We only have one planet Earth, making Earth Day the official reminder to treat our planet well. Though this environmentally friendly holiday is celebrated once a year – April 22 marks the event’s 50th anniversary – these eco-friendly products for your home will help make every day a little greener.   With many brands using buzzwords like sustainable, natural and zero-waste, it can be hard to decipher what’s truly good for the planet and what’s hype. Start by reading the label and looking for products that have green certifications, like GreenGuard Certified. It can take a little more planning and searching for the right goods, but in the long run you can save a lot of money by supporting Mother Nature (just a bonus!).   So whether you’re going zero-waste and stopping the use of single-use plastic products or you just want to start by shopping with a reusable bag, this green guide will help you adjust your carbon footprint. Remember, every small change makes a difference.  

Kitchen

  Kitchen waste accounts for much of the trash that comes from the common household – from eggshells and coffee grinds to copious amounts of single-use plastics. Start by thinking about where most of your kitchen waste comes from and find eco-friendly products to tackle those items.   Bee’s Wrap is reusable wrap made from cotton and beeswax that can replace plastic wrap and aluminum foil. You can swap out plastic containers with reusable containers made from more sustainable materials (look for glass or steel) like Klean Kanteen, Nummy, U-Konserve and LunchBots. Replace kitchen paper towels and sponges with things like NotPaper Towels, which can be washed and reused, or Swedish dishcloths, which are made from wood and cotton.     Another simple way to care for the planet is by composting your food waste. Start by simply collecting any food waste on your counter in a compost bin (there are simple steel bins or chic wooden containers like this one). Set up a compost bin in your yard or bring your food scraps to a local farmers market.   When making a trip to the grocery store, bring your own reusable shopping bags. Several states – including New York and Connecticut – ban plastic bags in stores. Envirosax and Baggu are two sustainable brands that offer a variety of stylish reusable bags. Boon Supply, another eco-conscious brand, has products like these farmer’s market totes – made famous by the French – that are perfect for carrying fruit and veggies. Store smaller produce like berries or peas in these mesh drawstring bags. Bye-bye plastic bags!    

Bathroom

  The second-largest culprit for creating households waste is the bathroom. Between toothpaste containers, disposable razors and beauty and grooming products, your trash can fill up in a pinch. Instead of plastic and single-use products, look for brands with sustainable packaging that sell in bulk (less packaging) or have a refill program. This is a simple way to save a lot of money.   Think how many disposable razors you buy in one year. Swap this with a reusable razor from Leaf Shave that has a lifetime warranty. You’ll then only have to replace the razor blades. David’s is a green toothpaste brand with a recyclable metal tube and Georganics makes a variety of sustainable oral care products, including bamboo toothbrushes and mouthwash tablets with refills.   Deodorant, skin care, hair care? Opt for personal care products that have natural ingredients, recyclable packing or are reusable. Support brands that have a mission to care for the planet like Weleda, which makes plant-rich skincare products, and Meow Meow Tweet, a small-batch vegan skin care company. LastSwab makes reusable cotton swabs (you just wash with soap and water after using), while By Human+kind features a refillable packaging program for everything from shampoo to hand soap.     When thinking eco-friendly products, you may not necessarily think about things like a greener shower curtain or toilet paper, but there are greener options available. Coyuchi makes items like organic cotton shower curtains (no plastic liners needed) and bathroom towels made with practices that limit harm to the environment. Did you know that global toilet paper production consumes 27,000 trees daily? Save the trees and use toilet paper made from bamboo or skip toilet paper and go the European route by attaching a bidet toilet seat.     

Bedroom

  Most people spend about one third of their lives sleeping, so it makes sense to ensure your sleeping materials are green. Sleep and Beyond makes organic and natural bedding like sheets, pillows, comforters and mattress pads that are made in sustainable and fair-trade factories. Don’t forget your mattress! The Avocado Green mattress sounds as green as you think and is made from natural materials.   Set the mood with solar lighting! Whether you’re camping or at home, Biolite makes a solar lighting starter kit to ease you into the world of renewable energy.

Green Cleaning

  Consider cleaning with eco-friendly products made without harsh chemicals. Supernatural is a cleaning line that uses essential oils and offers refillable bottles. Win, win. Dr. Bronner has been a pioneer in natural products and saving the planet for years: its castile soap has 18 recommended uses for cleaning – face, body, hair, dishes, laundry, mopping, pets and more.     What about your dishwasher? Try Dropps, natural detergent pods that can be purchased as a subscription or in bulk. Need sponges? Sqwishful makes a plant-based compostable pop-up sponge and if you’re looking for reusable cleaning tools like brushes, Redecker has got your covered.  

Wrapping Paper

  Tons of wrapping paper goes to landfills each year. Combat this by buying sustainable paper or by supporting a reusable solution like Lilywrap, reusable fabric gift wrap with bows that can be used more than 50 times.   Not sure how to recycle an item? Visit TerraCycle.com, a resource that gives more information, tips and a list of brands that partner with the site to help recycle packaging.  

Climate change is hard to deny when we see how much change has happened in the time we’ve been practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the carbon dioxide levels in New York City were 50% lower than they were in March 2019. Environmentalists are also tracking the air pollution above Wuhan province in China; it went down significantly for two months while everyone was in isolation and is now creeping back up.   While we wrestle with these challenging times, many are starting to see what the human impact on our planet really looks like.   You’ve likely heard the statistic that less than 11% of plastic is actually recycled properly in Canada. But did you also know that every year in the U.S.A., according to the Environmental Protection Agency, over two billion razors and refill blades are sent to landfill? Even worse, that stat is actually from a 1988 report, and that number has likely gone up exponentially since then. If you do math and consider that we have similar spending habits to our neighbours to the south, Canada has about 10% the amount of people as the U.S., so it would track that we throw away about 200 million disposable razors each year, at minimum.   The above data notwithstanding, Canadian stats on how much plastic waste actually comes from the beauty and self-care sector are very elusive. Unless brands release their numbers on products sold, it’s hard to estimate the actual amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. Nonetheless, it’s safe to assume a lot of plastic gets thrown out because of our Sephora sprees.   So what does all the doom and gloom have to do with you and your beauty and personal care habits? Well, there are a few ways to make sure that you’re doing the most you can when it comes to not adding to our already massive recycling problem. “One of the best ways to make sure that change happens is to make the companies understand that you really care about this issue,” says Vito Buonsante, plastics program manager at Environmental Defence Canada. “People can only do so much. It’s not really their responsibility to control the waste; it’s more on the company.”   Buonsante recommends that we take a look at what we’re purchasing and start giving our money to brands that offer recycling programs or that use more easily recycled materials, like glass and tin, as opposed to plastic. If it’s absolutely necessary to buy plastic, check that the container has a 1 or 2 plastic rating, which can be found on bottles inside the recycle symbol. Those numbers are the most desirable for recycling programs (the system ranks up to a 7). “The problem with packaging in the beauty industry is that it is often made of mixed materials, therefore it becomes pretty difficult to recycle,” says Buonsante. In short, try not to buy cosmetic products with a plastic rating of 3 or higher.   Strongly expressing your environmental concerns to your member of parliament and local city councillor is also helpful, says Buonsante, as is signing plastics-focused petitions and supporting environmental charities (like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ecotrust Canada or any local conservancy groups) so they can continue to help push things forward.   And now, while we’re taking social distancing measures very seriously, perhaps we can also help curb our plastic waste anxiety (because really, we don’t need another thing to fret about) by looking into the following ways to make our beauty routine a little more environmentally friendly.   Here are four of the best ways to reduce your beauty waste.  

