As somebody who works in and consumes all things beauty, my conscience often eats me up. Can I really care about the planet and be passionate about products? The answer, actually, is yes. It’s about making wise choices and learning to do better – and that’s where Sukin comes in. A natural, cruelty-free, vegan and carbon-neutral brand owned and made in Australia, it’s also on a Journey to Better – and being able to incorporate brands like this into my everyday life is just as good for my skin as it is for the planet. So if you’re struggling to know where to start, I’m here to help. Click through to read my top tips for creating a more sustainable skincare routine.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is that skin likes nothing more than consistency. It’s easy to want to chop and change your routine all the time – and it doesn’t help that there are endless new products launching, all of them promising the world and more. I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for marketing and trying new things is a huge part of my day-to-day job. But the best thing you can do for your skin is find a routine that works for you – and stick to it. Not only are you helping the planet by reducing your carbon footprint and preventing unnecessary waste but it also gives your skin time to benefit from the ingredients you’re using. Generally speaking, it takes around a month for most products to start working but ideally you should be using something for around three months to gauge its effectiveness. Plus, I find it so much easier to wash out a bottle, pot or tube and recycle it properly once it’s empty.
This goes hand in hand with making sure you use up products. As somebody who once used as many products as possible, I am proof that it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking more is more – especially when K-Beauty-inspired, 12-step routines are all the rage. But actually, my skin is never better than when I don’t overcomplicate things. That’s where A-Beauty (aka Australian Beauty) comes in. It’s a newer concept that celebrates simplicity and focuses on natural ingredients – both of which Sukin champions – and is something I can definitely get on board with.
These days, my achievable routine never feels like a chore. In the morning I wash my face with Sukin Cream Cleanser, which is nourishing and never leaves my skin feeling dry or tight. Then I use Sukin Super Greens Facial Recovery Serum, a hydrating antioxidant to protect against environmental damage and free radicals I’m exposed to throughout the day. At night I cleanse again, then follow up with Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner, which soothes my skin with chamomile and rosewater. Instead of layering on tons of products, these hardworking three do the job for me.
Sukin HYDRATING MIST TONER, $, available at Sukin
Sukin CREAM CLEANSER, $, available at Sukin
Sukin SUPER GREENS FACIAL RECOVERY SERUM, $, available at Sukin
The beauty aisle can be tricky to navigate when it comes to shopping sustainably. With so much greenwashing, false promises and confusing language, it’s easy to A) get caught up and feel so overwhelmed that you make no changes or B) make too many changes and end up wasting money. This is where your own research comes in. Figure out what’s most important to you. Is it recyclable or refillable packaging? Is it about being carbon neutral? Is it choosing natural ingredients? Or is it having a list of ingredients you’d ideally like a brand to avoid? I love Sukin Brightening Jelly Exfoliator, for example, as it’s made of all things natural, eschewing those dreaded microbeads for passionfruit seeds and jojoba to gently buff the skin. It’s okay not to tick every box at first and instead make small changes that you can adapt over time. I’m drawn to Sukin because it’s been carbon neutral since it launched in 2008 and knowing that means I trust its commitment to develop 100% reusable, refillable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025. I know these are not empty promises and that real, irrefutable, positive change is top of the agenda.
Sukin BRIGHTENING JELLY EXFOLIATOR, $, available at Sukin
Understanding what each ingredient does, why it’s there and how it came to be is important when it comes to making your routine more sustainable. Each of Sukin’s products is accompanied by a ‘no list’ of ingredients that the brand has chosen to leave out – ensuring every single product is kind to both skin and planet while promising good results. For example, the Sheer Touch Facial Sunscreen SPF30 is a mineral formula developed without chemical absorbers oxybenzone and octinoxate, which can damage coral reefs and sea life. It also protects skin, makes it glow and works as a great primer for makeup. Brands that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, like Sukin, prove that sustainability is important to them at every stage of the supply chain. We benefit from them sharing their knowledge and making things easier to understand, which is vital for consumer education.
I am still on my own Journey to Better. I don’t pretend to know everything and I am far from perfect but, over time, choosing more sustainable skincare becomes clearer and easier to navigate until eventually it’s second nature. The most important thing to remember is that small changes really do add up – and seeking out brands like Sukin that are actively doing better is a great place to start.
Sukin SPF30 SHEER TOUCH UNTINTED SUNSCREEN, $, available at Sukin
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