I'm frequently asked about zero waste skin care and makeup products. I've decided to split this into two separate posts because there's A LOT of information.
If you've been following the blog long, you'll know that my kryptonite is Credo Beauty. You can read all about my first trip here. I would blame my friend, Danielle, for introducing me, but then we wouldn't have this great blog post!
Everything in Credo is clean, green, and 90% of all of it comes in super sustainable packaging.
I have had some skin care woes since moving to California. The CA water and my skin do not get along. Every time I'm in search of a product, I show up to Credo, vent, and they hand me magic.
As a warning, a lot of these products are pricey! I definitely could not afford to shop like this all the time. I'm very selective in what products I buy. I typically save over long periods of time.
Going zero waste has saved me soooo much money because it has taught me to be very picky and cut out all impulse purchases. Check out my post on how I've saved $12,000. (this number is only going to grow exponentially since we downsized!!) With a little bit of my saved money, I have focused on buying better beauty products.
I like to find a store bought product that works really well and then work on emulating it by DIY. Once I get comfortable with the routine and results, I can typically whip something up that mimics the end result.
But, I understand that not everyone has the time or wants to whip something up. So, here's a list of all the things I've stumbled upon and that I love.
Not everything here is going to be 100% zero waste, but I'll get into that more with each item.
resurfacing mask:
Blue Tansy* is one of the best selling products at Credo. When I went to Credo a couple of weeks before the wedding, I was looking for something that would smooth out some of my under the skin bumps.
The girls recommended this product because it's super gentle and uses natural AHA and BHAs to resurface your skin and knock out all of those pesky little white bumps.
I definitely have seen an improvement, and it's super gentle which is great for my sensitive skin.
I honestly should do this mask more often. In fact, I'm going to put my laptop down and put it own right now.
Alright, I just put on the mask which reminds me of another thing I love about it. It's clear! So, if the pizza man knocks on the door with a pizza you didn't order, you won't look crazy. (This definitely just happened.)
This mask smells absolutely amazing, and it comes in a glass jar. It does have a plastic lid. I definitely think it's a jar I will reuse. It is a great size for homemade beauty products or even for snacks. Just make sure you wash it really, really well!
Herbivore also has a sea salt spray* and another mask* I've been wanting to try out. Almost all of their products are packaged in glass and can easily be reused. Anyways, their product line is amazing! Definitely worth checking out.
facial cleansing routine:
I'm currently using parsley seed facial cleanser*. I really love it. I think it works really well. But, I don't know if it works as well as it should for the price.
I am in love with Aesop's brand. Everything is sustainable, organic, and packaged very, very well. Everything is in glass. All of their packaging is beautiful and perfect for being used again.
They do have a couple of products in tubes, but their tubes are steel so they can be recycled. Just make sure you get a crank to get squeeze out as much as you can, and then cut the tube open and use every last drop!
However, I will say, this bottle has lasted me a really long time. I've been using it since last October and it's a little under half way through. I use it every morning and night.
I guess the price doesn't seem so bad knowing how long it's lasted. If I were to change (I'm terrified of change ;) I might try out this Meow Meow Tweet cleanser*.
I also use the toner* and the lotion*. I am super curious about their mouthwash*. I love my mouthwash recipe, but I'm just so freaking curious!! What is it like????
Has anyone ever used it?
body lotions:
I want to be upfront and say my body lotion recipe is my favorite! But, if you're not into the DIY there are a couple that I have tried out that are awesome.
I love this body milk* from Ellis Brooklyn. You will smell like a rose. It's also super lightweight, and I love how it's packed full of vitamin C giving you a bright glow.
I also have recently been loving this hair oil from Dulse and Rugosa. It says it's for hair, but I've been using it on my whole body. I like to concentrate it on my elbows and ankle nobs.
It absorbs super fast into the skin and corrects any dryness instantly. It's amazing!
If you're looking for some fuller coverage and something that's a little more robust. I am all about this body butter from Fillaree. I am not a body butter fan because I think most of it is too thick and takes forever to absorb.
The body butter from Fillaree, definitely takes longer to absorb than the body oil or the body milk, but it's WAY faster than most butters. It's just as luxurious though. I really like it especially in winter.
sunscreen:
I also have a recipe for sunscreen on the blog. It's great for the body, but I'm looking for an everyday sunscreen that's lighter.
If you're not out in the sun often, this probably wouldn't be necessary, but I walk Nala over an hour every day and a lot of the walk is in direct sun.
I always wear a hat to protect my face, but my chest and shoulders are typically exposed in the summer.
I like this every day tinted sunscreen* for the face. It's perfect if you're not huge on makeup and want to even out your skin just a little. Also, I don't think I could DIY a tinted sunscreen.
The bottle this comes in is great to reuse, and it comes packaged in glass.
I have really, really struggled to try to find a nice body sunscreen*. I finally found one at Aesop that I'm thrilled with! It has 50 SPF and it's reef safe! Which is really, really important.
Even low levels of oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate and 4-methylbenzylidine camphor, can cause irreversible damage to coral reefs.
It also comes packaged in glass and goes on super smooth. Just remember the best way to protect yourself against the sun is to cover up!
Of course, this has only scratched the surface of skin care. There are always new things I'm stumbling upon. I would LOVE to hear about some of your favorite skin care products. Let me know what I need to check out!
I'm thinking of buying or DIYing an eye cream and facial oil or serum.
What skin care products do you love that are packaged consciously?
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