Too often, self-care comes with a wasteful downside.
Whether it’s the packaging from beauty products, the water that runs down the plug hole after a long hot bath or the unnecessary consumption of “retail therapy”, it’s rare that self-care is synonymous with being low-waste.
However, it doesn’t need to be that way! As soon as you begin to become aware of your environmental impact as an individual, you’ll also start noticing all of the ways that you can care for the planet. These changes don’t have to mean you stop caring for yourself, though.
There are plenty of low-waste options out there for practicing self-care and showing yourself some love. So, since Plastic Free July is well and truly upon us, we wanted to take the opportunity to share three planet-friendly ideas to make the most of this month!
Embrace experiences, over things
Sometimes the kind of self-care we need has nothing to do with the items we own, but everything to do with our mental state. Whilst there’s a time and a place for treating yourself, there are also so many options out there for easy, accessible activities that you can do to get a mental boost.
- Getting outside for a walk to soak up the Vitamin D and fresh air.
- Practising yoga in the morning to nourish the body and mind.
- Reading in a quiet corner of your home.
- Listening to your favourite podcast with no distractions.
We could go on! Of course, what self-care looks like to you is hugely personally. The point is though, looking after yourself doesn’t always have to mean investing in physical items. By sometimes embracing experiences, over things, you’re looking after yourself in a way that is totally zero-waste.
Because time spent slowly is often the biggest luxury of all.
Look for value-driven beauty products
For a lot of us, skincare, haircare and beauty products are an essential when it comes to self-care! Whilst we love embracing acts like meditation and long walks to give us some headspace, there’s no denying that sometimes all you need is a bubble bath.
If you’re looking to enjoy a moment of luxury and pamper yourself, try to invest in value-driven companies that are putting the earth first.
Here are the key things to look out for…
Glass, paper and metal packaging: There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste estimated to be in our oceans. By opting for more sustainable packaging, you’re able to help to make sure this figure doesn’t climb any higher! Glass and tin are both infinitely recyclable, whilst paper and card are completely recyclable and biodegradable. Try to buy items packaged in these materials wherever possible.
Organic ingredient lists: Organic ingredients are not only better for your skin, but also for the planet. Ingredients grown in a non-organic manner, using pesticides and insecticides, can hugely damage biodiversity, alongside having a negative impact on wildlife. On the other hand, organic ingredients in skincare don’t come at an environmental cost.
Reusable items: Whether it’s exfoliating mitts, reusable cotton pads or even cleansing brushes, reusable is always better! It means less waste going to landfill and probably less money spent in the process.
What’s not to love?
Use the power of aromachology
Aromachology mixes aromatherapy and scent psychology, to create a truly superior self-care experience. Each and every one of our products is formulated with this study in mind, using pure essential oils which we select based on their proven impact on emotions.
Perfect no matter what you’re going through, we offer four “moods”, each with an array of carefully crafted scents chosen to put you in a halcyon state of mind:
- Relax helps to soothe and calm the body and the soul.
- Relate allows you to build deeper, more meaningful connections.
- Release assists you in letting go of that which doesn’t serve you and superchargers spiritual practices.
- Renew provides clarity and the fresh perspective you’ve been looking for.
The great news is that you don’t have to make an ethical or environmental compromise to experience the benefits of aromachology. At Halcyon Naturals, we’re on a journey to being zero-waste. We don’t use single-use plastic and our packaging is plastic-free wherever physically possible. We instead choose more sustainable materials like glass and card.
All of our packaging can be reused at home, but we also offer a popular returns scheme: Send back 4 candle jars of the same size to receive a complimentary candle of your choice in that size. This system applies to returning 3 of our diffuser glasses or room mist bottles. Simply make sure they’re in a good condition and send them back our way!
That means less waste in the earth and more self-care time for you.
Whatever you do as you transition to more sustainable self-care, make sure that your practice is serving you. Cultivate habits that truly feed you and fulfil your needs, whilst also having a focus on how you can make them more friendly for the planet.
Remember, self-care and planet-care can go hand in hand!