As we celebrate Earth Week, you may feel encouraged to reduce your environmental impact. One of the unexpected ways you can make more sustainable choices? Look to your beauty routine.
From plastic packaging to non-biodegradable materials, some of our beauty favorites might be not be so green. But you don't have to compromise in order to make more eco-friendly choices. Dr. Angela Lamb, Director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice, stopped by TODAY with Hoda & Jenna to share a few plastic-free and reusable beauty products that make for effortless swaps in your beauty routine. (And might even save you money, since reusable refills tend to be less expensive.)
Keep reading to shop all of Lamb's picks, plus other refillable and reusable products we found beyond the beauty realm.
Plastic-free beauty products
HiBAR Moisturize Bar Shampoo and Conditioner
This shampoo and conditioner set cuts down on plastic by eliminating it completely. The bars are formulated with natural ingredients and are safe for color-treated hair, according to the brand. Plus, if you order directly from HiBar, the shampoo and conditioner bar set ships in plastic-free packaging.
Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmie
In addition to plastic-free packaging, this balm also eliminates the need for multiple items in your makeup bag — it is a 3-in-1 crayon for your eyes, lips and cheeks. Since it is designed without a cap or tube, it is wrapped in paper and a recyclable carrying case that is made from upcycled materials.
Package Free Bamboo Hairbrush
This brush is a great way to get your tangles out. According to the brand, it's made from bamboo, is great for all hair types, arrives 100 percent package-free and is also 100 percent compostable.
Reusable and refillable beauty products
Dove Daily Moisture Starter Kit
Anyone who is tired of constantly replacing their body wash might appreciate this sustainable swap. The starter kit includes a recyclable aluminum bottle and concentrate that you only need to add water to in order to create a body wash. Refills will cost you around $9.
Jenny Patinkin Pure Luxury Organic Reusable Sheet Mask & Headband Set
This mask and headband set is made from organic bamboo and can be used in tandem with your favorite skin care products to create the at-home spa experience you're craving. This means it can be re-used over and over again and customized to your liking.
Tata Harper Water-Lock Moisturizer
All of Tata Harper’s beauty products are free from toxins, fillers, artificial fragrances and other unwanted ingredients and most of them come in recyclable glass packaging, to cut down on plastic, the brand says. The brand’s Water-Lock Moisturizer is no different. And once you finish your jar of the hyaluronic acid-infused moisturizer, you can pop out the old pod and replace it with the refill.
Glossier Monochromes Eyeshadow Palette
Each of the individual tins inside this palette are refillable, reusable and recyclable. The shades come in matte, satin and metallic finishes that can create a variety of looks.
More refillable and reusable products
Secret Refillable Invisible Solid Deodorant
Secret’s recently released refillable antiperspirant and deodorant keeps sweat and odor at bay, while also cutting down on waste, the brand says. Once you finish your tube, you can pop in the refill pod, which comes in paperboard packaging.
Grove Co. Hand Soap + Hand Soap Dispenser
Grove Collaborative is a top destination for discovering eco-friendly home and beauty essentials. The retailer is a certified B Corporation, meaning it meets a high set of standards when it comes to how its business practices affect the environment, its workers and more. While there are plenty of reusable and refillable options to shop on the site, this set will help you tackle one of the most commonly used items in your house: hand soap. The bundle includes a reusable soap dispenser along with the brand’s Hydrating Hand Soap, which comes in plastic-free, recyclable packaging.
Blueland The Clean Essentials
Blueland’s reusable and refillable cleaning solutions help you cut down on plastic use. The certified B Corp offers plenty of household essentials, from laundry to dish soap, but one Shop TODAY writer put the brand’s bestselling Clean Essentials bundle to the test and was blown away by the results. The kit comes with four reusable bottles and cleaning tablets, each to help you tackle a specific area. There’s a multi-surface cleaner, glass and mirror cleaner, bathroom cleaner and hand soap. To use, simply place each tablet in its designated bottle and fill with water. The best part? The tablets are $2.
Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser
This gentle cleanser features a blend of kale, spinach and green tea extracts to give your skin a heavy dose of antioxidants and vitamins with every wash, the brand says. The formula is designed alcohol-free, so it won’t dry out your skin and it can be used for daily cleansing and makeup removal. The original bottle comes in recyclable packaging, and the brand offers a supersized refill bottle, so you’ll never run out.
OUAI Detox Shampoo
Great for all hair types, Ouai’s top-rated clarifying shampoo is designed to remove buildup and strengthen hair so your locks look and feel healthier. The bottles and caps for all of the brand’s shampoos and conditioner are 100 percent recyclable and made from previously recycled plastics. Even better? You can grab one of the brand’s refill pouches, which use 60 percent less plastic than a rigid bottle and includes enough product to refill three bottles (though it’s the price of two), the brand says.
by Humankind Mouthwash
Skip the bulky plastic bottle with By Humankind’s unique mouthwash tablets. The alcohol-free tablets are made tartaric acid, to naturally balance your mouth's pH, and come in flavors like ginger and peppermint. To use, drop one into the included glass cup and fill with water to dissolve. Then swish around your mouth as you normally would. The pack comes with 60 tablets, which you can store in the refillable, silicone tablet holder that can be nestled inside the cup or slipped into your purse to use while you’re on the go.
Quip White Plastic Refillable Floss Pick
Using regular floss requires some dexterity and skill, which is why some people prefer pre-threaded flossers, as a more convenient and easy-to-use option. Unfortunately, if you’re flossing as regularly as the dentist recommends, you’re using (and then throwing away) a lot of plastic picks. This sturdy, reusable floss pick is a great solution. According to the company, it replaces 180 single-use picks per refill. It comes in a cute carrying case that also acts as a floss dispenser. Floss refills are just $5 — which is less than your average pack of flossers.
Cleancult Glass Liquid Laundry Detergent Dispenser
This sleek detergent dispenser will look so much nicer sitting in your laundry room than that bulky plastic detergent bottle. The brand says it's made from shatter-resistant glass and features a built-in spout and measuring cup. While you can fill it with any detergent or fabric softener, we recommend their non-toxic, plant-based formulas, which come packaged in a 100 percent recyclable milk carton.
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Sunscreen
Rihanna’s cosmetics brand, Fenty, has been lauded for its inclusivity, offering products for a wide range of skin tones. But you might be surprised to learn that the brand also has a strong focus on sustainability, eliminating excess packaging wherever possible and implementing refill systems for some of their popular products, like the lightweight two-in-one Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Sunscreen. The invisible formula doesn’t leave behind a white cast and it’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores.
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