1. Recycle empties in-house, get free products

  First off, as Buonsante mentioned, think about the brands you invest your hard-earned money in. One way to do that is by choosing brands that already have an in-house recycling program.   The Back to M.A.C program has been around since the early 1990s, making them a true recycling pioneer. The Canadian-founded brand will take back six primary packaging containers (they have a system where you can bring in any containers during your next purchase, and they’ll track how many you have instead of you having to collect them!) in exchange for a lipstick, lipgloss or single eyeshadow.   If you’re a big Creme de Corps fan, you will receive one stamp for each full-sized empty bottle of the body cream that you bring back to a Kiehl’s location to be recycled. Once you have collected ten stamps, you’ll get any travel-sized product that your beauty-loving heart desires.   Over at Lush, when you bring back five of the classic black containers, you can receive one of 16 fresh face masks from the brand.  

2. Then take your recycling game to the next level with TerraCycle

  Look to recycling programs like TerraCycle to help reduce your environmental impact; when you purchase a waste box from the company, simply fill it up with items that your local municipality will not take, and TerraCycle will refurbish, recycle or upcycle each item. The team at TerraCycle will take almost anything that is difficult to recycle—they have even found a way to recycle cigarette butts! Plastic containers become park benches, picnic tables, playgrounds, and so much more. Most municipalities have different rules on recycling (please note yours before you throw away your plastics), so for anything that won’t be picked up curb-side, this program is a great solution.   If the TerraCycle boxes are too pricey (they start at $54, including shipping) some brands and stores are partnering with the program to help clients be mindful of their waste without incurring the cost. These include The Detox Market (all three Toronto locations will take any type of beauty waste) and Pure + Simple (the Ontario-based shop will take back all their empties to be recycled).   Big brands like Burt’s Bees, L’Oréal, Weleda, Gillette and L’Occitane have a partnership with TerraCycle where you can send back your empties for recycling (check their website for how to ship back bottles). And, perhaps it’s time to make more use out of these recycling options—Buonsante notes that most people are not aware that they exist—especially considering that most shops are still closed for the foreseeable future.  

3. Try refillable beauty products

  A big trend in the beauty and personal care space is brands offering products in refillable packaging. “When it comes to reusable containers that can be sent back, the products are likely a bit more expensive,” notes Buonsante. But with time, hopefully the prices will even out. “That is where we hope the market will continue to go.”   Back in early 2019, TerraCycle’s founder announced a pilot project called Loop. Major brand’s signed onto the program, which launched in NYC and Paris. Now, Loblaws is looking to launch a Loop pilot project in Canada this summer. So what exactly is Loop? Essentially, brands have started putting their products into reusable and recyclable tin containers. This has allowed brands to be a touch more design-focused in their new labeling (most brands have pared down their logos for this project), while consumers can use the product and send the tins back, where they will either be cleaned and reused, or, if they’re too weathered, they will be recycled.   In the meantime, for the makeup and skincare obsessives, look to companies like Kjaer Weis (the luxe Scandinavian eco-brand’s packaging is quite gorgeous), Elate cosmetics (this Canadian brand uses beautiful bamboo as their outer packaging, offering refillables for everything in their lineup!), Clove and Hallow (the west coast cosmetics brand offers refillable compacts!) and Cocoon Apothecary (a Toronto brand who will take back bottles, sanitize them and reuse them in their supply chain) for refillable options. Some bigger brands, like Paul and Joe, Make Up For Ever and Guerlain, also offer refills, mostly for powder products like highlighters, eye shadows, blushes and pressed powders.   Going local, look to eco-friendly shops that offer bulk product (new ones are popping up all the time!), like Nada in Vancouver, Eco + Amour in Toronto and The Tare Shop in Halifax. At bulk shops, you can bring your own containers or purchase some from the store, and they will weigh each of the products to determine what you owe.  

4. Choose product packaging wisely

  Making sweeping changes to our beauty routine may seem difficult, but one simple change is to choose packaging materials wisely. A lot of indie brands include glass or other recyclable materials in their packaging, making them with very little plastic or entirely plastic-free.   A few local Canadian brands that are ahead of the curve here include Boosh (a lipstick line from a young female entrepreneur with tubes made out of tin), Unwrapped Life (a brand of shampoo and conditioner bars that are wrapped only in recyclable paper and cardboard), deodorant brand Routine. (a Calgary line that sells beautifully scented, natural cream formulations in glass jars with a tin lid, and will have stick deodorants housed in cardboard and post consumer recycled plastic packaging), WellKept (a line of brass safety razors that eliminates the need for disposables and are oh-so-chic!), and Toronto-based Sahajan (this ayurvedic line comes in beautiful brown glass bottles).   Other international faves include Biologique Recherche (a beauty editor favourite with serums in glass dropper bottles that is now available at Miraj Hammam Spa in Toronto and Vancouver), and Tata Harper (her gorgeous green glass containers set the standard for clean beauty packaging when they launched in 2010).

Climate change is hard to deny when we see how much change has happened in the time we’ve been practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the carbon dioxide levels in New York City were 50% lower than they were in March 2019. Environmentalists are also tracking the air pollution above Wuhan province in China; it went down significantly for two months while everyone was in isolation and is now creeping back up.   While we wrestle with these challenging times, many are starting to see what the human impact on our planet really looks like.   You’ve likely heard the statistic that less than 11% of plastic is actually recycled properly in Canada. But did you also know that every year in the U.S.A., according to the Environmental Protection Agency, over two billion razors and refill blades are sent to landfill? Even worse, that stat is actually from a 1988 report, and that number has likely gone up exponentially since then. If you do math and consider that we have similar spending habits to our neighbours to the south, Canada has about 10% the amount of people as the U.S., so it would track that we throw away about 200 million disposable razors each year, at minimum.   The above data notwithstanding, Canadian stats on how much plastic waste actually comes from the beauty and self-care sector are very elusive. Unless brands release their numbers on products sold, it’s hard to estimate the actual amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. Nonetheless, it’s safe to assume a lot of plastic gets thrown out because of our Sephora sprees.   So what does all the doom and gloom have to do with you and your beauty and personal care habits? Well, there are a few ways to make sure that you’re doing the most you can when it comes to not adding to our already massive recycling problem. “One of the best ways to make sure that change happens is to make the companies understand that you really care about this issue,” says Vito Buonsante, plastics program manager at Environmental Defence Canada. “People can only do so much. It’s not really their responsibility to control the waste; it’s more on the company.”   Buonsante recommends that we take a look at what we’re purchasing and start giving our money to brands that offer recycling programs or that use more easily recycled materials, like glass and tin, as opposed to plastic. If it’s absolutely necessary to buy plastic, check that the container has a 1 or 2 plastic rating, which can be found on bottles inside the recycle symbol. Those numbers are the most desirable for recycling programs (the system ranks up to a 7). “The problem with packaging in the beauty industry is that it is often made of mixed materials, therefore it becomes pretty difficult to recycle,” says Buonsante. In short, try not to buy cosmetic products with a plastic rating of 3 or higher.   Strongly expressing your environmental concerns to your member of parliament and local city councillor is also helpful, says Buonsante, as is signing plastics-focused petitions and supporting environmental charities (like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ecotrust Canada or any local conservancy groups) so they can continue to help push things forward.   And now, while we’re taking social distancing measures very seriously, perhaps we can also help curb our plastic waste anxiety (because really, we don’t need another thing to fret about) by looking into the following ways to make our beauty routine a little more environmentally friendly.   Here are four of the best ways to reduce your beauty waste.  

