Stop Skincare Overconsumption: How to Repurpose the Products You Already Own
It is undeniable that our overconsumption of skincare and cosmetic products is having a detrimental effect on our planet. With a recent focus on sustainable and eco-friendly skincare, it is important to remember that the most sustainable way to live is by using up the products you already own, before you purchase more. Skincare overconsumption can also confuse your skin, as the active ingredients in your skincare will be constantly changing. Using fewer products and finishing up products you have is likely to be a win-win for both your skin and the planet.
According to Zero Waste Week research the beauty industry produces 120 billion units of plastic packaging waste annually. The microplastics resulting from cosmetic waste have devastating effects on the planet, and have made their way into landfills and oceans. A large amount of this waste is due to overconsumption, as people are buying more products than they can use.
According to the State of Beauty, 40% of Gen-Z are buying a new beauty product they find online every two months or more. Can we really blame them? Gen-Z’s are constantly being marketed new skincare products on social media, and told they are ‘essential’ and ‘life changing’ by influencers with drawers full of products. Young teens are told that they will become the idealised ‘clean girl’ or ‘that girl’ through purchasing skincare products. The language used by influencers often dictates urgency: they must buy the product ‘now’.
Skincare trends are short-lived: if you order something that is being raved about on TikTok, chances are by the time that it arrives there will be another skincare product in the spotlight. This leads to a huge wastage problem. The products we don’t like or ones that don’t help our skin? They often go straight in the bin. As stated in Vogue Business, Arnaud Plas the CEO of Prose estimates that between 20 to 40 percent of beauty products end up in waste.
It is important to remember that it is often the job of a social media influencer to test many different products, sent to them for free through PR packages. It is not normal for the average consumer to have drawers full of unopened products, and to be spending hundreds on new skincare products when they haven’t finished the ones they already own.
Another problem with the constantly changing cycle of skincare trends is that many consumers are buying products based on what their favourite influencers are using, and are not taking into consideration their skin type or existing skin conditions. If you switch serums based on influencer recommendations, in an endless trial and error, you are likely to not only overconsume and create waste, but also confuse your skin.
Less is more for many people’s skin, and while the overly perfumed colourful products that are pushed by influencers may look aesthetic, they can often irritate your skin rather than improve it. Mixing different serums and active ingredients can also confuse your skin, particularly if you have acne or sensitive skin. This often leads to dryness, redness, breakouts, blotches and dermatitis. It can also cause flare-ups of underlying skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.
Combating this problem is simpler than it sounds. Choose one cleanser, one moisturiser and one SPF that you already own, and commit to finishing each product before you buy a new one. Don’t be tempted to buy multiples, particularly if you are not sure if you like the product yet. If you feel the need, you can add a serum, but test it out for at least 2 weeks if possible, monitoring your skin in the process. For most people, a simple routine of merely cleansing your face and then moisturising, and adding SPF in the morning, will be more than enough, and your skin will thank you for the newfound simplicity.
There are also other ways to repurpose skincare that you bought that didn’t work for your face, to avoid throwing it away. Did you buy a strong exfoliator or serum for acne that was too harsh for your face? Try using it on your back, chest or arms, if you have acne or rough skin in these areas.
Facial moisturisers that weren’t effective on your face can be used up on your chest and neck. Thicker facial moisturisers or night creams designed for dry skin can be used on particularly dry areas such as knees, elbows, and feet. You can also use them as a night cream for your hands.
Were you influenced to buy glycolic acid and found it far too harsh for your face? Try using it periodically on your armpits. It has some antibacterial properties that can help to reduce smell, and can exfoliate your armpits to reduce hyperpigmentation. However, it is important to do a patch test before using it to ensure your skin does not react badly.
We can all do our bit to help reduce waste, and monitoring your skincare consumption and repurposing old products is a good place to start.
References:
https://luxiders.com/gen-z-skincare-and-social-media-the-dangers-of-skinfluencing/
https://earth.org/environmental-impacts-cosmetic-industry/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/well/live/skin-care-breakouts-products.html
https://www.voguebusiness.com/sustainability/beauty-has-a-waste-problem-and-its-not-packaging
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/beauty-tiktok-over-consumption
