The world of beauty is changing… for the better. After focusing on the practicality of single-use products, it is once again praising the benefits of sustainable and reusable accessories, almost infinitely. But are these new tools really eco-friendly ?
Sustainable beauty accessories, good news?
Early ecologists are well aware of zero waste beauty . In addition to using solid shampoos, toothpastes and deodorants, soaps instead of shower gels, clean beauty also includes sustainable accessories. Just like a hairbrush, these objects are like any other product subject to more or less environmentally friendly production processes and the use of resources and materials. But just because these beauty tools are reusable does not mean they are clean. It is difficult to estimate whether the sustainable version of a beauty gesture with an accessory is more virtuous than its equivalent in product form: is the cleansing brush more eco-friendly than the gel dedicated to the same use? We need to take a closer look.
And this is all the more so since the success of a new tool can, as always when a product becomes fashionable, bring its share of low-cost ranges and unscrupulous manufacturers who want to ride the trend, with disregard for any ecological consideration .
The inextricable question of the life cycle


Let's admit it right away, for the consumer, it is very difficult (if not impossible) to know everything about a product, when purchasing it. Indeed, the life cycle , necessary for assessing the impact on the environment, must be complete. This cycle must take into account each element linked to production, from energy to the resources needed for the raw material, to those used in the manufacturing process, then transport, etc. However, most of the time, access to this information is difficult.
To form an opinion, the consumer evaluates for himself the reliability of the company and its "clean" commitments, the ingredients , the information on the place of manufacture. However, the material is already a very good indicator for beauty or hygiene accessories, such as wooden versus plastic toothbrushes.
Blenders and silisponges, the new foundation sponges


It's been the trend for a few years now. Blenders are these small egg-shaped sponges that have replaced the fingertip and brushes to apply foundation. Today, they are available at all prices and sizes. Added to this are transparent silicone sponges, which look like a mini breast prosthesis. We could condemn them because they are 100% industrial, artificial, non-recyclable and act as a gadget. This is where the problem arises: if beautistas bought just one and used it every day for years, this beauty tool would be interesting. But in general, users have several and quickly abandon them in favor of a new gesture. Worse, blenders need to be washed, which adds to their impact the use of water and cleaning product. As for silicone sponges, they have a very short lifespan. What if we went back to applying with our fingers?
Reusable fabric makeup remover wipe

At first glance, a square of cotton terry cloth, possibly organic, is necessarily more ecological than disposable cotton makeup remover pads. But… some of these wipes are not made of cotton, but of synthetic fabric. This is the case of large, soft, velvety, machine-washable wipes dedicated to makeup removal that promise to remove all traces without any cleaning product. Made of 100% polyester , a synthetic fabric made of plastic microfibers, these wipes are therefore polluting during manufacture and with each wash, because they release fibers into the water, and are non-recyclable. In contrast, there are double-sided washable cotton squares that are also used to clean baby's bottom. Compared to disposable wipes, these fabric squares are more durable, but unlike the synthetic wipe that is used alone, they require washing products to remove makeup. It is still necessary that the cotton used to make these squares comes from a responsible sector, because cotton cultivation is very water-intensive and is mainly done abroad. Made in France is therefore to be preferred even if the raw materials may have crossed the planet. Well maintained and reused for several years, with a clean soap, cotton squares remain the best option. And at the end of their life, they can clean windows!
Facial cleansing brush

Generally made with a plastic handle and bristles, these brushes are not sufficient on their own: you have to add a cleaning product. So when faced with washing without a brush, with an identical product, this object cannot compete with the hand or a washcloth in terms of ecology and environmental footprint. Yes, it is a sustainable tool since it is preserved, but the cleaning brush is thrown away and not recycled. So much additional plastic, manufacturing abroad, transport and therefore pollution that can be avoided. The same goes for electric models, less "gadgety", more expensive which require even more material, but which are kept longer.
What is the most eco-friendly facial cleansing brush? The Konjac sponge , a small hard ball made of 100% plant-based fibers, which transforms into a soft sponge and effectively cleanses the skin once moistened. It can be used with or without a cleansing product, it is biodegradable and inexpensive.
Anti-cellulite body brush