1. Recycle empties in-house, get free products

  First off, as Buonsante mentioned, think about the brands you invest your hard-earned money in. One way to do that is by choosing brands that already have an in-house recycling program.   The Back to M.A.C program has been around since the early 1990s, making them a true recycling pioneer. The Canadian-founded brand will take back six primary packaging containers (they have a system where you can bring in any containers during your next purchase, and they’ll track how many you have instead of you having to collect them!) in exchange for a lipstick, lipgloss or single eyeshadow.   If you’re a big Creme de Corps fan, you will receive one stamp for each full-sized empty bottle of the body cream that you bring back to a Kiehl’s location to be recycled. Once you have collected ten stamps, you’ll get any travel-sized product that your beauty-loving heart desires.   Over at Lush, when you bring back five of the classic black containers, you can receive one of 16 fresh face masks from the brand.  

2. Then take your recycling game to the next level with TerraCycle

  Look to recycling programs like TerraCycle to help reduce your environmental impact; when you purchase a waste box from the company, simply fill it up with items that your local municipality will not take, and TerraCycle will refurbish, recycle or upcycle each item. The team at TerraCycle will take almost anything that is difficult to recycle—they have even found a way to recycle cigarette butts! Plastic containers become park benches, picnic tables, playgrounds, and so much more. Most municipalities have different rules on recycling (please note yours before you throw away your plastics), so for anything that won’t be picked up curb-side, this program is a great solution.   If the TerraCycle boxes are too pricey (they start at $54, including shipping) some brands and stores are partnering with the program to help clients be mindful of their waste without incurring the cost. These include The Detox Market (all three Toronto locations will take any type of beauty waste) and Pure + Simple (the Ontario-based shop will take back all their empties to be recycled).   Big brands like Burt’s Bees, L’Oréal, Weleda, Gillette and L’Occitane have a partnership with TerraCycle where you can send back your empties for recycling (check their website for how to ship back bottles). And, perhaps it’s time to make more use out of these recycling options—Buonsante notes that most people are not aware that they exist—especially considering that most shops are still closed for the foreseeable future.  

3. Try refillable beauty products

  A big trend in the beauty and personal care space is brands offering products in refillable packaging. “When it comes to reusable containers that can be sent back, the products are likely a bit more expensive,” notes Buonsante. But with time, hopefully the prices will even out. “That is where we hope the market will continue to go.”   Back in early 2019, TerraCycle’s founder announced a pilot project called Loop. Major brand’s signed onto the program, which launched in NYC and Paris. Now, Loblaws is looking to launch a Loop pilot project in Canada this summer. So what exactly is Loop? Essentially, brands have started putting their products into reusable and recyclable tin containers. This has allowed brands to be a touch more design-focused in their new labeling (most brands have pared down their logos for this project), while consumers can use the product and send the tins back, where they will either be cleaned and reused, or, if they’re too weathered, they will be recycled.   In the meantime, for the makeup and skincare obsessives, look to companies like Kjaer Weis (the luxe Scandinavian eco-brand’s packaging is quite gorgeous), Elate cosmetics (this Canadian brand uses beautiful bamboo as their outer packaging, offering refillables for everything in their lineup!), Clove and Hallow (the west coast cosmetics brand offers refillable compacts!) and Cocoon Apothecary (a Toronto brand who will take back bottles, sanitize them and reuse them in their supply chain) for refillable options. Some bigger brands, like Paul and Joe, Make Up For Ever and Guerlain, also offer refills, mostly for powder products like highlighters, eye shadows, blushes and pressed powders.   Going local, look to eco-friendly shops that offer bulk product (new ones are popping up all the time!), like Nada in Vancouver, Eco + Amour in Toronto and The Tare Shop in Halifax. At bulk shops, you can bring your own containers or purchase some from the store, and they will weigh each of the products to determine what you owe.  

4. Choose product packaging wisely

  Making sweeping changes to our beauty routine may seem difficult, but one simple change is to choose packaging materials wisely. A lot of indie brands include glass or other recyclable materials in their packaging, making them with very little plastic or entirely plastic-free.   A few local Canadian brands that are ahead of the curve here include Boosh (a lipstick line from a young female entrepreneur with tubes made out of tin), Unwrapped Life (a brand of shampoo and conditioner bars that are wrapped only in recyclable paper and cardboard), deodorant brand Routine. (a Calgary line that sells beautifully scented, natural cream formulations in glass jars with a tin lid, and will have stick deodorants housed in cardboard and post consumer recycled plastic packaging), WellKept (a line of brass safety razors that eliminates the need for disposables and are oh-so-chic!), and Toronto-based Sahajan (this ayurvedic line comes in beautiful brown glass bottles).   Other international faves include Biologique Recherche (a beauty editor favourite with serums in glass dropper bottles that is now available at Miraj Hammam Spa in Toronto and Vancouver), and Tata Harper (her gorgeous green glass containers set the standard for clean beauty packaging when they launched in 2010).

Serum, blush, hair mask: when the time comes to get new beauty products, you always know where to go. But when they are finished, do we really know how to dispose of them?   Each year, the cosmetic industry produces 120 billion packaging units, of which 2.7 billion plastic containers end up in landfills. "The complex design of beauty products makes them difficult to recycle," says Alex Payne, public relations manager for TerraCycle. This is why the environmental organization has been collaborating with many beauty brands - including L'Occitane en Provence, Burt's Bees, Weleda and DECIEM - for ten years to facilitate the recovery of these particular products, through various programs. collection. "Depending on the brand, consumers can send their cosmetics by post free of charge or go and wear them in stores," he explains. TerraCycle does the rest. Whether we go through this type of program or through its municipal recycling system, the goal of our consumption is to understand what is recycled (or not) and how we can get there. From the actions to adopt to reduce our environmental footprint to the list of companies that advocate a zero waste philosophy, there is indeed green at the end of the tunnel.  

