There’s something undeniably therapeutic about unboxing a brand-new product. (We speak for beauty lovers.) It’s that mesmerizing moment when you slowly remove the outer plastic, open the box, and pull out a shiny new bottle. It can practically change your life… it’s the stuff of ASMR dreams. And yet: We are in the midst of an urgent climate crisis, and all that packaging — the plastic, the bubble wrap, the box, the bottle — has started to add up.
The amount of end-of-life plastic packaging, which includes bottles, jars, bags, and “other,” surrounding U.S. products has increased by over 120 times since 1960. In 2018, in the U.S. alone, almost 7.9 billion units of rigid plastic were created just for beauty and personal care products, according to Euromonitor International. So despite our best efforts, 91 percent of plastic has ended up in landfills anyway, according to a 2017 study.
But brands are working to improve these numbers — and make it easy for you to do the same. In particular, a crop of compostable (and sophisticated) products is leading the charge to make your beauty routine less wasteful.
Much like composting food, these products can be tossed directly into your household compost bin or brought to your local composting facility or farmer’s market. And in just a few short months, they’ll have completely decomposed — just how Mother Nature intended them to.
Read on for skin, hair, and makeup products that are seriously upping the bar.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Blue Heron Botanicals Tinted Lip Therapy
Not only is this lip tint’s powerful nourishing punch derived from shea and cocoa butter, but the Blue Heron Botanicals Tinted Lip Therapy’s shiny, ruby hue comes from the herb alkanet root — and the sturdy, recycled paper tube holds 40 percent more product than your run-of-the-mill lip balm. Bonus points for the refreshing pink grapefruit flavor, which makes it feel infinitely less “crunchy” to swipe on.
