Do you “put your face on” before leaving the house?

Most of us do. Going out bare-faced still feels like a bold move. Yet from Pamela Anderson and Alicia Keys to Helen Mirren and Bella Hadid, more people—including plenty of Sussex shoppers—are choosing to skip the make-up and embrace what’s already there. 

At the same time, the beauty industry has been quietly having a glow-up of its own—but not always the good kind. As demand has soared so has the environmental footprint. Self-care, it turns out, isn’t always kind to the planet. 

From resource-hungry ingredients to ocean pollution, animal testing, chemical runoff and those hard-to-avoid microplastics, the impact quickly adds up. In 2024, Plastic Soup researchers for British Beauty Council analysed over 7,000 beauty products and found that only 13% were microplastic-free. Not exactly a confidence booster. 

Plus, the beauty industry produces around 120 billion pieces of packaging every year, with 95% of it thrown away. Even the most eco-conscious among us has stood in front of the bin wondering: Can this mascara wand be recycled?   

It isn’t all doom and gloom. Things are shifting. 

Some brands are rethinking how they make, package and test their products, with shoppers paying attention:

• 34% chose brands with strong sustainability credentials in the last year
• 35% of Gen Z are willing to pay more for sustainable products
• 25% would pay up to 25% more for an ethical, sustainable option

As younger consumers gain buying power, that influence is only set to grow—choosing brands that show they care about planet and people, not just profit. 

If you don’t know what to do with that beauty packaging, Sussex Green Living can help. We have volunteers who collect these waste resources at the Sussex Green Hub held in the United Reformed Church, Horsham (last Saturday every month) and in Amberley, Arundel, Partridge Green, Slinfold, Southwater, Storrington, Thakeham, Coolham and Warnham. 

To learn more, download the latest recycling list with locations from here https://www.sussexgreenliving.org.uk/single-use/.