4 actions to adopt for an eco-responsible beauty routine

1. Look for zero waste products.

  From conditioner to facial scrub, more and more personal care is offered without packaging.   2. Small containers = perfect for the plane!   Is our eye cream finished? We collect the jar and fill it with our favorite moisturizer on our next trip: it will fit perfectly in our hand luggage!   3. Avoid single-use products.   Although practical, they are a real scourge for the environment. We swap our disposable makeup remover pads for a machine washable set. We leave the masks in individual format and choose the good old version in a jar (preferably in glass).   4. Favor large formats and bulk products.   It is a gesture not only economical, but which considerably reduces our consumption of plastic.  

Recyclage 101: which product goes where?

  These major lines are memorized to transform the once tedious recycling chore into child's play. Please note: the packaging of beauty products that cannot be recycled in our municipality can often be recycled through TerraCycle. We go to his site ( terracycle.com ) to get the correct time.   Plastic bottles   "All plastics are recyclable, except those on which the number 6 is stamped [figure found in a small triangle under the packaging] and on which there is nothing indicated", underlines Jean-François Lesage , planning advisor in the Direction of residual materials management of the City of Montreal. He reminded us that we have to clean our containers for hygienic reasons before sending them to sorting centers.   Pumps and pipettes   They do not recycle. So, if one of our products has one of these tips, we unscrew it and dispose of it before putting the container for recycling!   Makeup   As the cases of our cosmetics are often made of several materials that are difficult to separate from each other, they generally do not recycle. "Laminated tubes [a type of flexible plastic packaging often used for foundations and make-up bases] are also not accepted," says Jean-François Lesage.   Mascara   The tube, too difficult to clean, does not recycle. The brush is washed in soapy water and sent to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ( appalachianwild.org ), an organization in North Carolina that uses it to clean the fur of small, vulnerable animals.   Aerosols   As a safety issue, they cannot be recycled through the usual municipal recycling system. "Aerosols and pressurized containers can explode if they are heated or punctured," says our expert. We do not despair! They are accepted in eco-centers and when collecting hazardous household waste.   Makeup brushes   Like makeup cases, brushes do not mix with recycling because of the range of materials that make them up (plastic, metal, bristles, etc.). Before saying goodbye to them, we probe our surroundings to find out if a friend might need them, or we give them a second life by adding them to the children's artist's kit or using them as nail brushes, for example!   Glass containers   "Glass is fully recyclable and can be repeatedly collected without ever affecting its quality," said Alex Payne of TerraCycle. It makes it one of the most eco-friendly materials. ” Warning! In the case of a perfume, we make sure to separate the bottle from its atomizer, since the latter does not recycle.   Nail polish   Since the containers are almost impossible to clean, they cannot be recycled directly - they are part of the category of household hazardous waste (HHW). So we bring them to the ecocentre nearest to us.   Cleansing wipes   Unless they are biodegradable - we could then compost them - they take the garbage path.  

"Pamper the next one"

  If for various reasons (an impulse purchase, perhaps?) Unused products clutter our pharmacy, we turn to organizations for women in need. One thinks in particular of the Fairies Marraines ( feesmarraines.ca ), which give the necessities to the teenagers coming from underprivileged environments so that they can put themselves beautiful for their graduation, or The stuff of success ( dressforsuccessmontreal.org ), which supports women in difficult situations who wish to (re) enter the labor market.  

An app to facilitate recycling

  Last spring, the company RECYC-QUÉBEC launched the application C'est va Où? The objective: to clarify, according to our municipality, which products are intended for the trash, the recycling bin or the eco-center. The information remains summary, so if question marks persist, we complete our search on recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca.   The article 4 gestures to adopt for a responsible beauty routine appeared first on Elle Quebec .

Serum, blush, hair mask: when the time comes to get new beauty products, you always know where to go. But when they are finished, do we really know how to dispose of them?   Each year, the cosmetic industry produces 120 billion packaging units, of which 2.7 billion plastic containers end up in landfills. "The complex design of beauty products makes them difficult to recycle," says Alex Payne, public relations manager for TerraCycle. This is why the environmental organization has been collaborating with many beauty brands - including L'Occitane en Provence, Burt's Bees, Weleda and DECIEM - for ten years to facilitate the recovery of these particular products, through various programs. collection. "Depending on the brand, consumers can send their cosmetics by post free of charge or go and wear them in stores," he explains. TerraCycle does the rest. Whether we go through this type of program or through its municipal recycling system, the goal of our consumption is to understand what is recycled (or not) and how we can get there. From the actions to adopt to reduce our environmental footprint to the list of companies that advocate a zero waste philosophy, there is indeed green at the end of the tunnel.  

4 actions to adopt for an eco-responsible beauty routine

1. Look for zero waste products.

  From conditioner to facial scrub, more and more personal care is offered without packaging.   2. Small containers = perfect for the plane!   Is our eye cream finished? We collect the jar and fill it with our favorite moisturizer on our next trip: it will fit perfectly in our hand luggage!   3. Avoid single-use products.   Although practical, they are a real scourge for the environment. We swap our disposable makeup remover pads for a machine washable set. We leave the masks in individual format and choose the good old version in a jar (preferably in glass).   4. Favor large formats and bulk products.   It is a gesture not only economical, but which considerably reduces our consumption of plastic.  

Recyclage 101: which product goes where?

  These major lines are memorized to transform the once tedious recycling chore into child's play. Please note: the packaging of beauty products that cannot be recycled in our municipality can often be recycled through TerraCycle. We go to his site ( terracycle.com ) to get the correct time.   Plastic bottles   "All plastics are recyclable, except those on which the number 6 is stamped [figure found in a small triangle under the packaging] and on which there is nothing indicated", underlines Jean-François Lesage , planning advisor in the Direction of residual materials management of the City of Montreal. He reminded us that we have to clean our containers for hygienic reasons before sending them to sorting centers.   Pumps and pipettes   They do not recycle. So, if one of our products has one of these tips, we unscrew it and dispose of it before putting the container for recycling!   Makeup   As the cases of our cosmetics are often made of several materials that are difficult to separate from each other, they generally do not recycle. "Laminated tubes [a type of flexible plastic packaging often used for foundations and make-up bases] are also not accepted," says Jean-François Lesage.   Mascara   The tube, too difficult to clean, does not recycle. The brush is washed in soapy water and sent to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ( appalachianwild.org ), an organization in North Carolina that uses it to clean the fur of small, vulnerable animals.   Aerosols   As a safety issue, they cannot be recycled through the usual municipal recycling system. "Aerosols and pressurized containers can explode if they are heated or punctured," says our expert. We do not despair! They are accepted in eco-centers and when collecting hazardous household waste.   Makeup brushes   Like makeup cases, brushes do not mix with recycling because of the range of materials that make them up (plastic, metal, bristles, etc.). Before saying goodbye to them, we probe our surroundings to find out if a friend might need them, or we give them a second life by adding them to the children's artist's kit or using them as nail brushes, for example!   Glass containers   "Glass is fully recyclable and can be repeatedly collected without ever affecting its quality," said Alex Payne of TerraCycle. It makes it one of the most eco-friendly materials. ” Warning! In the case of a perfume, we make sure to separate the bottle from its atomizer, since the latter does not recycle.   Nail polish   Since the containers are almost impossible to clean, they cannot be recycled directly - they are part of the category of household hazardous waste (HHW). So we bring them to the ecocentre nearest to us.   Cleansing wipes   Unless they are biodegradable - we could then compost them - they take the garbage path.  

