Is your summer holiday giving you sustainability guilt?
To be fair most things do at this stage, given how much of a hoop the planet is right now but travelling far away on a plane and guzzling plastic bottle after plastic bottle of water while you’re away would really drive it home.
One way to make a difference (and feel slightly less guilty in the process) is to take a closer look at the products you buy and use; beauty products included.
I’ve slowly been overhauling my beauty drawer in an attempt to lessen the harm my vanity is doing to the earth and am on the hunt for new bits and brands that I’ll love as much as my favourite mainstream buys.
The lovely folks at Nourish sent me out some natural summer products to try out. Delightfully, they’re all fairly affordable and genuinely lovely to use.
As ever, the most sustainable thing to do is to use up what you already have and dispose of the packaging appropriately but if you are buying anything new, I’d recommend these.
Moo Goo SPF 15 Lip Balm, €5.50
This lad is loaded with lovely shea butter, jojoba and sweet almond oils but is gloriously free from petroleum jelly so it’s actually safe to eat – ideal for a product that’s going on your gob.
Slather this on before bed and you’ll wake up with lips that feel like new.
Green credentials: This lip balm comes in recycled plastic and is made of natural ingredients.
Green People SPF 30 Sun Lotion, €22.50
UVA and UVB protection that’s water repellent, suitable for sensitive skin that won’t clog pores – you couldn’t go wrong.
Green credentials: This is made from 84 per cent certified organic ingredients and comes in fully recyclable plant-based packaging.
Weleda Skin Food Light, €9.50
The nourishing cult favourite now comes in a new, lighter formula for summer that acts as the perfect aftersun to soothe sore skin.
Green credentials: This stuff is certified organic and contains natural ingredients like organic sunflower oil and natural extracts of calendula, pansy and chamomile.
Insight Dry Hair Nourishing Mask €14.50
Saltwater, chlorine from the pool, sun exposure and dodgy hotel hair dryers can all mean chaos for your tresses. This deliciously rich mask will make them feel sleek and healthy again.
Green credentials: Organic ingredients and 100 per cent recyclable packaging.
Trilogy Multi-Shield Moisturiser SPF 15, €31.95
I’m cheating on my self-imposed €30 budget but this stuff is well worth it. Skincare devotees will no doubt have tried Trilogy in the past but may not have given this SPF a go. I’m here to tell you that you should.
This SPF is one I’ll use at home all year around too. Many can be greasy but this feels like a moisturiser so is perfect under makeup.
Green credentials: Trilogy is NATRUE-accredited, thanks to its commitment to natural ingredients, and is cruelty-free.
Nourish has 11 stores in Dublin and Cork and is online at Nourish.ie.