The return of "old-fashioned" beauty tools signals the craze for dry body brushing , with a wooden brush with natural bristles (in general). This dry brushing exfoliates the skin. It softens the epidermis , stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation to drain, prevents water retention to have more toned skin, with a reduction in orange peel skin. This gesture, which requires neither product nor water, has no impact on the environment. In terms of material, it is also virtuous, because it is generally plastic-free, with boar bristle type bristles and fabric handles. They are very durable, made in Europe or France. They have everything going for them. Their massaging cousins with spikes and other exfoliating gloves will be chosen in natural material, such as wood or plant fiber, and on eco-friendly product sites, rather than plastic.
Massaging stones: gua sha and jade roller

These two tools massage the face to stimulate microcirculation, drain, and tighten the skin through the combination of movement and the virtues of the stones. The Jade roller is a double-ended handle decorated with a polished stone, which rolls and is passed over the face. The gua sha is a bare stone (without a handle) such as quartz or amethyst, polished, flat, bean-shaped or heart-shaped, which allows - like a spatula - to smooth the features and shape the volumes like a mini palpate-roll. Of course, these tools last a very long time, but are they ecological?
Precious for anti-aging and restoring radiance to the skin, the reason for their success, Jade rollers and gua sha stones raise a question: how are they made? Because as with any "trendy" product, the increase in sales pushes companies to offer an ever lower price by cutting back on manufacturing processes.
Jade Roller…not Jade!
Pure Jade, a semi-precious and expensive stone, is not the one used in these rollers, despite their misleading name that deserves regulation. These rollers are made of different materials that can range from plastic to glass, including Aventurine, but also Serpentine, a green stone that requires a chemical treatment that is not clean at all to look like Jade. Not only is it misleading, but these "Jade rollers" made of chemically treated stones do not respect the planet. A real pure jade roller costs at least several hundred euros.
Gua Sha and eco-friendly rollers: choosing the right stone
Fortunately, most brands that offer a quality Jade roller or gua sha, make them in different types of stones to stay true to the spirit of these tools: to enjoy the benefits of stones on the skin. We find rollers and gua sha in Quartz, Amethyst, but also in Aventurine and Obsidian, this beautiful black stone.
To avoid scams, you need to identify natural stones, just polished and information on their sourcing. Indeed, it is not only chemical treatments that can make these accessories ecological disasters: the method of extraction of these stones can drift, given the increase in production to meet demand.
Brands rarely provide all the necessary information: you should check if they come from an ethical and sustainable source. The first clue is of course the price: no gua sha or jade roller worth a few euros can come from an eco-friendly process. You can also buy a stone in a specialist store, which can provide information on its origin, and massage your face with it.
Sustainable cotton swabs

Plastic cotton buds are one of the most common types of waste in the sea. A ban that came into effect in early 2020 gave the company 6 months to use up stocks of plastic cotton buds and make them disappear. Zero waste and zero plastic advocates have long since replaced them with oriculis, flat bamboo sticks that scrape earwax. Ear cleaners of this type can also be made of stainless steel, made of a rod with a tip resembling a mini spoon, or with a spiral end to clean the canal. These extremely durable tools are more environmentally friendly than a lifetime of cotton buds.
But now two new types of cotton buds are arriving that are considered eco-friendly: cardboard buds and washable silicone versions. Are they eco-friendly? Analyzing their life cycle is not easy. While these cotton buds made of paper, cardboard or bamboo are biodegradable and can be thrown away, and even composted, they use cotton, the cultivation of which requires a lot of water and the processing is not always eco-friendly. As for washable silicone cotton buds, they do not use cotton, but are made from chemicals and are also sold in plastic boxes. Even if they are washable and durable, isn't it better to do without plastic? Here again, choose committed brands and identify the manufacturing countries to buy as locally as possible.
The cup: the plastic exception

If the material remains the number 1 criterion, wood and natural fibers being generally more virtuous than any plastic, in the bathroom the menstrual cup is an exception. Its lifespan can exceed 10 years. It is very profitable, both from an ecological and financial point of view: in a few months, it is the saving of dozens of sanitary towels and tampons thrown away.
The new generation of beauty tools and accessories are either of low quality and not very ecological, manufactured far away and without concern for the planet, or on the contrary of an eco-responsible trend. The latter opt for healthy materials and from a clean process.
To choose them, the price is a good indicator. Expensive, it is an investment in a luxury product that really lasts. Indeed, replacing a disposable product and its packaging with an object is only really interesting from an ecological point of view if it is kept for a long time.