"Pamper the next one"

  If for various reasons (an impulse purchase, perhaps?) Unused products clutter our pharmacy, we turn to organizations for women in need. One thinks in particular of the Fairies Marraines ( feesmarraines.ca ), which give the necessities to the teenagers coming from underprivileged environments so that they can put themselves beautiful for their graduation, or The stuff of success ( dressforsuccessmontreal.org ), which supports women in difficult situations who wish to (re) enter the labor market.  

An app to facilitate recycling

  Last spring, the company RECYC-QUÉBEC launched the application C'est va Où? The objective: to clarify, according to our municipality, which products are intended for the trash, the recycling bin or the eco-center. The information remains summary, so if question marks persist, we complete our search on recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca.   The article 4 gestures to adopt for a responsible beauty routine appeared first on Elle Quebec .

Empty it out

  As a rule of thumb, containers need to be rinsed and free of product before being recycled.   Fragrances and products like nail varnish, polish remover and aftershave are considered hazardous waste and unsafe for recycling.   “Anything that has product left in it should go back to a household hazardous waste depot, where they make sure the materials go in the right place,” says Nadine Kerr, manager of resource recovery for Solid Waste Management Services at the City of Toronto.   “It can cause equipment breakdown and hazards for the people who are working at these facilities.”   In particular, aerosol cans must be completely emptied and depressurized – failure to remove excess product can cause an explosion while the can is being processed. Waste processing varies between municipalities.   In Toronto, the main guide for recycling protocol is the TOwaste app. Elsewhere, check with your local municipality.  

Don’t just hope for the best

  Chucking your empties, even if they’re thoroughly rinsed, into the blue bin simply doesn’t cut it.   “Aspirational recycling” refers to when “consumers aren’t sure if something’s recyclable or if it will get recycled because maybe it has some product in it, but they put it in anyway because they want to give it a chance,” says Michael Waas, global vice president of brand partnerships at TerraCycle.   When not separated, mixed-component packaging – even if made up of entirely recyclable matter – can’t be processed by most municipal recycling streams.   “The line will kick out [contaminated] products, and usually the products surrounding them, because they’re operating very quickly and with a huge volume,” says Waas.   Facilities are ill-equipped to sort through the tiny components (think multi-part pumps and caps) found in cosmetic vessels and their packages.   Coils and spiral bindings, such as the ones found in pump bottles, cannot be recycled by municipal recycling streams and belong in the trash.  

Understand the signs

  The Mobius loop – an international recycling symbol – does not guarantee a product will be recycled through your city’s stream. However, the numbers within the loop indicate the type of plastic used in the product.   “The good news is if you have a container that has a number five or one, that product is all made of a single resin,” says Kerr, and that means those products are easier to recycle.   Look out for number seven plastics – they’re often made up of multiple resins, making them more difficult to recycle.  

Not the answer

  On the surface, biodegradable plastics may seem like a miraculous solution to the waste crisis, but packaging made of polylactic acid (a common biodegradable plastic derived from corn) won’t decompose unless it’s processed at a high-efficiency composting facility.   “Biodegradable packaging doesn’t add a lot of value to the compost, and, as a result, composters don’t really want it,” says Waas.   “The only sustainable solution is designing single use [plastics] out of the equation.”  

Buy Greener

  Use your purchasing power to put the onus on brands to streamline the recycling process.   “Recycling is an economics challenge in that there is a technical recycling solution for absolutely every product and package,” says Waas. “The question is whether it makes economic sense for it to be recycled.”   Most non-recyclable waste is considered as such because the cost to collect it exceeds the price for which the recovered material is sold.   TerraCycle, the global recycling program behind Loop, has collection programs with brands like Caudalie, Weleda, Burt’s Bees and EOS, which are willing to absorb those costs.   Return your brand-specific empties either by mail (free of charge) or in-store, and they will be remoulded into new products. If you aren’t brand-loyal, companies like L’Occitane, The Detox Market andDeciem have also partnered with TerraCycle and accept any product packaging at select locations.  

REFS

Published on ellecanada.com

Serum, blush, hair mask: when the time comes to get new beauty products, you always know where to go. But when they are finished, do we really know how to dispose of them? Each year, the cosmetic industry produces 120 billion packaging units, of which 2.7 billion plastic containers end up in landfills. "The complex design of beauty products makes them difficult to recycle," says Alex Payne, public relations manager for TerraCycle. This is why the environmental organization has been collaborating with many beauty brands - including L'Occitane en Provence, Burt's Bees, Weleda and DECIEM - for ten years to facilitate the recovery of these particular products, through various programs. collection. "Depending on the brand, consumers can send their cosmetics by post free of charge or go and wear them in stores," he explains. TerraCycle does the rest. Whether we go through this type of program or through its municipal recycling system, the goal of our consumption is to understand what is recycled (or not) and how we can get there. From the actions to adopt to reduce our environmental footprint to the list of companies that advocate a zero waste philosophy, there is indeed green at the end of the tunnel.

4 actions to adopt for an eco-responsible beauty routine

1. Look for zero waste products. From conditioner to facial scrub, more and more personal care is offered without packaging. 2. Small containers = perfect for the plane! Is our eye cream finished? We collect the jar and fill it with our favorite moisturizer on our next trip: it will fit perfectly in our hand luggage! 3. Avoid single-use products. Although practical, they are a real scourge for the environment. We swap our disposable makeup remover pads for a machine washable set. We leave the masks in individual format and choose the good old version in a jar (preferably in glass). 4. Favor large formats and bulk products. It is a gesture not only economical, but which considerably reduces our plastic consumption.

Recyclage 101: which product goes where?

