Q&A With A Sustainable Beauty Shopper

“It wasn’t difficult to make my beauty routine more eco-friendly!”

The best insights any brand or business can access are directly from the consumer. No data diving or cookie crumbling is required. Over the past decade, it has become clear how much more tuned-in shoppers are when it comes to the brands they choose to support. Simple convenience doesn’t cut it, businesses are expected to do better when it comes to their social and environmental responsibility.

Shoppers feel more assured and comfortable asking questions like “is this product organic?” and “where were these ingredients sourced from?” Knowledge is power, and consumers are using it to help save our planet from Climate Change.

This shift in attitudes is apparent within the beauty industry. The zero-waste beauty revolution is growing stronger day by day, with brands like Faith in Nature and Ethique leading the march. We spoke to a sustainable beauty shopper about their own journey with wellness and sustainability and uncovered some great insights into what products and brands they value within their self-care routine.

What encouraged you to make your beauty routine more sustainable?

Beauty shopper: I use a lot of beauty products in my routine, so it’s an area I realised that I could produce a lot less waste.

What steps did you take to move your routine closer to zero waste?

Beauty shopper: I started by using reusable bamboo rounds to remove my make-up and saved old containers to repurpose as storage.

Which brands helped you on this journey?

Beauty shopper: Upcircle for skincare, Ethique for hair and body products, Fussy for refillable deodorant and PHB Ethical Beauty for makeup.

Would you consider sustainable beauty to be affordable?

Beauty shopper: I would say that Upcircle isn’t as affordable as drugstore skincare, but it also isn’t a high-end price point either. You can also get a discount if you post your containers to be refilled. PHB Beauty is also a bit more expensive than drugstore brands. Ethique is more affordable, and the products last a long time. Fussy is very affordable, and the refills also last such a long time.

Has switching to these brands improved your self-care routine in any way?

Beauty shopper: Upcircle definitely has because the products are such good quality. Ethique takes a bit of trial and error to find which products work best for you, and I feel I’m not quite there yet. Luckily, they have lots of sample sizes, so it isn’t costly to try different products. I believe PHB Beauty is a fairly small brand, so they don’t have a very varied shade range at the moment. However, I love most of the products I’ve tried. With Fussy I find it doesn’t work as well as an antiperspirant in hot weather or during exercise, which is expected as it’s not an antiperspirant, but it’s natural so it’s healthier for your body.

What is your favourite zero-waste beauty innovation?

Beauty shopper: I love my reusable makeup rounds, they’re such an easy sustainable switch. They’re very attainable and affordable as well. Shampoo bars are also such a great, low waste, and affordable product.

Is there anything else you’d like to see from the eco-beauty category?

Beauty shopper: A hair turban made from sustainable fabric would be great. I’ve only seen ones made from microfibre material.

And finally, what tips would you give someone who wants to make their beauty routine more sustainable?

Beauty shopper: I would say to start trying new products gradually; don’t buy a whole new skincare routine in case your skin doesn’t agree with it and you end up wasting the products and your money. Look for sample-sized products. If you cannot afford to switch to sustainable brands yet, start with smaller changes like condensing your routine to just essential products, look for recyclable or low-waste packaging, and reuse old containers as storage solutions.

From our discussion, it’s evident that while beauty shoppers may feel well catered for in some areas of their beauty routine, they’re still seeking more and would like to see continued innovation from the brands they support. 

It’s an ever-evolving category and there is no better way to evolve than with the guidance of the customers who follow your brand so loyally. They help you stay accountable and open your eyes to the endless possibilities of your category. 

Where do the opportunities lie for your beauty brand on Amazon? Learn more by contacting us via contactus@thepurposeled.com.