3 Environment-friendly Summer Skincare Tips

Summer 2024 is in full swing and as you spend more time outside under the scorching heat of the Sun, you should be able to ramp up your skincare game to help protect and nourish your skin.

It is as important, however, to make sure that your skincare choices are sustainable — not only must it be easy for you to do consistently, but more importantly, it should be environment-friendly too. 

Here are three tips to make sure your summer skincare regimen copes with the scorching summer weather:

Cleansing is one of the very first steps to any skincare routine. Products such as facial foam, gel cleansers, cleansing oils, and soap are usually used first to rid the skin of dirt before applying any skin-care product. What makes the entire process a little difficult for some to do regularly is that it takes a while to do properly. Apart from applying the cleansers, you need to wash them off again. In effect, it’s like a routine in itself.  

This is where no-rinse cleansers come in like cleansing balms and micellar water — not only will you be able to save time, but you can also cut down on the use of water when you do your skincare. 

Here are some benefits of no-rinse cleansers¹:

• More hydrating than facial wash and soap, which can strip off the natural moisture of the skin. 

• Easily wiped off with a cotton pad.

• Does not cause irritation for those with sensitive skin. 

Sunscreens are a must-have in your summer skincare regimen to help protect your skin from the damaging rays of the Sun. There are different formulations of sunscreens in the market but some of the best (and most sustainable) are the mineral-based ones, which typically contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Mineral-based sunscreens are reef-safe, making them a good option to use when you are on a beach trip. 

Choosing a reef-safe sunscreen is more crucial thank you think, as up to 6,000 tons of sunscreen gets in the oceans every year, which poses a threat to coral reefs and ocean ecosystems.²

It might be best to stay away from sunscreens laced with chemicals such as oxybenzone and avobenzone. While they are effective in protecting your skin, they are very harmful to coral reef ecosystems — these chemicals cause DNA alterations, stress, and deformities to corals. 

Furthermore, chemical-based sunscreens also have negative effects on the production of green algae and seaweed, which, in turn, could threaten ocean animals that rely on algea to survive.³

Here are some other harmful chemicals you should watch out for and avoid when buying sunscreens: Octocrylene, Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-8, OD-PABA, 4-Methylbenzylindene camphor, 3-Benzylidene camphor, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, and Nanoparticles.

The personal care and beauty industry produces more than 120 billion units of packaging every year. It is crucial to address the waste problem in the beauty industry, given that 95% of cosmetic packaging is being thrown away.⁴

Instead of purchasing single-use plastic bottles every time you need to restock your favorite products, choose brands that offer refill options. This not only reduces plastic waste but also promotes a circular economy where packaging is reused rather than discarded after a single use.

When shopping for your skincare products, be on the lookout for these sustainable markers:

• Recyclable – This means that the packaging can me made into another useful item.

• Recycled – The materials used for packaging were processed from waste materials.

• Plastic Free – Usually comes with a certification, which indicates that the product has no fossil fuel plastic.

• Biodegradable — The packaging can be decomposed. 

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These tips can make your summer skincare more sustainable without compromising on effectiveness. 

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¹Bassett, A. (n.d.). No-rinse Facial Cleansers. HowStuffWorks. https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/products/no-rinse-facial-cleansers.htm

²Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs. (n.d.). National Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html

³Protect Yourself, Protect the Reef. (n.d.). National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/puho/learn/nature/protectyourselfprotectthereef.htm#effects

⁴Planet Positive Beauty Guide. (n.d.). British Beauty Council. https://britishbeautycouncil.com/ppbg/