These major lines are memorized to transform the once tedious recycling chore into child's play. Please note: the packaging of beauty products that cannot be recycled in our municipality can often be recycled through TerraCycle. We go to his site ( terracycle.com ) to get the correct time. Plastic bottles "All plastics are recyclable, except those on which the number 6 is stamped [figure found in a small triangle under the packaging] and on which there is nothing indicated", underlines Jean-François Lesage , planning advisor in the Direction of residual materials management of the City of Montreal. He reminded us that we have to clean our containers for hygienic reasons before sending them to sorting centers. Pumps and pipettes They do not recycle. So, if one of our products has one of these tips, we unscrew it and dispose of it before putting the container for recycling! Makeup As the cases of our cosmetics are often made of several materials that are difficult to separate from each other, they generally do not recycle. "Laminated tubes [a type of flexible plastic packaging often used for foundations and make-up bases] are also not accepted," says Jean-François Lesage. Mascara The tube, too difficult to clean, does not recycle. The brush is washed in soapy water and sent to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ( appalachianwild.org ), an organization in North Carolina that uses it to clean the fur of small, vulnerable animals. . Aerosols As a safety issue, they cannot be recycled through the usual municipal recycling system. "Aerosols and pressurized containers can explode if they are heated or punctured," says our expert. We do not despair! They are accepted in eco-centers and when collecting hazardous household waste. Makeup brushes Like makeup cases, brushes do not mix with recycling because of the range of materials that make them up (plastic, metal, bristles, etc.). Before saying goodbye to them, we probe our surroundings to find out if a friend might need them, or we give them a second life by adding them to the children's artist's kit or using them as nail brushes, for example! Glass containers "Glass is fully recyclable and can be repeatedly collected without ever affecting its quality," said Alex Payne of TerraCycle. It makes it one of the most eco-friendly materials. ” Warning! In the case of a perfume, we make sure to separate the bottle from its atomizer, since the latter does not recycle. Nail polish As the containers are almost impossible to clean, they cannot be recycled directly - they are part of the category of household hazardous waste (HHW). So we bring them to the ecocentre nearest to us. Cleansing wipes Unless they are biodegradable - we could then compost them - they take the garbage path.

"Pamper the next one"

If for various reasons (an impulse purchase, perhaps?) Unused products clutter our pharmacy, we turn to organizations for women in need. We think in particular of the Fairies Marraines ( feesmarraines.ca ), which give the necessary to the teenagers coming from underprivileged environments so that they can be beautiful for their prom, or The stuff of success ( dressforsuccessmontreal.org ), which supports women in difficult situations who wish to (re) enter the labor market.

An app to facilitate recycling

Last spring, the company RECYC-QUÉBEC launched the application C'est va Où? The objective: to clarify, according to our municipality, which products are intended for the trash, the recycling bin or the eco-center. The information remains summary, so if question marks persist, we complete our search on recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca. The article 4 gestures to adopt for a responsible beauty routine appeared first on Elle Quebec .

Serum, blush, hair mask: when the time comes to get new beauty products, you always know where to go. But when they are finished, do we really know how to dispose of them? Each year, the cosmetic industry produces 120 billion packaging units, of which 2.7 billion plastic containers end up in landfills. "The complex design of beauty products makes them difficult to recycle," says Alex Payne, public relations manager for TerraCycle. This is why the environmental organization has been collaborating with many beauty brands - including L'Occitane en Provence, Burt's Bees, Weleda and DECIEM - for ten years to facilitate the recovery of these particular products, through various programs. collection. "Depending on the brand, consumers can send their cosmetics by post free of charge or go and wear them in stores," he explains. TerraCycle does the rest. Whether we go through this type of program or through its municipal recycling system, the goal of our consumption is to understand what is recycled (or not) and how we can get there. From the actions to adopt to reduce our environmental footprint to the list of companies that advocate a zero waste philosophy, there is indeed green at the end of the tunnel.

4 actions to adopt for an eco-responsible beauty routine

1. Look for zero waste products. From conditioner to facial scrub, more and more personal care is offered without packaging. 2. Small containers = perfect for the plane! Is our eye cream finished? We collect the jar and fill it with our favorite moisturizer on our next trip: it will fit perfectly in our hand luggage! 3. Avoid single-use products. Although practical, they are a real scourge for the environment. We swap our disposable makeup remover pads for a machine washable set. We leave the masks in individual format and choose the good old version in a jar (preferably in glass). 4. Favor large formats and bulk products. It is a gesture not only economical, but which considerably reduces our plastic consumption.

Recyclage 101: which product goes where?

These major lines are memorized to transform the once tedious recycling chore into child's play. Please note: the packaging of beauty products that cannot be recycled in our municipality can often be recycled through TerraCycle. We go to his site ( terracycle.com ) to get the correct time. Plastic bottles "All plastics are recyclable, except those on which the number 6 is stamped [figure found in a small triangle under the packaging] and on which there is nothing indicated", underlines Jean-François Lesage , planning advisor in the Direction of residual materials management of the City of Montreal. He reminded us that we have to clean our containers for hygienic reasons before sending them to sorting centers. Pumps and pipettes They do not recycle. So, if one of our products has one of these tips, we unscrew it and dispose of it before putting the container for recycling! Makeup As the cases of our cosmetics are often made of several materials that are difficult to separate from each other, they generally do not recycle. "Laminated tubes [a type of flexible plastic packaging often used for foundations and make-up bases] are also not accepted," says Jean-François Lesage. Mascara The tube, too difficult to clean, does not recycle. The brush is washed in soapy water and sent to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ( appalachianwild.org ), an organization in North Carolina that uses it to clean the fur of small, vulnerable animals. . Aerosols As a safety issue, they cannot be recycled through the usual municipal recycling system. "Aerosols and pressurized containers can explode if they are heated or punctured," says our expert. We do not despair! They are accepted in eco-centers and when collecting hazardous household waste. Makeup brushes Like makeup cases, brushes do not mix with recycling because of the range of materials that make them up (plastic, metal, bristles, etc.). Before saying goodbye to them, we probe our surroundings to find out if a friend might need them, or we give them a second life by adding them to the children's artist's kit or using them as nail brushes, for example! Glass containers "Glass is fully recyclable and can be repeatedly collected without ever affecting its quality," said Alex Payne of TerraCycle. It makes it one of the most eco-friendly materials. ” Warning! In the case of a perfume, we make sure to separate the bottle from its atomizer, since the latter does not recycle. Nail polish As the containers are almost impossible to clean, they cannot be recycled directly - they are part of the category of household hazardous waste (HHW). So we bring them to the ecocentre nearest to us. Cleansing wipes Unless they are biodegradable - we could then compost them - they take the garbage path.

"Pamper the next one"

If for various reasons (an impulse purchase, perhaps?) Unused products clutter our pharmacy, we turn to organizations for women in need. We think in particular of the Fairies Marraines ( feesmarraines.ca ), which give the necessary to the teenagers coming from underprivileged environments so that they can be beautiful for their prom, or The stuff of success ( dressforsuccessmontreal.org ), which supports women in difficult situations who wish to (re) enter the labor market.

An app to facilitate recycling

Last spring, the company RECYC-QUÉBEC launched the application C'est va Où? The objective: to clarify, according to our municipality, which products are intended for the trash, the recycling bin or the eco-center. The information remains summary, so if question marks persist, we complete our search on recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca. The article 4 gestures to adopt for a responsible beauty routine appeared first on Elle Quebec .

