The Eco Gift List, by Katie Service, author of The Beauty Brief and editor of Harrods Magazine

I don’t know about you but I find trying to be more eco-conscious and sustainable quite overwhelming at times – I listened to a podcast the other day on eco-anxiety and I really can relate. Saving the planet every day feels like a lot of pressure! Am I getting re-cycling right? Should I never buy single-use makeup again? Do I need to completely overhaul my life to get sustainability right? It’s an endless list of daily conundrums!

That’s why I do my best to keep things simple when it comes to being conscious and clean – little changes and switch-ups that make life easier as well as doing good for the world, especially in my self-care regime and that of my daughters, have helped me feel in control of my own eco-footprint.

Here is a little list of some of my go-to eco-beauty choices. Enjoy!

 

JoJo Glow Reusable Make-up Pads

I have now completely committed my cleansing routine morning and night to these brilliant fluffy pads. I have about 9 of them in total – they take off all makeup and feel so soft and more luxurious than a flannel, leaving my face feeling so clean. After cleansing with them you just chuck them in the washing basket. I will never go back to throw away cotton pads or wipes. 

 

Parla Toothpaste Tabs

Did you know that probably every toothpaste tube you ever bought in your life is still in perfect existence somewhere in landfill? Created by the brilliant dentist Dr Rhona Eskander, these toothpaste tablets mean you never have to buy a plastic toothpaste tube again. They come in a glass refillable jar and they don’t contain lots of the horrible foaming agents that many supermarket toothpastes do. My daughter and I now only use bamboo toothbrushes too – but a little tip, check that the ones you buy don’t have plastic bristles. 

 

Evening Blush by Medeau

It’s so hard to find a fragrance that ticks all the eco boxes when it comes to ingredients – but with Medeau I just know that I don’t have to worry about any harmful substances or allergens making their way into the bottle – it’s a no-brainer. The Sandalwood and Musk in the base of the beautiful Evening Blush perfume is bio-identical which is much better for the environment (not a drain on natural resources) and smells just as luxurious. 

 

Ecologique Shampoo & Shaving Bar

Oh my gosh, I could not rave about this brand more – it is my favourite solid cosmetics company – completely plastic free and packaged only in simple recycled and recyclable boxes. The shampoo is the best shampoo I have found out there (and I have tried a lot) – foams really nicely (so nicely you can also shave with it) and my hair feels soft not stripped afterwards. I have one at home and one for travelling – it’s great for camping trips.