- Beauty Glossary
- Plastic-Free
Plastic Free Cosmetics
Plastic-free cosmetics refer to beauty and personal care products that are formulated and packaged without the use of traditional plastic materials. This means they are free from plastic ingredients in their formulations and are packaged in sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives such as glass, metal, paper, or compostable materials. Plastic-free cosmetics aim to reduce the environmental impact of the beauty industry by minimising plastic pollution and promoting more sustainable packaging options.
See our plastic-free guide to answer your questions like what does plastic free mean and who should use plastic free beauty products.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Plastic-Free products
What does plastic free mean?
Simply put, plastic free beauty is the manufacture of cosmetic goods that do not contain any traces of plastic inside or outside of the formula. This means no microbeads or plastic packing. Instead, clean formulas are used and are packaged in biodegradable or recyclable materials such as paper, cotton or glass.
Who should use plastic free beauty products?
Everyone. Literally everyone. Have you guys not seen that episode of Blue Planet?! We collectively need to pull together in order to prevent other species dying out and to stop destroying the natural world around us. Besides, wouldn't life look a little bit nicer if there was less litter on the streets and in the ocean? Plastic free is the way to go.
What are the worst offenders when it comes to beauty products that aren’t plastic free?
Microbeads were up there as one of the largest offenders when it came to harming marine life due to their inability to break down. Luckily, the UK government recently banned them. But that doesn't stop other big culprits, such as glitter, from infiltrating the ocean. Face wipes also take over 100 years to biodegrade due to the material they are made from.
How does plastic free beauty differ to microbead free beauty?
Microbead free beauty doesn't contain plastic beads within the formulas but might still use plastic packaging or plastic casing. Plastic free beauty does not use any plastic whatsoever.
How can I go plastic free?
Cutting out plastic may be difficult at first, simply because many big brands haven't yet gone plastic free and still actively use plastic packaging for cheapness and convenience. However, making small changes like swapping your shower gel for a bar of soap and not using glitter-infused products can really help out in the long run.
Written by Ellie Child, Beauty Editor
