The waste produced by makeup has reached recent peaks that are difficult to stand by and take.

It's a shame that it has truly become the norm for makeup companies to waste resources and provide toxic products at the consumer and planets expense on top of it. Luckily though, we have put your guide to zero waste makeup to help create ease when making the transition to a cleaner, eco-friendly makeup routine.

Keep reading to learn how to make your makeup routine zero waste.

The Packaging Pandemic

Over 120 billion units of various types of packaging are produced per year by the cosmetics industry. This is devastating to many facets of our global well-being, relaying impact on the growth of landfills, and affecting the rapid deforestation. A large part of the movement for zero waste makeup is to reduce the packaging waste that is going to outlive us in a landfill. This can be a stressful situation to combat if most of your makeup is ordered online. If you recycle though (which you should be doing), then you can just take the extra step to ensure that your products are being sourced and stored in waste-free, recyclable or biodegradable containers.

Northern Nail Polish is paired with Northern Apothecary. The company gives consumers a direct link to handmade, vegan, toxic-free, waste-free beauty related products. You can submit orders for quality products and feel confident that not only the distributor is accountable for their waste and sourcing, but so is the actual crafter. By choosing to shop through Northern Apothecary, you are supporting companies such as River Organics, Wild Jasmine, Rustic MAKA, Wildflower Soapworks, and In the Stars Candles, among many others. These companies are woman-owned and work hard to produce the most sustainable and ethically sourced products possible - and even offer them at an affordable price! They hold themselves accountable for their packaging and do all they can to ensure that once you are finished with their products, the containers are not going to haunt the planet for the next thousand years in a landfill.

Brushes

Through Northern Apothecary, you can snag a 12pc. Bamboo makeup brush set (featured below). They have bamboo-based handles, synthetic bristles (which means they are cruelty-free), and even come in a reusable natural cotton pouch packaging! Wherever you shop, pay attention to the material the bristles are made of, as even some of the bamboo handled brushes are made with animal hair. For a secure and truly ethical and sustainable purchase, you can always trust NNP products and providers.

Foundation, Concealers, and Other Skin Products

There are so many options out there for skin orientated makeups, it can be hard to weed through them and figure out which ones are of quality, worth the price, and are compatible with your skin overall.

Northern Apothecary is a great source to locate reliable brands and products. There are quite a few different options, but a fan favorite is River Organics. River Organics has a high-end line of skin products, such as their Organic Zero-Waste Vegan Concealer (featured below), and all of which can be ordered from Northern Nail Polish’s website at an affordable price. Worried about the packaging? Don’t be! Everything is paperboard and biodegradable, as it should be. I guarantee the only thing that their products will make you feel guilty about is how great you look!

Eyes and Brows

Eyes and brows are one of the most vital necessities when completing a look. They are part of the process that requires the most attention and cleanest of outcomes. Drippy eye color, smudgy eyeliner, and clumpy mascara are the worst things to manage when trying to look your best. How can you know which brands offer the quality that you’re in search of? Let’s focus on one component at a time, starting with the shadow, then the mascaras and liners.

Northern Apothecary carries a variety of tested and trusted shadows - which are made in Traverse City, Michigan! Our Natural Mineral Eyeshadow (featured below), is proudly handmade by owner KC Springberg. If you are concerned about the loose powder form, apply some of the River Organic concealer first as a sort of primer to help keep the color from smudging on a humid day.

Next in line with eye application are the mascaras and liners. I think mascara has been one of my biggest struggles when searching for a waste-free option. Check out the Organic Botanical Plant-Based Lash Mascara (featured below). Produced by the brand Good behind the Glam, this product has impressed me repeatedly with its boost to my look. Not only do I feel satisfied with its longevity, but also its reliability. Whether you're lying on the beach all day or backpacking the dunes - this mascara won’t let you down.

The same manufacturer, Good Behind the Glam, that produces the Botanical Plant-Based Mascara, also has an Organic Cake Eyeliner (featured below), which has the same lasting effect. Talk about a dynamic duo! I am sparse on my usage of eyeliner, but only because I worry about it leaking all day. Since switching to this brand, I have been more adventurous than ever before. Even more exciting - it’s all organic and packaged in a glass jar!

Lastly, when working on your eyes, there are the brows to be tamed. Don't settle for basic brows out of fear of being wasteful. Northern Apothecary has exactly what you need in stock and ready to ship right to your door. River Organics makes a reliable Tame and Tint Pomade (featured below) that is not only zero waste but also organic and vegan! It took me a long time to jump on board with doing my brows, but since using this product, I feel like I can't go a day without doing them. I am always satisfied with the outcome, rain or shine.

Clean Lips

Lipstick, lip stain, balm, and gloss are all a must-have for any makeup lover. It is hard to be satisfied with a lip product, though, and remain clean at the same time. What I have noticed from trying waste-free, cruelty-free, organic lip products is that the consistently is challenging to maintain. If you're anything like me, you carry your lipstick with you throughout the day if any reason to touch-up might arise. This means your makeup is sitting in your bag, within some other container, more than likely getting warm. If this is the case, your beautiful lipstick could quickly turn into a messy pool of color by the time you're ready to reapply it. From my experience, this seems to be especially true with organic-based products, unfortunately.

With this being the case, though, I have spent some time researching and trialing an assortment of brands that can offer a solution to this predicament. One of the best brands for reliable, waste-free, clean lip application is the Good Behind the Glam brand alongside River Organics. River Organics Rose Gold or Nude Lip Tint is just as reliable and elegant. Both brands are organic, vegan, and makeup enthusiast tested for your guaranteed satisfaction!

How to Recycle Old Cosmetics?

Various organizations and companies have begun to do their part to reduce the waste produced by the cosmetic industry. Wands for Wildlife accepts mascara wands for donation as they work well for grooming wildlife. On their website, they have a mailing address that can accept donations twice a year- October and April. This is an excellent resource for those who have not been able to transition to an alternative form of mascara.

Zero-Waste Beauty is Better

Trying any sort of new makeup is risky. You don't want to spend the money on a product and not like it, and very few places let you try them without a purchase of some sort. Zero waste makeup is even more challenging to jump into because of the various changes, the formula transition, the extended effort your beauty routine and management will require, and the overall process of becoming accustomed to the new tactics in the application.

So what makes it worth all the change, what makes it "better"?

Well, for one, it's better for YOU. The products that are zero waste are usually affiliated with other causes in the beauty industry, such as being cruelty-free or sourcing with fair trade and organic ingredients.

The cosmetic industry is a significant contributor to pollutants and waste in the developed world, leaving us with a revolutionizing responsibility - to support and stand with the companies trying to change the way things currently are.

Utilize this article for resources on how to start making changes to your beauty routine, whether it be by recycling your used products or switching to a new brand - any effort counts towards making a difference.

Shop zero waste makeup today!

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