Even on our small scale, we can make a difference; So, it's decided, from today we are shaking up our beauty habits. We swap our classic routine for a greener one, for the good of the planet!
1. Recycle your cosmetic packaging
Why ? Because the waste we sort is transformed into new packaging. One way to save our natural resources, of which, moreover, extraction emits CO2 (greenhouse gas, responsible for global warming).
Sorting your waste is part of your daily routine. Now you don't have to ask yourself any more questions: the glass bottle in the green bin, the cardboard in the yellow one. But all too often, this selective sorting ends at our kitchen doors. And yet, the items that can be recycled are numerous and easy to sort. We give you the few guidelines to follow:
- The plastic bottles (shower gel, shampoo, hair mask, roll-on deodorant, body cream, etc.) should be placed in the yellow sorting bin. If these include a pump, remove it and throw it away with household waste, because the pumps, unless otherwise stated on the care packaging, are not yet recyclable.
- Aluminum aerosols (lacquer, deodorant, etc.) should be placed in the yellow sorting bin.
- The glass bottles (foundation, cream, serum, perfume, nail polish, etc.) should be placed in the green container intended for the glass. If these have a cover, remove it and dispose of it with household waste. If glass packs aren't picked up in your neighborhood, set them aside with your jars and other recycling wine bottles, and drop them off every now and then in a dedicated glass recycling bin. There are so many in France that the constraint is really minimal …
- The cardboard boxes, as well as the instructions for use of the beauty products, are to be placed in the yellow sorting bin.
Please note, not all cosmetics can be recycled. Among those that must be disposed of with household garbage: stick deodorants, make-up, as well as plastic tubes and jars.
2. Prefer certified organic beauty products
Why ? Because certified organic cosmetics contain at least 95% of ingredients of natural origin, and free from controversial petrochemical substances.
While a few years ago, finding certified organic cosmetics could quickly become a real headache; today everything is much simpler. Organic and natural cosmetics are within everyone's reach. You will now find it in pharmacies, drugstores, supermarkets, but also in perfumeries or department stores, and this to all budgets. So you have no more reasons not to do it!
To best rethink your beauty habits, take it step by step, starting first by replacing the ones you use the most, such as micellar water, shower gel or toothpaste. Gradually replace them with a product that is much more respectful, not only of the environment, but also of your body. The COSMOS ORGANIC label issued by ECOCERT is a good indicator for choosing organic cosmetics! This label certifies, among other things, that the formula contains at least 95% of ingredients of natural origin and that at least 20% of the ingredients are from organic farming (10% in the rinsed products).
One of the easiest transitions to make is switching from a conventional toothpaste to a certified organic version. Take, for example, BUCCOTHERM®, which offers hygiene and oral care products, some of which are certified organic *, is the only brand available in pharmacies or drugstores to draw the benefits of Castéra-Verduzan thermal water (Gers).
Our favorite product? The Sensitive Gum Toothpaste Gel certified ORGANIC with fluoride. This fresh gel with the natural aroma of mint helps fight acid attacks from dental plaque and prevent cavities. Composed of 99% natural ingredients, the formula contains a high concentration of Castéra-Verduzan Thermal Spring Water. This mild toothpaste, because it is slightly abrasive, keeps teeth clean and gums healthy, even in the event of tooth or gingival sensitivity (irritation, occasional bleeding). Finally, its fluorine content (1450 ppm) helps limit the appearance of cavities, for a healthy mouth. Hence the fact that this toothpaste is recommended by the UFSBD **. Used twice a day for two minutes, it leaves the mouth feeling fresh and healthy in the long term, which prompts us to adopt it without delay!
* The BUCCOTHERM® products certified COSMOS ORGANIC by ECOCERT GREENLIFE according to the COSMOS standard are: Sensitive gum toothpaste gel with fluoride, Sensitive gum toothpaste gel without fluoride, Whitening and care toothpaste, Activated charcoal whitening toothpaste, Mouth spray, 1st teeth balm, Junior toothpaste 7/12 years old taste Ice tea peach.
