Happy World Water Day! Today, we should all reflect on how important water is to our livelihood, communities, and every day routines. It’s a resource that is easy to take for granted, because it always seems to be available for us in the first world.
However, the reality is that not only is water not as accessible in other parts of the globe, but we have our own water crisis here on home turf— especially in my home of California. I’ve felt the effect of the drought first hand in seeing the environment change around me, and it’s not pretty.
Quick Water Facts to Know:
- Water is a finite resource—even though about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1 percent is available for human use.
- Each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day at home.
- Forty out of 50 state water managers expect water shortages under average conditions in some portion of their states over the next decade.
(Source)
Drought or no drought, it’s time to be more conscious about how we use water. I didn’t realize until I really paid attention how much water is a part of my own beauty routine. I’ve been working hard to make small adjustments so I can conserve without giving up my favorite regimens. Keep reading to discover ways you can save water in your beauty routine and make a difference.
1. Spot Clean Your Brushes More
I always suggest being diligent about spot cleaning your brushes between each use. Not only will this keep bacteria from running rampant on your brushes (and in the makeup you use them with), but you’ll be able to deep clean them much more easily and quickly, thus saving water. I’ve ben using the Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner for a couple years now, and it’s great at preventing makeup from building up from day to day. When deep cleaning, using a tool like the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette will also help conserve water by getting deep into the bristles and needing less water to lather your cleanser of choice.
2. Turn Off the Tap
Turn the water off when you don’t need it. Seems straight forward enough, but it has been the tip that is the most difficult for me to remember. This tip can be exercised when you’re…
- Washing your face
- Exfoliating your skin
- Brushing your teeth
- Deep conditioning your hair
- or Lathering your body wash
Being more aware of unused running water can save gallons!
3. Swap Out Your Shower Head
Since showering might be what uses the most water in your daily beauty routine, its the biggest area of potential improvement when it comes to water conservation. The obvious tip to follow would be to shave minutes off of your shower, but I know that’s easier said than done.
Swapping out your shower head can make a huge difference. At home, I use the Delta Hydrafall Showerhead, which has five different water flow options: Full Body, Full Spray with Massage, Massage Spray, and a pause feature to reduce water to a trickle when you don’t need it, or when you’re waiting for the water to warm up. The H2Okinetic technology shoots the water in a wave pattern, which gives the feeling of more water without actually using more. I also thought it was cute that it comes with a travel size bottle of my favorite Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash in the package!
4. Shave Separately
Shaving your legs can take up a large chunk of shower time, especially when you like to take your time to exfoliate and moisturize like I do. By shaving separately from your normal shower routine, you can just switch on the water when you need to rinse your razor and skin, instead of letting it flow the entire time. If you prefer to do everything at the same time, turn off the water completely (or use the pause setting on your shower head) to stop the water flow until you need it to rinse.
5. Dry Shampoo is Your Best Friend
Are you washing your hair multiple times a week? Add an extra day between washes by keeping your hair fresh with dry shampoo. You can totally pull off third (or… fourth?) day hair, lending for quicker showers when you just need to rinse off the day. The best dry shampoos are lightweight, and leave your hair feeling and smelling great. I’ve been using the Dove Dry Shampoo; I love that it applies invisible and doesn’t leave any noticeable residue– so important!
This year, World Water Day is specifically focusing on how water effects our country’s jobs. Did you know half of all workers everywhere are employed in water-related sectors? Learn more about the power of water on the World Water Day home page.
What are you going to do today to help conserve and celebrate water?
Kiss & Make-up
I really need to try ‘n save more water… I’m usually very conscious about this stuff, but during my beauty routine I just kinda slip and forget…
Anastasia
Great tips! I try hard to take short showers to conserve water 🙂
Betzy Carmona
Those are all helpful tips ! I’m guilty of a few
Honeygirlk
Awesome tips. When I did a lot of on set makeup or gigs for fashion shows… Perian spirit was my go-to for spot cleaning… because the brushes dry almost immediately and I still continue to use it now. We put a water saving shower head in our shower and while it was an adjustment to get used to the pressure, it still saves a ton of water. 🙂
Kimmi @ The Plastic Diaries
Brilliant tips. I turn my shower off while I condition my hair. It wastes soooo much water.
mynewestaddiction
great tips girl. so much water gets wasted
Brooke @ Blushing Noir
These are great tips, especially the shaving. You never realize how much time it takes up until you do it separately.
Sheila Arkee
Great idea for a post! We all need to be water conscious!
Justina
These are fantastic tips!
FabZilla_Kath
Great tips on water conservation!
Nidia Doherty
Wish we could send some of our rain here in Florida up your way. When I first got married, we had the worst apartment with only about 10 mins of hot water – so hubby and I started showering together, and turning the shower off, Navy Shower style. We’ve loosened up on it, but years later, I’ll still turn off the water when I’m shaving, or conditioning – it’s habit, now!
Ange
OH I never thought about the shower head thing, good tip!
BTBAshley
I am so beyond scared for California. I’ve seen some crazy pictures lately. Great post and tips!
Brittany
My husband and I fight over this all the time. He loves to run the water when he brushes my teeth. It.drives.me.nuts.
$53114368
Good tips! Here is we have so, so many lakes and rivers we sometimes forget about conservation.
Norah Salazar
Very important message and tips!
Noelle
Good tips, Miranda! 🙂
Phyrra
Great tips. Also, let me recommend Cinema Secrets brush cleaner. You don’t need water with it. You dip your bristles int the cleaner, do a figure 8 on a towel, and repeat until clean. It’s great stuff.
Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com
What! That’s awesome! I’ll have to check it out.
Rachel Runyan
I’ve got to try that stuff. I hate cleaning brushes. I do feel like I waste a lot of water when I wash them, too.
RebeccaBBird | HelloPrettyBird
Very practical tips. Shaving in the shower does waste a lot of water … you can draw a small bucket or bowl of water for rinsing/wiping your razor and it’s just as effective. Maybe not as tidy though. 🙂
beautybymissl
Great tips! I like using dry shampoo, especially if I don´t have time to wash my hair, but I still have to look perfect 😀
Amber
Super tips for the dry days of summer! Thanks for sharing!!
Allison @neversaydiebeauty
Great post, Miranda! Even here where this is no drought (yet), conserving water is important!