Beauty products should do more than simply enhance appearance — they should also help move society towards a more sustainable future. By using organic materials and avoiding harmful ingredients, manufacturers can make a meaningful contribution through ethical sourcing, innovation, and the creation of products that are kinder to both people and the planet. In this article, I’ll be sharing practical tips on how beauty products, particularly brow essentials, can be made more eco-friendly — making an impact not just on the user’s face, but on the world around them.
Reduce: Minimise Waste at the Start
One of the most effective ways to make beauty production sustainable is to prevent waste before it begins. Below are several ways to achieve this.
Choose Refillable Products
Refillable packaging allows consumers to retain the main container, such as a brow pencil case, brow gel tube, or pomade jar, and replace only the inner cartridge or insert once it’s empty. This approach significantly cuts down on single-use packaging and reduces plastic, glass, and metal waste. For manufacturers, refillable systems support sustainability by lowering material usage and production costs over time. It’s essential to use durable, high-quality materials for the outer casing to ensure it lasts through multiple refills.
Opt for Sustainable Materials
Selecting sustainable materials such as recycled paper, glass, aluminium, bamboo, or biodegradable plastics helps reduce environmental impact by conserving resources and encouraging recyclability. As these materials are often derived from renewable sources, they can be easily reused or safely decomposed at the end of their life cycle, preventing excessive landfill waste.
Invest in Multiuse Products
Another way to minimise waste is to design brow products with multiple functions, reducing the need for separate packaging for each item. For instance, a brow pencil can include a brush, a tint can come with a setting gel, or an eyeshadow palette can include brow shades. This approach saves on packaging materials like paper, plastic, and metal while also cutting production and transport costs.
Use Every Last Bit
Maximising product and packaging use ensures that consumers can finish every drop before disposal. This reduces leftover waste and prolongs the life of packaging. In practice, this could mean designing containers with smart applicators, pump systems, or squeezable tubes, allowing users to fully access the contents without leaving any residue behind.
Reuse: Give Empty Packaging a Second Life (Upcycling)
Before recycling, consider repurposing your clean, empty brow containers for other uses. Below are some creative upcycling ideas.
Brow Gel / Mascara Wands
Clean used brow gel or mascara wands with warm soapy water and reuse them as brow spoolies for shaping eyebrows or as lash separators to remove mascara clumps. They can also be repurposed as applicators for DIY beauty treatments such as lash serums or castor oil.
Small Glass Jars (for Pomades or Gels)
Small glass jars from pomades or gels make excellent mini containers for jewellery, hairpins, travel-sized skincare, or DIY lip balms. They can also be reused to hold lip scrubs, creams, or homemade skincare products. Alternatively, upcycle them as candle holders, desk organisers, or miniature plant pots for succulents.
Small Compacts (for Powders and Wax)
Compact cases are ideal for storing small items such as rings, earrings, or pills while travelling. They can also be reused in your beauty routine — for brow shades, concealers, or custom makeup palettes for mixing lip colours. You can even fill them with solid perfume, DIY lip scrub, or balm.
Pencil Caps / Tubes
Rather than discarding pencil caps or tubes, clean and repurpose them as travel covers for makeup brushes, brow pencils, or eyeliners to prevent breakage or spills. They can also serve as small containers for screws, beads, or pins. If you enjoy DIY projects, transform them into organisers or art pieces such as pen grips, jewellery parts, or decorative elements.
Recycle: Proper Disposal
Brow products are often small or made with mixed materials, making them difficult to recycle. Below are some tips for proper recycling.
Empty and Clean
Before recycling, always ensure your containers are completely empty and clean. Use up all remaining product or remove any leftover residue from tubes, compacts, or jars. Cleaning prevents contamination and supports effective recycling. For example, rinse tubes with warm water or wipe out compacts with a dry cloth.
Separate Materials
Disassemble your brow products before disposal to ensure each material can be correctly processed. Components like caps, brushes, or sharpeners are often made from different materials such as metal, plastic, or rubber. Separating them allows recycling facilities to handle each part efficiently.
Utilise Special Programmes
Take advantage of recycling or take-back schemes offered by local waste authorities or beauty brands. Many cosmetic companies and stores now run programmes that collect used makeup containers — such as compacts, brow pencils, or gels — for responsible recycling.
Final Thoughts
Adopting an eco-friendly approach to beauty, especially for small items like brow products, plays a vital role in reducing environmental impact. By embracing the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, you can turn potential waste into something valuable — contributing meaningfully to global efforts towards a cleaner, more sustainable planet.
