I Drastically Reduced My Beauty Plastic Waste By Using Refillable Skincare Products

Going green seems great in theory but in reality, it's sort of an inconvenience. Having a more sustainable lifestyle means no more takeaway food & drinks in disposable containers, affordable fashion made using synthetic materials, etc.

That's not to mention the elephant in the room: beauty products. Turns out, behind my quest for beauty lies an ugly contributing factor to environmental damage.

Keep reading to find out how I reduced my beauty plastic waste and how you can get $5 vouchers by exchanging your trash! 

To see just how much damage I do, I gathered all the plastic beauty products used up in one month. Now, I'm an average Joe when it comes to beauty. My routine consists of just the basics, yet I still manage to generate an awful lot of plastic.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Alas, going green isn't that easy. Beauty products come in standard plastic packaging and there's nothing much I can do. But after some searching, I found an easy way to have a sustainable beauty routine: Kosé's first sustainable skincare line Sekkisei Clear Wellness.

The skincare products from the Sekkisei line come with convenient refill packs so just one bottle can be reused over and over again.

The packaging is also made using environmentally friendly materials, from the cardboard paper boxes to the bottles made of bio-based PET, a recyclable material which contributes to less CO2 emissions. The logo is embossed onto the containers so there's no plastic sticker or ink needed. Even when ink is used, it's biomass ink, a sustainable variety made of plant-based ingredients like soybeans.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Packaging aside, the skincare product itself is also eco-friendly. The products are formulated with oriental herbs and ITOWA, a plant-based ingredient created using Japanese botanicals i.e Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Peony Extract, Noni Juice, and Glycerin. The ingredients work together to boost the skin's barrier function and keep the skin clear and resistant to environmental stressors.

Sekkisei Clear Wellness is available in two types for different skin concerns. The Effective type is suitable for all skin types, and contain of Clarity Boost Complex to prevent oxidation for clear and radiant skin. This range is paraben free, colorant free, and has a subtle, clean fragrance. The Free type is best for soothing dry and irritated skin, formulated without fragrance, alcohol, colourants, parabens or mineral oil.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

If the eco-friendly packaging isn't enough to win you over, perhaps a floral design will! Kosé will be launching four limited edition Sekkisei Clear Wellness sets with beautiful pink sakura designs:

• Lotion - Effective Type ($65)
• Lotion - Free Type ($62)
• Emulsion - Effective Type ($65)
• Emulsion - Free Type ($65)

Each set comes with a full-sized bottle and a refill pack, with two free gifts: a sample-sized skincare product and an eco-friendly reusable tote bag with pretty Japanese wave patterns. These sets will give you 25% savings compared to purchasing the items separately! They're available in major departmental stores, Welcia-BHG and Lazada.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

We've previously reviewed Kosé's Sekkisei line and it's safe to say the pretty minimalist bottles and floral designs have substance beyond style. It proved effective and is particularly suited for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin types.

On another note, don't throw away your empty beauty bottles just yet. You can exchange them for free 2-piece gift sets and $5 rebate vouchers on Sekkisei Clear Wellness range during Kosé's #GiftFromThe Earth campaign.

To redeem the gift sets and vouchers, all you have to do is drop off three beauty empties (e.g. bottles, jars, tubs or tubes) from any brand at the #GiftFromTheEarth zero waste box collection at Welcia-BHG Singapore. Store locations include Orchard MRT Station, Suntec City, Raffles City, NorthPoint and Tiong Bahru.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Created in partnership with local environmental enterprise Terra SG, the campaign aims to promote the values of Recycle, Reuse and Reduce.

In May 2021, these collected empties will be upcycled during a Facebook live workshop happening on Earth Day, 22 April 2021.

Not to be confused with recycling, upcycling is a fun and creative process of transforming waste materials into something beautiful and purposeful. For example, a moisturiser jar could be repainted and turned into a gorgeous vase.

Photo from Kosé

If you'd like to try a new skincare routine that's eco-friendly and actually works, drop off your washed and dried beauty empties at Welcia-BHG Singapore from now till 2 May 2021 to receive the free gift and rebate voucher on Sekkisei Clear Wellness products.

Kosé
Stores | Lazada store
Website | Facebook | Instagram

This post is brought to you by Kosé.

Share this article with your friends! 

Text by: GirlStyle SG