[Lifestyle] Going green: Embrace these sustainable lifestyle alternatives

[-Kenzo]

The pandemic taught us many things, the most of which was the need for going local when it comes to purchases. With borders shut and daily use products available in the market sparse, many took to the local route, opting for homegrown brands to fulfill their skincare needs. Many also took to rethinking their wardrobes, choosing to minimise it, donate what they don’t need and make the best use of items that they do own.Many have chosen to downsize their clutter and make the most of the products they own - be it clothes, makeup or skincare, and go an extra mile to make them sustainable. If you’re struggling to begin, here are some simple tips and tricks for you:

Clothes

One of the ways you can redo your closet to make it sustainable is to buy less, and wear the pieces you have as much as you can. Opt for natural fibres instead of polyester, acrylic or rayons, and if you must, try to look for fabric made from recycled plastic.Another way is to swap your clothes - join clothes swap groups and look for something you may want, such as a sari or a lehenga, over there, before you decide to purchase a new outfit.If you’re a makeup and skincare junkie and want to reduce your waste, try to use as much of a product as you can before you toss it out. “Opt for an all-natural face cleanser along with cotton reusable makeup wipes to make your makeup removal routine more sustainable,” says Mehul Manjeshwar, Chief Marketing Officer, Bare Necessities Zero Waste Solutions.

Amrita and Philip Alexander, founders, Auravedic, which makes natural, organic skincare, add, “Buy multi-purpose products to reduce your expenditure on too many products.” Try to keep your collection small, so that you are able to use the products before they expire. “To get the most of your skincare products, store them in a proper condition away from moisture and direct sunlight, and reuse, refill and recycle your bottles and jars to save the environment,” they add. Also, try to go organic when you buy new makeup. A lot of indie brands offer quality, multi-purpose makeup that offers skincare benefits as well. Another handy tip is to take out the stoppers from your liquid products to scrape out as much as you can, and dig out the lipstick left at the end of bullets - these are enough for about a month’s use, if not more.