Skincare That Works for You and the Planet
Sustainable skincare isn’t about extreme changes. You don’t need to throw away your entire routine and start fresh. Instead, it’s about making thoughtful choices—picking products that are effective while minimising environmental impact.
Every year, the beauty industry produces over 120 billion units of packaging waste, and most of it never gets recycled.
Why? Because much of it was never designed with sustainability in mind.
Step 1: Streamline Your Routine – Keep Only What Works
Let’s be honest—how many skincare products on your shelf do you actually use? The average person owns over 16 skincare items, but many sit untouched. Overconsumption leads to more waste, unnecessary carbon emissions, and resource depletion.
💡 How to Build a Smarter Skincare Routine:
✅ Opt for multi-tasking products—a cleanser with gentle exfoliation means you can skip an extra scrub.
✅ Choose serums with multiple active ingredients that target multiple concerns at once.
✅ Stick to a simple but effective skincare approach: cleanse, treat, hydrate, and protect.
✅ Buy only what you need—if it’s just going to sit unused, reconsider the purchase.
✅ Store your products correctly to extend their shelf life and reduce waste.
✅ Invest in high-quality formulas that last longer, so you replace them less often.
📌 Read More: Minimalist Skincare
Step 2: Rethink Packaging – Choose Smarter Solutions
Sustainability in skincare isn’t about trends—it’s about choosing packaging that’s truly recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable. The issue? Many beauty products combine plastic, metal, and adhesives, making proper disposal difficult.
Did you know that only 9% of plastic waste is actually recycled? The rest ends up in landfill, incinerators, or, worse, the ocean.
💡 How to Choose Better Packaging:
✅ Look for clear recycling labels—PET plastic and aluminium are widely recyclable.
✅ Support brands that use biodegradable or compostable materials.
✅ Avoid overcomplicated, multi-layered packaging—if it’s tough to recycle, it probably won’t be.
✅ Pick brands that cut unnecessary outer packaging (because no one needs extra plastic wrap).
✅ Research your local recycling programs to ensure beauty empties go to the right place.
✅ Get creative—repurpose empty jars and bottles for DIY projects or home storage.
📌 More Info: How to recycle REMAKE products
Step 3: Avoid Greenwashing – Look Beyond the Buzzwords
Not all products labelled “clean” or “natural” are actually sustainable. Many brands market themselves as eco-conscious, but that doesn’t always mean their ingredients or packaging are ethical or effective.
💡 How to Spot a Genuinely Sustainable Brand
Not all "eco-friendly" skincare brands are as green as they claim. Many use vague sustainability promises, but a truly responsible brand prioritises science-backed formulations, ethical sourcing, and full transparency.
✅ Uses clinically proven, science-backed ingredients that deliver real skin benefits while minimising environmental harm.
✅ Practices full transparency, clearly listing ingredients and sustainability initiatives—no greenwashing, no misleading claims.
✅ Formulates highly concentrated products—meaning fewer fillers, less packaging, and longer-lasting formulas so you buy less and waste less.
✅ Commits to circular beauty, ensuring that every part of a product's lifecycle is designed to minimise waste, from formulation to packaging disposal.
✅ Designs packaging to be 100% recyclable or biodegradable, removing unnecessary plastic and using materials that actually get repurposed.
💡 But remember: Many amazing startup brands are built on sustainability values but may not have the funding for expensive certifications. Support brands that are making a real effort—whether they’re certified yet or not.
📌 Explore how REMAKE is redefining sustainable skincare: REMAKE’s Circular Beauty Mission
Step 4: Smart Shopping – Buy Less, Choose Better
Shockingly, up to 70% of beauty products go unused. The cycle of overproduction and overconsumption creates massive waste, yet many people keep buying into the “new product” hype.
💡 How to Shop More Sustainably:
✅ Invest in multi-purpose skincare—products that serve multiple roles reduce clutter and waste.
✅ Look for brands with credible sustainability efforts, not just pretty green packaging.
✅ Prioritise quality over quantity—fewer, better products result in less waste.
✅ Check for refill programs—but verify if they genuinely lower the environmental footprint.
✅ Support companies that ensure ethical sourcing and fair labour practices.
✅ Read customer reviews before purchasing to ensure the product actually works.
Step 5: Dispose of Products the Right Way
Even the most sustainable packaging won’t make a difference if it’s not disposed of correctly. Many consumers unknowingly contaminate recycling streams, making materials unrecyclable.
💡 How to Recycle Your Skincare Products Properly:
✅ Glass jars and bottles – Rinse them out and recycle according to local council guidelines.
✅ Plastic packaging – Look for PET or HDPE symbols, as these plastics are easiest to recycle.
✅ Biodegradable packaging – Follow disposal instructions to ensure it actually breaks down.
✅ Repurpose empties – Jars can be used for home storage, bottles can become vases.
✅ Join beauty take-back programs—some brands offer in-store recycling options for hard-to-recycle items.
📌 Find Your Local Recycling Options: Recycling Near You - Australia
The Future of Skincare is Circular Beauty
Sustainable beauty isn’t about being perfect—it’s about progress. The goal of circular beauty is to design products that fit into a low-waste system, ensuring materials are reused, repurposed, or returned to the environment responsibly.
💡 What This Means for You:
✔ 100% recyclable or biodegradable packaging = Less waste, more impact.
✔ Science-backed skincare that minimises environmental harm = Effective products without compromise.
✔ A commitment to carbon neutrality and ethical sourcing = Supporting brands that prioritise sustainability.
The beauty industry doesn’t need more products, it needs better ones. With small changes and smarter choices, you can reduce your impact without sacrificing performance.