Going green doesn't always mean trading down for less effective products. There has been a boom in green beauty brands, but we have also seen a shift in the practices of long standing reputable beauty brands to be more eco-friendly. Here are two simple and easy steps to add conscious living to your beauty regime.

Firstly, recycle the empties. More beauty brands are opting for glass bottled packaging which makes recycling for us a whole lot easier. Make sure to rinse out the bottle and take it on your next trip to the bottle bank. Aerosol cans can also be recycled - make sure the can is completely empty, remove the plastic lid and you're good to go. I’m sure we can all be held accountable for having a few too many shampoos, conditioners, and creams, but fear not bottles and tubes can be recycled, however, it takes roughly 500 years for plastic to fully decompose so think before you buy and think before you throw! More and more beauty brands also have initiatives to help you recycle empties by taking them back to the store (often involves discounts or free goodies!)

Secondly, shop consciously. Take the time to do a bit of research before you purchase your next product and see what brands are doing their bit to be more green, favour these over unethical brands. Here are some of our favourites:

La Mer. Their famous moisturizer uses only sustainably sourced sea kelp in order to preserve oceanic resources. La Mer also supports ocean habitats through donations.

L’Occitane has collaborated with TerraCycle for their Refill, Recycle, Rethink campaign which allows individuals to bring empties from any brand to the L’Occitane stores to be recycled responsibly.

Jurlique aims to reduce 20% of its emissions, water, and waste by 2020. Jurlique has revolutionised its manufacturing process to encourage water reuse, solar power, and tree planting initiatives.

REN Skincare use only recyclable containers, cartons, and their filling material is 100% biodegradable. They have also pledged to work towards being waste-free by 2021 and have collaborated with the Surfrider Foundation which protects, cleans and clears plastic from beaches in the UK and US.

Neal’s Yard ensures all its packaging is 100% recyclable including their plastic bottles and famous blue glass containers. The brand has also installed free water refill stations in stores to reduce single-use plastic bottles in partnership with City to Sea.

Kiehl’s has introduced a stamp system which allows you to return 10 empties in return for a free travel sized product in a bid to help consumers recycle their empties.