Without any (eco) cotton pads!
Clean beauty routine
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There is more to a clean cleaning and make-up removal routine than using eco cotton pads. It is not always easy to achieve the balancing act between environmental friendliness and effectiveness. We have a few tips and tricks on how you can bring your skincare routine to a sustainable level.
The cosmetics industry has discovered the topic of sustainability for itself: Where do you not read “Green”, “Clean” and “Eco” everywhere? But it is completely the wrong approach to buy “sustainable” products en masse now when you may not need them at all. The best example of this are eco cotton pads: The idea is great, but wouldn’t it even be better not to use cotton pads at all? It just belongs more to a sustainable cosmetics routine: Not wasting any product, paying attention to the packaging, the transport route and clean ingredients are also part of it.
Make-up removal: Without cotton pads
It is much better for the environment when more and more consumers are turning to eco cotton pads instead of conventional ones. But what if you don’t need any of this and can even save on additional products? It actually works and is even better than before. If you have removed your make-up with make-up removal wipes or with cotton pads soaked in micellar water, there is a more effective and sustainable alternative to removing your make-up – yes, even with waterproof mascara! Apart from the fact that the two methods mentioned only clean the skin superficially and you should then clean your face again with a washing gel, they produce a lot of waste. Our tip: use a cleaning oil! This is applied to dry skin, massaged in thoroughly and then washed off with water.
Because Like solves like in like, an oil cleaner removes the skin’s own oils from your face much better. Sweat, dirt, sebum and of course make-up are also gently but thoroughly removed – without drying out the skin. Finding a good cleanser is not that easy: it has to clean reliably, but the washing-active substances (tensides) must not be too aggressive, as is the case with e.g. B. would be the case with a soap. Because this damages the skin barrier, which is fundamental for skin health. For example, if your skin is tight and feels very dry after cleansing, this could be a sign that your Cleanser too hot is. With a cleansing oil you not only do without cotton pads, you also do something good for your skin. Of the Calming Oil Cleanser from Colibri Skincare (around 20 euros) is a sustainable choice: plastic-neutral (glass) packaging, fairly produced ingredients, vegan, without animal testing, from Germany and with climate-neutral shipping. It is also relatively economical and can be easily washed off.
Hydration: Without Waste
The next (optional) step in the skincare routine would be toner, toner, and / or essence. All three product categories are very liquid and are therefore often applied to the face with a cotton pad. But because of that we waste about half of the product per application to the pad! With cotton pads it is even more because they soak up more. We can do better!
Form a small bowl with your hand and put the product in there. Now gradually take up the liquid with your free hand and apply it all over the place. It takes some getting used to, but it’s super fast. And you will immediately notice that you much less product needed! You can use this trick anywhere if the packaging says “apply with a cotton pad”. So also with chemical peelings, such as BHA and AHA. A German clean beauty company is No Cosmetics, which with its “Liquid Hydrator” (around 10 euros) has created an intensely moisturizing product that also soothes the skin. The cosmetics are vegan, made in Germany, free from mineral oils, silicones, parabens, PEGs and are not tested on animals. The products are also packaged in regional workshops by people with disabilities and focus on “Ocean Safety” (“Blue Beauty”).
A small but important tip to waste less product is always to apply serums and creams directly to the face. So don’t put it in the palms of your hands first, rub in and then massage in. Instead, always apply it immediately to the skin and then just slide your fingertips over your face: Your hand will “soak up” less product and more will go where you want it to be.
Care: Get the best out of your products!
- Sustainable care starts with how you use your products. So that your care lasts as long as possible, you should z. B. Creams in jars only with clean fingers or a disinfected one spatula remove. And very important: The pipettes in serums should be your skin do not touch! Because that’s how bacteria get into your bottle. As a result, your cosmetics tip over faster – if you still use them, rashes and blemishes can result.
- A simple tip that we too often forget: Use up your products! Of course, something always doesn’t work for your own skin. Therefore, inform yourself extensively beforehand, use experience reports and buy consciously. If you don’t like a face cream, you can either give it away or apply it on your body. Please don’t forget to keep them in the drawer!
- The storage of your cosmetics is crucial. If you z. B. If you like to use a vitamin C serum, then don’t leave it outside. UV rays and air make it ineffective. In the case of a vitamin C serum, you can tell by the color: If this is darker than at the beginning, the effectiveness has been lost and the product is unusable. Therefore, pay attention to dark, opaque packaging when buying.
- One is best for all creams and serums “Airless Dispenser”. The product is protected from air and oxidation, can be removed hygienically and not a drop is wasted. With this packaging, the Reveel by MedSkin Solutions brand dispenses with many preservatives and shines with effective biomaterials. The products are developed and manufactured in Germany, which means that the transport route remains short. All products dispense with microplastics, mineral oil, silicones, aluminum, “negative” alcohol, PEG, PPG and animal testing. All packaging materials are recyclable. Unfortunately, not all products are vegan, as the collagen series contain the ingredient “Soluble Collagen”, which is obtained from the Pacific root mouth jellyfish. So far, vegan collagen alternatives have only been available to a limited extent in cosmetics.
The most important thing, if you want to make your care routine more conscious, cleaner and more sustainable, is to take a close look at the products of your choice. A green packaging that boldly says what not may be a sign of greenwashing. Because there are always certain “hook” ingredients, such as aluminum, mineral oil or microplastics, which have fallen into public disrepute. Other substances, on the other hand, are just as questionable and may still be in the product. So stay vigilant and inform yourself exactly!