These days just about anything in your lifestyle can become greener or “eco-friendly.” From your home and car to your beauty and makeup routine, there are a number of ways you can do what’s best for the environment, so why not start now? One easy area to introduce greener living to is your bathroom and beauty regimen.

One major problem most of us have when it comes to our beauty and bathroom routine is the issue of waste. We tend to purchase more products than we need and often blow through them so fast, our trashcans stay filled with excess waste. This can result in contributing to the massive amounts of garbage that pile up each day in landfills all over the world. Not to mention that many of our average products contain their fair share of toxins and other properties that are bad for the environment once we’ve tossed them out of our household. By disciplining ourselves and cutting back on the amount of waste we accumulate, the better off the environment will be.

The first step towards cutting back on waste is by downsizing or eliminating certain bathroom products. For example, loofahs are popular for use in the shower or bath but in reality, they have a tendency to trap bacteria after long periods of use. Additionally, loofahs are not biodegradable, which means when it leaves your bathroom and heads to the dump, it does not have the ability to decompose without destroying the nature around it. The solution: switch from loofahs to regular, gentle washcloths. Granted, they’re not as fun to use as loofahs, but a good washcloth can still provide gentle exfoliation for your body, hold and distribute soap or body wash and can be washed in the laundry time and again, which means it will last for a long time. Another way to cut down on bathroom waste is to switch from using body washes that come in large, plastic bottles to regular bar soap. Unless you’re able to find a body wash contained in a recyclable container, bar soap will better for the environment and with advanced formulas, you’re bound to find one that is just as good - if not better - than your current body wash.

When it comes to your beauty, you can also make this part of your day more eco-friendly as well. Instead of purchasing regular cotton balls for doing your nails, opt for organic brands. Sick of spending money on new makeup sponges? Then try washing them instead of throwing them away after each use (this depends on the type of makeup sponge you’re using). Tossing them time after time quickly adds up to more waste and more of a burden on the planet. If you wear contacts, don’t throw away your old contact lens cases - these can be used as makeshift travel containers that can be used to store small amounts of eye cream or moisturizer if you’re making an overnight trip. Additionally, instead of buying brand new travel size product containers, simply refill the old bottles you currently have.

You can also make your cleanup routine eco-friendly by buying gallon size or economy quantities of household products you use often, such as cleaning products, dishwashing soaps, and laundry products. This not only cuts down on the amount of trash in your home, but economy size products are typically more practical for daily use and a bit cheaper.

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