The Not So Beautiful Side of Cosmetics Packaging

Cherelynn Baker is a contributing writer for Earth 911. Become an Earth 911 contributor.

Makeup comes in plastic. Period. And lots of it!

To add to that, many companies have one-time use containers that demand you buy another brand new compact instead of using a refillable drop in pan. When I say “pan” I mean the little tin that holds the actual makeup in it.

So I have a few ideas how you can be your beautiful self while keeping our living space, otherwise known as the amazing planet Earth a little less cluttered (unlike my makeup drawer).

1. Select cosmetic companies that use recycled packaging for their products. Examples of recycling efforts on the corporation side could be including a percentage of post consumer plastics, reclaimed paper, wood, and aluminum efforts.

I know you are asking yourself, “How do I know if the company recycles?”. If they do, it will be labeled on the product and say something like, 80% post consumer plastic included.

2. Choose companies that offer a “buy once” refillable compact and then mix and match your favorite pans of eyeshadow, blusher, bronzer and pressed powders.

This is how professional makeup artists build their kits of product. Several palettes with refillable colors so we have less weight to carry while having access to many shades at once. Try it!

Instead of having tons of little single plastic lids, bottoms, compacts and half-used multi-shade shadow trios where you only use the one shade you like, you will now have one, easy to carry and use palette filled with all your favorites.

3. Spend your green backs with a company that offers a “recycling” program. There are several options for returning empty lipstick tubes in trade for a brand new full sized lipstick. You save money and give Earth a break at the same time.

An option to double duty your efforts is to scrape the “bullet” (which is the amount of product used to secure the lipstick in the tube) out of the lipstick tube and press it into an empty eyeshadow or blush pan and use it in your refillable compact to make the favorite shade of lip color go a wee bit further.

Now you have saved more money on the lipstick already purchased while reusing another empty shadow pan, plus giving you another tube to return for a brand new lipstick!

Who knew recycling could be so much fun!

If you have questions about how to apply your green beauty, please visit, Cherelynn Baker’s website, Makeup University.