Take a look at the products in your cabinet. Are they cluttered, half-used, or filled with ingredient lists you can’t pronounce? Simplifying is step one. A sustainable beauty routine focuses on quality over quantity, and often, the most effective solutions are the simplest.

Instead of layering on product after product, look for single-ingredient heroes, like Organic Castor Oil for brows and lashes, or Organic Jojoba Oil for soft, balanced skin. Pure, organic ingredients nourish without fillers or synthetics, and deliver stronger results because they’re undiluted and more potent.

The beauty industry generates 120 billion units of packaging every year, much of it single-use plastic. It’s staggering. But the good news? You don’t have to contribute to that statistic.

Start by choosing products with thoughtful, sustainable packaging. Glass bottles, for instance, can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. Look for brands using recycled materials in their plastic jars and bottles, or those investing in alternatives like sugarcane-based tubes, which we use for our Organic Petroleum-free Jelly, and compostable paper.

Recycling can be tricky. Many beauty containers—like pumps and caps—aren’t accepted in curbside bins, which means they often end up in landfills or worse, oceans. But there are ways to recycle smarter.

First, clean your empty containers before tossing them, as leftover product can disrupt the recycling process. For packaging that’s harder to dispose of, consider beauty recycling programs, such as the partnership between Sky Organics and PACT Collective. Programs like this help responsibly process materials that would otherwise be wasted.

With so many buzzwords around “clean beauty” and “natural,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Certifications can help cut through the noise. When you see a USDA Organic certification, for instance, you know the product meets strict standards: no synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals, and ingredients that are better for the soil, the water, and ultimately, your skin. These kinds of choices ripple outward, protecting your health and reducing harm to the planet along the way.

As someone who spends my days thinking about sustainability, I can tell you that these small, verified changes matter more than big promises. So, when you can, let trusted certifications and purposeful ingredients guide your choices

Sustainability doesn’t mean starting over or throwing everything away. Instead, it involves using what you have and making better choices when it’s time to restock. If you’ve got half-empty bottles lying around, finish them before swapping for something new, or use what’s left to create homemade DIY beauty recipes. The most sustainable products are often the ones you already own.

When you do shop, think long-term. Look for multipurpose products like a single oil that hydrates the skin, hair, and nails or a butter that can be used for the lips, hands, and body. Often, one product offers many uses.

The beauty industry is evolving, and we’re part of that shift. From packaging waste to the ingredients we use, every choice we make impacts the world around us. A sustainable beauty routine allows you to care for your skin and hair, while caring for the planet at the same time.

It’s about embracing what works: time-tested ingredients, thoughtful packaging, and a little mindfulness about what we consume and how we dispose of it. When we choose simpler, cleaner beauty, we’re choosing a future with less waste and healthier ecosystems, along with more balance. And what could be more impactful for future generations?