The Target skincare aisle. Every few weeks I go there on a mission, determined to buy whatever skincare products this week’s TikTok self-proclaimed dermatologist has prescribed. The endless cycle of skincare products that travel through my bathroom all have one thing in common: they all are plastic bottles that will inevitably end up in a landfill. For me, an Environmental Science major, I feel a twinge of guilt for this parade of non-recyclable or non-eco-friendly products. Though despite this, I have a constant internal conflict between buying products that work for my skin and ones that are good for the environment. However, while I’ve been seeing skincare as a trade-off between effectiveness and sustainability, in reality, there doesn't need to be one. There are amazing eco-friendly skincare products with great reviews, you just have to know where to look.
Of course, shopping for skincare products while focusing on being eco-friendly may mean braving the world outside of Target and CVS ( hard to hear, I know), but the fact of the matter is that many of the truly eco-friendly brands are smaller businesses and can be found only in specific stores or online. Here are a few that have gotten great reviews and are worth taking a look at:
Yay For Earth: As the title of the brand would suggest, this skincare line is focused on natural ingredients, sustainable and recyclable packaging, and is cruelty-free. They moreover get ingredients from smaller businesses and have zero waste production in manufacturing.
Loli: This skincare brand prioritizes both the health of the skin and the health of the planet.
Packaged in recyclable glass bottles, made via fair trade, toxin-free, and waste-free, this brand ticks all of the boxes. They even make some ingredients from recycled food waste.
OSEA: Another quality eco-friendly skincare brand. Their ingredients are hand-harvested, vegan, and they are cruelty-free. Moreover, they are sustainably made. The one catch though is that products from this brand tend to be on the more expensive side
It is great to be able to consider environmental health when buying skincare products, however, it’s also a fact that many eco-friendly brands often are more expensive. Extra costs come with the effort and money it takes to meet the requirements of being, cruelty-free, fair trade, zero waste, etc. So it must be said that of course buying eco-friendly simply isn't’ realistic for everybody, however, if you’re able to you can do wonders for your skin and the planet.
Strike Out
Lauryn Gayles
Nashville
