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7 easy steps to reduce your cosmetic waste
The beauty industry generates an enormous amount of waste, from excess packaging to expired products. As consumers, we have the power to make a difference by adopting sustainable habits. Simple changes—such as buying smarter, recycling correctly, and choosing ethical brands—can significantly reduce our environmental impact.
At LILIXIR, we believe that every choice matters. From eco-friendly packaging to 100% plant-based formulations, we are committed to sustainability. Here’s how you can reduce beauty waste without compromising your skincare routine.
1. Know the expiration dates to stop beauty waste
Being aware about when your skincare products expire allows you to buy only as much as you can use before they expire, avoiding tossing out products that haven't been used yet.
How to Reduce Expired Product Waste:
- Check expiration dates before buying. Only purchase what you can use within the product’s lifespan.
- Follow the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol. Look for the open jar icon with a number (e.g., “12M” means the product is good for 12 months after opening).
- Store skincare properly. Keep products away from heat and direct sunlight to preserve their potency.
2. Discard correctly
From time to time, you may have some expired products. That's fine, as long as they're discarded properly.
The best alternative is to drop off expired products to your local council garbage facility, where they will be properly disposed of by specialists. If that's not possible, products should be discarded in the trash.
< >Even with mindful purchasing, some products will expire. The way you dispose of them matters.
Best Practices for Discarding Beauty Products:
- Find a local hazardous waste facility. Many communities offer programs for safe disposal of cosmetics.
- Do NOT pour products down the drain. Many contain microplastics, preservatives, or synthetic chemicals that harm waterways and marine life.
- Separate recyclable packaging from non-recyclable materials. Not all beauty packaging can be recycled in regular household bins.
Pro Tip: Consider brands that offer return & recycling programs for empty containers.
It's critical not to flush unused items down the drain. Almost all cosmetics and skincare products contain chemicals or microplastics (either to stabilize formulae, add smell, or improve functionality). While these chemicals may be safe to use, they can have major consequences for rivers, as well as your home plumbing.
3. Recycle Beauty Packaging Properly
A single product is sometimes made up of several different packaging materials, each with its own recycling requirements and packaging standards. Read the instructions and separate the pieces when recycling.
Beauty packaging is often a mix of materials—plastic, glass, and metal—making recycling tricky. However, with a little effort, you can make a difference.
How to Recycle Beauty Packaging the Right Way:
- Check the packaging symbols. Look for recycling numbers and follow your local recycling guidelines.
- Clean before recycling. Remove any leftover product residue before tossing packaging into the recycling bin.
- Choose brands with sustainable packaging. LILIXIR uses minimalist, recyclable, and reusable packaging to reduce waste.
Look for beauty brands, like LILIXIR, that offer product refills or utilize minimal and sustainable packaging.
By choosing sustainable packaging, consumers may exert significant pressure on firms to do more to make their packaging more sustainable. This would send a strong message to businesses that they must join in and make adjustments to help us achieve a circular packaging economy.
Explore LILIXIR’s Sustainable Skincare Collection: Shop LILIXIR
4. Buy smarter - less is more
The best way to reduce beauty waste is to consume less. Instead of purchasing multiple products, consider multi-functional skincare solutions that simplify your routine and cut down on packaging.
For example:
- A high-performance facial oil can replace your moisturizer and serum.
- A tinted SPF can serve as a sunscreen, foundation, and moisturizer.
- Solid shampoo bars eliminate the need for plastic bottles while lasting longer than liquid alternatives.
Investing in high-quality, concentrated products also means using less per application, making them last longer and reducing waste. Finding multipurpose products, such as a tinted sunscreen that acts as a daily moisturizer, a foundation, and a sunscreen, decreases the amount of products required from three to one.
Buying less in the first place is the most significant step toward reducing waste.
Look for items that have been produced in a more ethical manner. This may appear to be more expensive at first, but because you're purchasing fewer items, you'll end up spending less and stop beauty waste.
5. Resist impulsive shopping
We recommend that you resist the need to shop on impulse. Don't buy multiple items just because they're on sale!
If you only need one cream or serum, buy one rather than a pack of three, that will end up expiring anyway.
Sales and marketing tactics often encourage consumers to buy more than they need. However, bulk buying skincare can lead to unused and expired products piling up.
Before purchasing, ask yourself:
- Do I really need this product?
- Will I use it before it expires?
- Can I find a multi-use alternative instead?
By making intentional purchasing decisions, you can save money while reducing unnecessary waste.
6. Donate or sell your unused products
If a product is still within its expiration date but you aren't planning on using it, donate it or sell it before it goes bad.
If you wish to recoup your costs and stop beauty waste, both Facebook Marketplace and eBay allow you to sell new and somewhat used items.
If you have unopened or lightly used beauty products that you no longer need, consider donating them to shelters or women’s charities. Many organizations accept gently used beauty products to help those in need.
Alternatively, you can sell unused products on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or eBay to give them a second life instead of letting them go to waste.
Sustainability Tip: When gifting beauty products, choose items that align with the recipient’s skincare needs to ensure they will be used.
7. Ask recommendations for ethical and sustainable brands
Asking at the counter where the ethical and sustainable products are will increase the demand.
Though beautiful packaging is often part of a product’s appeal, you can still look for containers made from glass or aluminum instead of plastics, for "no packaging" or minimal packaging and refills.
The first priority should really be avoiding over-consumerism and stop beauty waste.
Supporting brands that prioritize sustainability encourages the industry to adopt eco-conscious practices. When shopping for beauty products, look for:
- Minimal or refillable packaging (glass, aluminum, or biodegradable materials).
- Cruelty-free and organic formulations that avoid harmful chemicals.
- Eco-certifications that ensure ethical sourcing and sustainable production.
At LILIXIR, we are dedicated to sustainable beauty by offering:
- 100% plant-based, organic skincare formulated with high-performance botanical extracts.
- Minimal, eco-friendly packaging with recyclable and FSC-certified materials.
- Sustainable refill options to reduce waste while maintaining luxury skincare.
Discover LILIXIR sustainable beauty products and see how you can incorporate them into your daily routine.
Make a Difference—Start Today!
Reducing beauty waste doesn’t require drastic lifestyle changes. Small, conscious steps—such as recycling correctly, buying only what you need, and supporting ethical brands—can collectively make a huge impact.
What sustainable beauty habits do you practice? Share your tips in the comments!
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