Bad news first: Nearly 50 percent of Americans don’t recycle their empty beauty and personal care products—kinda understandable, given how confusing the rules around tossing these containers can be. But it’s also kinda scary, considering that billions (yep, you read that right, BILLIONS) of new packaging pieces that are produced for the cosmetics industry every single year. Now for the good news: Recycling and properly disposing of our empties is getting a lot easier, as sustainable hair, makeup, and skincare brands work to clarify, simplify, and streamline the planet-saving process for consumers. So if you’ve been totally overwhelmed by the idea of switching up your beauty routine—even if you know you really should—here are the nine best recyclable beauty products that you’ll feel good about incorporating into your routine.
All Burt’s Bees empties (including this face wash) can be recycled via TerraCycle, a company that gives plastic and waste a second (or third) life. Just request and download a shipping label, drop your used stuff in a box, and send it back to TerraCycle. So simple—and free!
Unlike many eyeshadow palettes, Athr’s doesn’t use hard-to-recycle pieces like mirrors or magnets. This one’s made from aluminum and paper, so you can just separate the two and toss ’em in your recycling bin.
On the PYT Beauty website, you can select a product and click the “How I’m Sustainable” tab. It’ll break down each of the materials and components that make up the packaging plus how to separate and properly recycle them.
Nearly 200 million plastic lip balm tubes are produced every year, and the vast majority of them aren’t recycled. It’s the reason why Ethique created this minty, moisturizing formula that’s housed in biodegradable paper packaging that’s fully compostable both at home and curbside.
This innovative shampoo bar (one bar lasts about two months) is made with zero percent plastic so you don’t have to do any guessing when it comes to recycling. Once you open the cardboard packaging, simply drop it in your recycling bin and you’re done.
When it comes to transparency and sustainability, Saie does it best. Head to their site to see exactly how each product’s packaging is made (this face sunscreen’s’s tube is made from 100 percent sugarcane bioresin, a renewable and carbon neutral form of plastic) and exactly how to recycle them too.
All of Kinship’s products—including this hydrating face moisturizer—take sustainability to another level. The lid and jar are made with ocean waste plastic (aka plastic that’s been collecting during ocean clean ups) and post-consumer recycled plastic and is easily recycled too—just wipe it clean and drop it in your blue bin.
Three months after buying, you’ll be reminded to ship back your used mascara in the canvas mailer it came in. Izzy will repurpose the wand and sanitize and refill the tube for the next customer.
This sustainable body wash’s durable aluminum packaging can be recycled and reused for years. Once empty, schedule a free pickup with Loop, a circular shopping platform designed to eliminate single-use waste.