“‘Cause we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl.” Madonna’s iconic lyrics from “Material Girl” are more than just a catchy 80s pop song. Instead, they are an anthem for the modern world, one dominated by materialism and vanity. For the longest time I would look at myself through the lens of a “Material Girl,” consumed by the vanity and societal pressures of makeup. It seemed like, especially in my teenage years, that identity and self-presentation were at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Makeup became an art form, one which I gradually progressed at: finding the right shade of lipstick, learning how to apply mascara without smudging, and figuring out my perfect contour lines. However, amidst the glittering blush and shiny eyeshadow palettes, something seemed to not really match up. The more regular my makeup routine became, the more I noticed the small plastic pile in my bathroom trash. Had my own vanity blind-sided my growing environmental...