Is your skincare routine harming the planet? Beauty expert Blossom Kochhar shares eco-friendly beauty tips

These eco-friendly beauty tips can help you build a sustainable skincare routine by reducing waste and supporting ethical brands.

Beauty isn’t just about good looks anymore, it’s about making choices that are good for you and the Earth. People are waking up to the reality of environmental problems, and eco-friendly beauty isn’t just a buzzword these days. It's a shift in how we live. You don’t have to flip your whole routine upside down either. Small, practical tweaks add up over time.

How to make your beauty routine more eco-friendly?

How to make your beauty routine more eco-friendly? (Adobe Stock)

By Tavishi Dogra

Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust.

Career journey and experience
Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon.

From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?”

Subject expertise
With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions.

In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.

Education and professional background
Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.

Editorial Philosophy
I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.

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“To create an eco-friendly skincare routine, focus on reducing your environmental impact. You can do this by using products wisely, reducing waste, and choosing ethically made items. To help the planet and your skin, choose refillable packaging, switch from single-use products, and opt for multi-purpose items,” Dr Blossom Kochhar, beauty expert and aromatherapist, tells Health Shots.

1. Start by paying closer attention to the products you use

Many typical skincare products contain ingredients that aren’t great for the environment. Think about how they’re sourced, how they’re made, and what happens when you rinse them off. Instead, look for naturally derived ingredients. Stuff like plant oils, botanical extracts, essential oils, and formulas that break down easily after use. These options are gentle on your skin and on the planet.

2. Then there’s the matter of packaging

The beauty industry generates a staggering amount of plastic waste each year. Most of it ends up in landfills or pollutes the ocean. Look for products made of glass, aluminium, or recycled plastic. Refillable packages are popping up everywhere, giving you the power to cut out single-use containers.

3. Consider simplifying your routine

The internet is loaded with 10-step skincare routines. But honestly, your skin probably doesn’t need all that. A gentle cleanser, a toner, a good moisturiser, sunscreen, and maybe one treatment product sometimes that’s enough. This approach keeps your skin and your conscience clear, since you’re not loading up your bathroom shelf (and the landfill) with stuff you hardly use.

4. Don’t forget how much water gets used in beauty routines

Both when you wash up and in the manufacturing of products themselves. Small steps like turning off the tap while cleansing, adopting water-saving habits, or choosing concentrated products can save more water than you might expect.

5. Support cruelty-free brands and companies

Supporting brands that conduct business ethically is another way to make a difference. Look for companies that don’t test on animals, that are open about where their ingredients come from, and that care about their full supply chain. Certifications can help you spot who’s genuine.

Eco-conscious beauty isn’t about perfection

Real beauty is about finding the sweet spot, caring for yourself while caring for the world around you.

• Try not to get swept away by shiny new product drops or social media fads. It’s easy to collect more jars and bottles than you’ll ever use. Before buying, ask yourself what you really need and whether a new product will actually improve your routine or collect dust.
• And here’s something simple but powerful don’t open a new product till you finish the last one. Those half-finished or expired bottles create waste (and waste money). Stick to what you need, use it up, and buy replacements only when it’s time.
• Eco-conscious beauty is about making steady progress with little changes. Each choice, whether it’s a better formula, less packaging, or just saying “no” to impulse buys, helps the planet heal a little, and that’s something to feel good about.

(Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, arising from the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority, and the brands have not been directly suggested by the expert mentioned.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.)