** French Union for Oral Health.
Buccotherm Organic Sensitive Gum Toothpaste Gel
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The price offers are listed in ascending order of price. The prices displayed are inclusive of all taxes (all taxes included). The price of postage displayed corresponds to the cheapest home delivery offered by the merchant.
aufeminin.com references in its price tables the merchants who wish to be present there on condition that they display prices with VAT (including all taxes) and present
an excellent level of service quality and customer satisfaction. This referencing is paying.
Our price tables are therefore not exhaustive on all the offers and merchants present on the market.
The offers in the price tables are updated daily and several times a day for certain stores.
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3. Choose ocean-friendly solar products
Why ? Because the products we have used so far are harmful to the oceans, and are deadly poisons for corals.
This is the essential step to which we carefully follow before exposing ourselves to the sun: sun protection. But if you do well to protect your skin at the seaside, that's without taking into account the impact that most of these products have on the environment. In fact, each year, 14,000 tonnes of residue the size of nanoparticles of sunscreen (and therefore chemical components) are detached from the skin of bathers. We are talking about 1/4 of the applied dose stagnating in the water after about 20 minutes of swimming, which is particularly harmful for coral reefs *, but also plankton and fish. More precisely, the residue of creams would have the consequence of destroying zooxanthella, a microalgae living in symbiosis with the coral and which participates in its development. So no algae, no coral, whose DNA is also modified. In addition, the residues of sunscreen are found in the tissues of the inhabitants of the oceans. Traces of sun protection also inhibit the growth of phytoplankton and disrupt the natural constitution of sand and seawater.
To limit these environmental inconveniences, several brands now offer sun care products that are safe for the skin, but also much less harmful for nature. Protections whose formula does not include any filter known to be toxic for the marine environment.
* I Schneider et al., 2018
4. Use washable cottons
Why ? Because conventional cotton discs cannot be recycled, and are therefore harmful to the environment.
Cotton cultivation is known to be one of the most polluting and one of the most water-intensive on the planet. It is therefore preferable to use washable cottons, which have a much lower environmental impact. A very simple gesture to adopt and not very restrictive on a daily basis! Rather than buying regular cotton (sold in sets in plastic wrappers), opt for washable discs instead. Using the same method, they can be rinsed very easily after each use with lukewarm water and possibly a little soap, then machine wash in a small protective net with sheets, bath towels and tea towels to be washed at 60 °.
Washable make-up removing squares in eucalyptus, Les Tendances d´Emma:
Les Tendances d'Emma – Bamboo Washable Make-up Remover Squares
How the price table works
See more offers
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The price offers are listed in ascending order of price. The prices displayed are inclusive of all taxes (all taxes included). The price of postage displayed corresponds to the cheapest home delivery offered by the merchant.
aufeminin.com references in its price tables the merchants who wish to be present there on condition that they display prices with VAT (including all taxes) and present
an excellent level of service quality and customer satisfaction. This referencing is paying.
Our price tables are therefore not exhaustive on all the offers and merchants present on the market.
The offers in the price tables are updated daily and several times a day for certain stores.
5. Switch to solid cosmetics
Why ? Because they are used much longer, and above all, less product is wasted when it is solid. Indeed, we finish it until the end, just like a bar of soap after all.
Much more practical than liquid products, most of your cosmetics now exist in solid form. Shampoo, conditioner, mask, or even moisturizer for the face… so choose them! As explained a little above, the shelf life of these cosmetics is much longer than their liquid version. For a solid shampoo, for example, you will use about the equivalent of two bottles of liquid shampoo. Finally, at the same time, they will help you reduce your waste in the bathroom. Note that generally, solid beauty products are sold in paper or cardboard packaging, materials more easily recyclable than plastic.