskinnerd.com and selected pharmacies) is a reusable and washable pre-cleansing tool that’s made from microfibre. Microfibre doesn’t require much water during production and doesn’t destroy or pollute the environment in which it has made. It can be washed and reused and is ideal for removing makeup, dirt and pollution as part of a double cleanse.
• Shower gel/shampoo or conditioner in a bottle for soap/shampoo or conditioner bar
• Reduce waste and avoid plastic by opting for a bar format of your staple self-care products. This simple swap is likely to be accompanied by minimal packaging and take up less shelf space to boot!
• Water-free or reduced water body washes
• Body washes can be up to 90% water, but PLUS, a dissolvable and biodegradable body care brand provides an innovative way to use less water within your body care routine. Less water also means that the product is lighter and therefore creates less emissions when in transit – win, win!
• Sanitary pads/tampons for menstrual cups or reusable pads
• This one isn’t for everyone but a reusable alternative to single-use sanitary towels and tampons saves so much in terms of waste and money!