In today’s world, you will likely hear a lot about the  negative effects peoplaes’ everyday routines are having on the environment. Although it can be difficult to break out of old habits, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that making even the smallest changes to your lifestyle enables you to do your bit for the planet. There is no exception when it comes to skincare. As one of the biggest industries in the world, it should come as no surprise that using the wrong products won’t only damage your skin, but the world around you. To help you make the change to a green skincare routine, here are my tips. Organic Bunny founder Amanda Jo also has a list of green beauty blogs for you to check out.

• Cleansing

When you wear makeup every day, cleansing becomes a step in your routine that cannot be missed. The problem with cleansing not only lies in some toxic ingredients but in the number of cotton pads many cleansers require you to use. One increasingly popular alternative is to use washable makeup remover pads, which help you cut down on your household waste. These can be found on sites like Etsy at a reasonable price, but it could be more fun to make them at home using old clothing or cotton wool.

• Exfoliating

Exfoliating is essential for removing dead skin and brightening your complexion. Unfortunately, many facial scrubs and exfoliators use microbeads, which are toxic to the environment. Ideally, you should be looking carefully at the ingredients of exfoliators when you buy your next product, as natural scrubs with salt, sugar, and walnut shell in are a great substitute. The best bonus about these products is that they are also much gentler on your skin.

• Toning

Many people use toning lotions to balance their skin, where they can even out dark spots with regular use. Yet, not only do some toners contain harmful chemicals, but their ingredients are often sourced at a detriment to the environment. Instead, you should use naturally occurring floral waters and essential oils to make your own toner, which is perfect for smoothing over freshly cleansed skin both in the morning and at night.

• Moisturizing

One of the biggest problems the beauty industry poses to the planet is its unsustainable use of palm oil, which is present in many moisturizing creams. Switching to organic skincare brands is the best way to ensure you are using a product that has minimal impact on the planet. In many ways, this switch will also improve your complexion, as many mainstream moisturizers can, in fact, dry your skin out further with heavy fragrance chemicals. Don’t discount organic facial oils as moisturizers, as they can be fantastic for hydration, especially for dry skin types, and contain few to no artificial ingredients.

• Face masks

Although face masks should never be used every day, they are a good addition to your skincare routine when you want to add extra moisture to your skin. Just as with exfoliators, many masks have plastic microbeads in. They are also mass-produced by big companies with large carbon footprints, but you can easily reduce your impact by making your own face masks out of food. One of the most effective is combining honey, banana, and yogurt before applying to your skin.