EMPTY IT OUT

  As a rule of thumb, containers need to be rinsed and free of product before being recycled. Fragrances and products like nail varnish, polish remover and aftershave are considered hazardous waste and unsafe for recycling. “Anything that has product left in it should go back to a household hazardous waste depot, where they make sure the materials go in the right place,” says Nadine Kerr, manager of resource recovery for Solid Waste Management Services at the City of Toronto. “It can cause equipment breakdown and hazards for the people who are working at these facilities.” In particular, aerosol cans must be completely emptied and depressurized – failure to remove excess product can cause an explosion while the can is being processed. Waste processing varies between municipalities. In Toronto, the main guide for recycling protocol is the TOwaste app. Elsewhere, check with your local municipality.  

DON’T JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST

  Chucking your empties, even if they’re thoroughly rinsed, into the blue bin simply doesn’t cut it. “Aspirational recycling” refers to when “consumers aren’t sure if something’s recyclable or if it will get recycled because maybe it has some product in it, but they put it in anyway because they want to give it a chance,” says Michael Waas, global vice president of brand partnerships at TerraCycle. When not separated, mixed-component packaging – even if made up of entirely recyclable matter – can’t be processed by most municipal recycling streams. “The line will kick out [contaminated] products, and usually the products surrounding them, because they’re operating very quickly and with a huge volume,” says Waas. Facilities are ill-equipped to sort through the tiny components (think multi-part pumps and caps) found in cosmetic vessels and their packages. Coils and spiral bindings, such as the ones found in pump bottles, cannot be recycled by municipal recycling streams and belong in the trash.  

UNDERSTAND THE SIGNS

  The Mobius loop – an international recycling symbol – does not guarantee a product will be recycled through your city’s stream. However, the numbers within the loop indicate the type of plastic used in the product. “The good news is if you have a container that has a number five or one, that product is all made of a single resin,” says Kerr, and that means those products are easier to recycle. Look out for number seven plastics – they’re often made up of multiple resins, making them more difficult to recycle.  

NOT THE ANSWER

  On the surface, biodegradable plastics may seem like a miraculous solution to the waste crisis, but packaging made of polylactic acid (a common biodegradable plastic derived from corn) won’t decompose unless it’s processed at a high-efficiency composting facility. “Biodegradable packaging doesn’t add a lot of value to the compost, and, as a result, composters don’t really want it,” says Waas. “The only sustainable solution is designing single use [plastics] out of the equation.”  

BUY GREENER

  Use your purchasing power to put the onus on brands to streamline the recycling process. “Recycling is an economics challenge in that there is a technical recycling solution for absolutely every product and package,” says Waas. “The question is whether it makes economic sense for it to be recycled.” Most non-recyclable waste is considered as such because the cost to collect it exceeds the price for which the recovered material is sold. TerraCycle, the global recycling program behind Loop, has collection programs with brands like Caudalie, Weleda, Burt’s Bees and EOS, which are willing to absorb those costs. Return your brand-specific empties either by mail (free of charge) or in-store, and they will be remoulded into new products. If you aren’t brand-loyal, companies like L’Occitane, The Detox Market and Deciem have also partnered with TerraCycle and accept any product packaging at select locations.   This article originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of ELLE Canada.

Our editors share what’s captured their attention this month. Fodor’s Faves is a new monthly column where our editors, writers, and staff share their current obsessions. From hotels and restaurants to books and products, these are the places and things we can’t stop thinking about.     1 OF 10

A Design-y Desert Retreat

  I love New York City, but lately, I find myself yearning for desert. Maybe it’s pre-Spring angst or just my current lack of heat and starry skies, but I’m craving—very specifically—a terracotta-and-beehive-fireplace-filled desert retreat and the company of spiny succulents who pose their alien, organic shapes against endless starry skies and low-hung moons. Meanwhile, I am acting like a middle-finger-shaped cactus, needling New Yorkers who dare bump against me on the subway.   Yes, I need some desert in my life and I’m swooning over Posada, the Tucson, Arizona rental from the design duo behind The Joshua Treehouse. I follow The Joshua Treehouse on Instagram and obsessively pin their bohemian, desert-chic Airbnb interiors to both my “Weekend House Inspiration” and “You Deserve This” collection boards (yes, I practice both manifestation and affirmation while Insta-scrolling.) Sara and Rich Combs became Insta-famous with their rustic-but-luxe Joshua Treehouse properties in the Mojave Desert but I’m really feeling their most recent oasis in the Sonoran Desert. Nestled into a canyon next to Saguaro National Park, Posada is a five-suite inn set on 38 acres of Saguaro cacti, native plants, and an abundance of wildlife. The vibes are warm and inviting, with carefully designed spaces decorated in neutral tones and natural textures to meld with the incredible surrounding landscape. This incredible retreat is designed to cater to larger groups, but I am daydreaming of escaping my overcrowded subway car to enjoy the canyon pool, large fire pit, and panoramic rooftop views of the desert all by myself.   —Jacinta O'Halloran     2 OF 10

A Next Level Cocktail Bar

  Accomplice Bar, located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mar Vista, makes cocktails that are so delicious and so unlike anything else, you’ll forever struggle to justify ponying up $16 for a signature drink that’s basically a regular old fashioned with, like, a sprig of rosemary tossed on top. Order up a Honduran Hurricane (a fruity tiki-type drink with “the tropical notes in coffee”) or a Creme de Rand (made with Japanese whiskey, mango, creme de banane, and cardamom) while sharing some squid ink xiao long bao and braised pork belly from the Taiwanese comfort food restaurant, Little Fatty, which shares the space with Accomplice.   —Chantel Delulio   3 OF 10

These Koalas in Australia That Can Use Your Help

  From September of last year until just last month, Australia suffered through a series of devastating bushfires, all amounting to one of the worst wildfire seasons in their history. By the time the fires were finally extinguished, more than 44 million acres burned (a landmass more than twice the size of Austria), 34 lost their lives, and an estimated 1 billion animals perished. And, Australia needs our help to recover.   One of the easiest ways to help is to get on a plane and take a vacation to Australia—they really can use your tourism dollars. But you can help even without leaving your home, which brings us to my fave of the month: the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital koala adoption program. From the comfort of your couch, you can adopt one of the 18 koalas currently housed at the hospital—it only costs $40 AUD (about $26) and you’ll get an e-certificate that you can print out and frame (I’ve got mine on my desk).   I adopted a little fella named Paul (you can also e-adopt him if you like). Paul was found at the Lake Innes Nature Reserve, where a volunteer found him “curled up on the burnt ground.” He had burns on his hands and feet and 90% of his body was singed. But, there’s good news! He’s currently doing very well in the rehab yard. He’s expected to be able to climb again within the month and, if all goes well, he’ll be released into the wild in the winter.   In addition to the Koala Hospital, there are a number of other places you can donate to help the koalas, including the Koala Clancy Foundation and the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia. Zoos South Australia and Zoos Victoria have also both set up bushfire recovery donations efforts. And the Australian Koala Foundation and the World Wildlife Foundation both have adopt-a-koala programs.   —Jeremy Tarr   4 OF 10

