These Are the Beauty Products You Can Recycle
Here's how to make your beauty routine a bit more eco-friendly.
At this point, we've all made a habit of recycling paper and plastics, but what about your used-up bottle of foundation?
Much of the packaging beauty products come in is recyclable, yet still ends up in landfills. While we love our multi-step skincare routines, the constant cycle of replacing our favorite cleanser—or throwing out unused lipstick—can be wasteful, and beauty brands are taking note.
Many brands, like La Prairie and Emma Lewisham, offer refillable products, while other brands opt for no packaging at all. However, when it comes to your regular beauty stash, many products are recyclable or partially recyclable.
Plastic packaging is recyclable, but make sure to empty and rinse them out first. Many brands are also opting for steel and aluminum packaging over plastic, which is also recyclable.
Even your old hairdryer can be recycled; just take it to a scrap metal recycling center.
A few products are partially recyclable: mascara tubes are often made of recyclable material, while the wand is typically not. Bottles with pumps can also be recycled if they're made of glass or plastic, though the pump itself will need to be thrown out.
While some makeup wipes are biodegradable, they can't be recycled. For a more eco-friendly option, use washcloths or remove makeup with an oil cleanser instead. Also not recyclable: nail polish bottles, which contain toxins, makeup brushes, and eyeshadow palettes, which contain mirrors and magnets.
