Sustainable beauty. Green beauty. Blue beauty?! It’s not as confusing as it sounds. If you’re ready to learn about sustainable beauty, these resources are an excellent place to start.
DeFino, Jessica. “How to Adopt a Zero-Waste Beauty Routine.” Hello Giggles, 6 Jan. 2020, https://hellogiggles.com/beauty/zero-waste-beauty-routine/. DeFino explains how a zero-waste beauty routine helps the environment and how you can make your routine closer to zero-waste. As DeFino states, “If every single person who reads this article commits to just one low-waste product swap this month, we can make a difference.”
Devash, Meirav. “I Tried a Sustainable Beauty Routine for a Month to See How Easy It Is to Go Green.” Allure, 15 Oct. 2018, https://www.allure.com/story/sustainable-beauty-routine. Devash demonstrates how easy it is to switch your current products for more sustainable choices. She confesses, “I’m never going to be a perfect earth mama, but it’s way easier than I thought to reduce the amount of waste I produce.”
Hong, Hana. “5 Beauty Mistakes You’re Making That Are Terrible for the Environment – And How to Fix Them.” Real Simple, 27 Mar. 2020, https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeovers-tips/sustainable-beauty-routine. Green beauty isn’t as hard as you might think. Here are five simple things you can do.
Owens, Beth. “3 Eco-friendly Initiatives For Sustainable Cosmetics Packaging.” noissue., 14 Sept. 2019, https://www.noissue.co.nz/blog/3-eco-friendly-initiatives-for-sustainable-cosmetics-packaging/. Owens briefly explains why eco-friendly packaging is essential and lists 3 ways cosmetic companies are getting better.
Morosini, Daniela. “How To Spot (And Avoid) Greenwashing In Beauty.” Vogue, 22 Apr. 2019. https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/how-to-spot-and-avoid-greenwashing-in-beauty. Just because a brand claims to be natural, organic, or eco-friendly doesn’t mean it actually is. This is “greenwashing.” Learn what to watch out for and how to avoid falling for it.
“Plastic Beauty: Beauty and Plastic Pollution.” Beauty and the Planet, 2 Jul. 2020, https://beautyandtheplanet.com/2020/08/06/plastic-beauty/. How beauty uses plastic, why it is harmful, and what you can do about it.
Rayma, Marie. Make It Up: The Essential Guide to DIY Makeup and Skin Care*. Hachette, 2016. Are you the adventurous and craft type? With Rayma’s book, you have ultimate control of your skincare and makeup. She provides all the information you need to make your own beauty products, including recipes, suggested equipment, and where to buy ingredients.
Sahota, Amarjit Ed. Sustainability: How the Cosmetics Industry Is Greening Up*. Wiley, 2014. Amarjit Sahota, founder and president of Ecovia Intelligence (formerly Organic Monitor), edited this volume that explains the cosmetic industry’s growing awareness of sustainability and how it is responding to customer demands. Contributors come from business and academia.
Sicardi, Arabelle. “A Deep Dive into the Confusing World of Sustainable Beauty.” Teen Vogue, 9 Mar. 2020, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/a-deep-dive-sustainable-beauty. An easy-to-read overview of sustainable beauty that includes lots of links and recommends sustainable brands and some that are getting into the game. Not really a “deep dive,” but you will learn about green and sustainable beauty.
“Sustainable & Ethical Beauty Brands: The Master List.” Sustainable Jungle, n.d., https://www.sustainablejungle.com/best-of-sustainable-beauty/best-ethical-sustainable-beauty-brands. Accessed 4 May 2020. Sustainable Jungle grades beauty and personal care brands on 6 criteria: cruelty-free, vegan, non-toxic, palm oil-free, ethical sourcing, and thoughtful packaging. So far, they have not rated many brands, but they state that more brands will be added.
“Waterless Beauty: A Guide for Beginners.” Beauty and the Planet, 24 Oct. 2020, https://beautyandtheplanet.com/2020/10/24/waterless-beauty/. Learn about waterless beauty and how it benefits the environment.
“What is Sustainable Beauty?” Beauty and the Planet, 2 Jul. 2020, https://beautyandtheplanet.com/2020/07/02/what-is-sustainable-beauty/. Accessed 9 Oct. 2020. Beauty and the Planet’s own primer on sustainable beauty.
What questions do you still have? What would you like to learn more about? Let me know in the comments.
Updated 23 Feb. 2022