A Different Kind of All-Inclusive Resort

  I just returned from a trip to Palmaia in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the capital of cheesy all-inclusives. But Palamia is different: It’s a brand-new resort with a truly unique concept that’s a mashup between a luxury all-inclusive hotel and a boutique wellness resort. There’s yoga, meditation, an in-house astrologer, sunset ceremonies on the beach, and a shaman that leads groups through a cleansing ritual in the temazcal. At night there’s cocktails and dancing to DJ sets so you can retox before the next day’s detox. It’s kind of like a giant bacchanalian festival at a chic rehab in the jungle. I can’t wait to go back.   —Teddy Minford     5 OF 10

The Perfect All-Natural Moisturizer for Dry Skin

  For years I have been looking for the perfect moisturizer for my dry skin–I tried thick expensive balms and many hyaluronic acids. While all of these worked fine, the results were not impressive enough to dignify the price tag, nor did they tend to hold up as well when dry winter-weather came around. After spending hours reading article after article and tons of reviews, the one name that kept coming up was Weleda. The company’s Skin Food was being celebrated by makeup artists, skin-care fanatics, and was even on Victoria Beckham’s top-shelf.   The reviews held up, and my skin went from dull and patchy to soft and glowing (you can toss your highlighters because you won’t need them anymore). The price is unbeatable (less than $15), and a little bit goes a long way. Where I had been slathering my skin in other products and running through the tubs quicker than I could afford, this cheap little tube lasts me about four months. It is perfect for morning or night, for tired travel skin (I keep this in my carry on and right at landing rinse my face to add a fresh new layer), and seasonably dry skin. Bonus: The company is working to reduce its carbon footprint by partnering with TerraCycle to make recycling the bottles even easier.   —Kaelin Dodge   6 OF 10

Dinner at the Versace Mansion

  My latest Netflix binge, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, recently inspired a memorable dinner on South Beach. The iconic Villa Casa Casuarina (aka Gianni Versace’s home from 1992 until his death on its steps in 1997) was star of the show—so I was excited to learn you can actually eat and sleep there. While normally I wouldn’t touch most of Ocean Drive with a ten-foot pole, I had to go for the experience of it all—to see the historic 1930s mansion, to walk where Versace walked, and to snap a photo at the show-stopping tiled pool. And it didn’t disappoint: The multi-color light display is mesmerizing. The setting is opulent. The Italian-Mediterranean food is good (not the best in Miami, but worth the price, considering Miami Beach basically invented overpriced food). And it’s not at all the tourist-shuffling nightmare it could be, probably because many people don’t know you can dine here without booking a room. You have to book in advance, but it’s simple to snag a lunch or dinner reservation on OpenTable. If you want to spend less than $100, split the charcuterie board with friends then order truffle gnocchi and a glass of wine, or if you want to splurge like you’re a fashion designer, order the caviar and Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Go early and look the part to snag the table front and center next to the pool. Wherever you’re seated, this is a great introduction to the ostentation of Miami.   —Kayla Becker   7 OF 10

A Rave in a Cave

  When most people think of Wales, they tend to think of it as an extension of England: quaint villages, rolling hills, charming seaside towns with fish-and-chip shops. But Welsh culture is actually quite distinctive in a million different ways and recently the country has been making an effort to stand out for its adventure tourism, an initiative that I am now declaring a raging success.   The key has been reimaging some of the region’s many former industrial sites, turning them into adventure parks, glamping sites, and even self-contained surf spots.  Ziplining, in particular, is having a moment, with Zip World now offering the world’s fastest and highest (and Europe’s longest) zipline along with several zipline paths within slate caverns and quarries. For many years, Wales was one of the world’s biggest slate producers and as the industry declined, the country was left with an abundance of hollowed-out caves that fell into disuse. The perfect solution? Add a trampoline and some ’80s and ’90s dance music, and you get Bounce Below, another Zip World invention, where guests can enjoy a few hours on a trampoline adventure course within a former slate cavern, accompanied by the perfect soundtrack. It’s where I want to spend every birthday party for the rest of my life.   —Amanda Sadlowski     8 OF 10

A Movie-Going Experience You Won't Soon Forget

  The Alamo Drafthouse, which arrived in Los Angeles just last year, is, frankly, awesome. From a movie-lover’s perspective (mine), it’s an oasis/es—there are 41 theaters across the country—complete with leather recliners, gourmet-style meals, and, at select locations, onsite DVD rental stores with thousands of titles. The theater(s) also regularly serves up retrospectives presented by respected filmmakers and special showings, like the consistently-sold out “Cats Rowdy Screening.” And, good news for you, the company just announced that it will be offering a subscription service called “Season Pass,” which allows customers access to one movie per day for the low price of up to $29 per month, depending upon the location. I say “low” because a standard ticket price is around $18.   —Jesse Tabit   9 OF 10

This Uber-Hydrating Face Serum

  The act of travel, in general, can be extremely dehydrating (planes!) and being in a new climate can make your skin freak out a little bit. This is why I will not travel–or live, generally–without the Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate by Kiehl’s. It’s described as “an efficacious hydrating serum that helps moisturize, plump and smooth skin,” and let me tell you what, that is exactly what it is, in addition to being Generally The Best Thing I’ve Ever Bought. The serum hydrates with intensity, and makes the skin on my face go from “looking like wood” to “looking like regular human skin again.” If you are feeling seriously dehydrated like I am 100% of the time while traveling, first of all, drink some water, and second of all, put this serum on your dry little face and enjoy your vacation time. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. And frankly, NOTHING–not one thing–is worth $60 to me, regularly, so you legally have to believe me.   —Audrey Farnsworth   10 OF 10

This Summer Camp-Themed Music Festival

  I’m semi-obsessed with a music collective based in Brooklyn called The Wild Honey Pie. Once a month they host very dreamy three-course dinner parties in cozy restaurants throughout New York, LA, and Austin, each with live music ($50 covers dinner and unlimited drinks). And not just any live music: some of the best and coolest indie musicians in the scene. This Memorial Day Weekend they are bringing their music festival/adult summer camp Welcome Campers back to Camp Lenox in Otis, Massachusetts, in the quintessentially quaint and scenic Berkshires (where I happen to be from). It lasts for two days and three nights, accommodating around 400 attendees. Guests stay in shared bunks (just like real summer camp!), listen to live music in the woods, do yoga, dine, and play games. Tickets start at $300 and cover food, drinks, and lodging, and the chance to revisit your youth if only for a weekend. Performing this year will be Vagabon, Sasami, Haley Heynderickx, Salt Cathedral, Jennah Bell, and many more. Check out one of last year’s performances at Welcome Campers here to get a sense of what you can expect. Transportation will be available by bus to and from McCarren Park in Brooklyn for $75 round trip.   —Rachael Roth