We know how terrible plastic is for the planet — and for our bodies. It’s clogging up our oceans, damaging wildlife and polluting our natural habitats in devastating ways. Plastic use can have wide-ranging health impacts and micro-plastics and chemicals from plastics are finding their way into our food chain at an alarming rate. We know this and want to cut plastic out of our daily routine but it’s so ubiquitous that it can feel completely overwhelming. If you have sensitive skin and have to be careful with ingredients and allergens it can be that much more challenging to give your routine a green makeover.

With that in mind, here are 4 easy and sensitive skin friendly swaps you can make to help cut down on single-use plastic in your skincare routine. One word of warning though — one of the most eco-friendly things we can do is use up what we already own. We suggest doing a quick sweep of your bathroom to see what you need to work through and what needs to be replaced. If something isn’t working for your skin type, swap with a friend instead of throwing away. Once you’ve used up all you have of something in plastic, then make the swap for something more eco-friendly.

#1 Swap your body lotion in a bottle for a solid body lotion bar

Did you know that the main ingredient in most body lotions is water? That means that not only are you paying more for something that you have in your sink — but we’re essentially shipping water around the globe at a great cost to the environment. Instead, try a solid fragrance-free body lotion bar like ours. Made from botanical ingredients like healing calendula oil and nourishing cocoa butter — not only is it gentler on the environment, but it’s also incredibly gentle and moisturizing on your skin.

#2 Swap your makeup wipes for a gentle cotton washcloth

Makeup wipes might feel like a small convenience but they have a big impact on the environment. Not only do they come in plastic containers but they’re often made of plastic materials like polyester that don’t biodegrade. To make matters even worse, the harsh chemicals in their formulas can be especially tough on sensitive skin. A better solution is to use a fragrance-free oil based cleanser or a gentle oil like jojoba or meadowfoam to remove your makeup. Simply massage the oil into the skin and then remove with a warm, damp washcloth. If your skin is ultra-sensitive, we suggest using an organic cotton or bamboo washcloth made for babies.

#3 Swap your disposable cotton rounds for reusable cotton rounds

This swap not only cuts down on plastic use — as most disposable cotton rounds come wrapped in plastic — but is significantly less wasteful and more affordable in the long run. Just pop your reusable cotton rounds in the washer with sheets or towels. Our favorite are these ultra-soft cotton-bamboo rounds. Not only are they incredibly durable but they’re super soft.

#4 Swap your toners, masks and exfoliators in plastic bottles for simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen

Not only is this swap great for the environment — it’s also a lot of fun to experiment with. Here are a few of our favorite kitchen beauty swaps — that also happen to be great for sensitive skin.

• Swap a conventional exfoliator that contains micro-plastic beads for a gentle sugar scrub. Simply mix a teaspoon of sugar into your favorite face oil, gently massage in and rinse off for silky smooth skin.

• Swap your favorite mask for pure honey when your skin is feeling red or irritated. Honey is soothing, anti-bacterial and ideal for sensitive skin. Simply smooth a few teaspoons on freshly cleansed skin and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes then rinse off with warm water and a washcloth. If your skin is broken out, try manuka honey for it’s clarifying qualities.

• Swap your toner for green tea. Brew a cup of green tea and pour into a spray bottle. Spritz on your face after cleansing for a cooling toner that’s perfect for sensitive skin. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

• Swap your undereye de-puffing gel for a black tea treatment. If you’re a tea drinker, save your black tea bags in the refrigerator. After cleansing your skin, relax for 10-15 minutes with a tea bag on each eye. The caffeine will de-puff and leave your eyes looking bright and rested.

Ready to start your zero-waste journey? We’ve got you covered!

Try one of Lola Arnao’s discovery sets to cleanse, shave and moisturize with zero single use-plastic today. Our Silky Skin Ritual set includes our shave bar ‘starter set’ with a 3oz fragrance-free shave bar, bamboo shave brush and bamboo bar rest plus a 2oz solid fragrance-free lotion bar to deeply moisturize. Our Avocado-Oat Body Wash Bars are rich in plant based moisturizers and will gently clean your skin without drying it. Fragrance-free and suitable for the most sensitive of skins.