Nowadays there is a plethora of beauty products on the market, with the average woman using twelve beauty products everyday and applying over 175 chemical compounds to her body. Most mainstream cosmetic products contain mineral oils, synthetic preservatives and other highly processed and contaminated ingredients that are not good for our skin or the environment. Checking food labels for nasties has become common practice among those who care about what goes into their bodies, but perhaps it is time to start thinking about what goes onto them too. On the plus side, more eco-friendly beauty products are becoming available as consumers start to consider the environmental and health implications of some chemicals we use daily. Natural products are made with organic ingredients without mineral oils, parabens, synthetic preservatives, artificial colours and fragrances and are better for your health and the environment, allowing a greener lifestyle.
An extensive study undertaken by the EU tells us that organic food is generally more nutritious, containing up to 40% more antioxidants, higher levels of vitamin c and trace elements such as iron, zinc and copper. Thus, it has been proven that organic food is not just a necessary step towards environmental sustainability (this is already understood), it is better for our health. Moreover, the logical progression from thinking about what you put in your body is thinking about what you put on your skin, particularly when most cosmetic products we use will enter our body anyway. The greatest benefit of organic skincare products is that they have more antioxidants in the ingredients (1). Furthermore, when using natural products you will notice some differences from regular ones. For example, moisturisers do not leave behind a silky residue. This is because they do not include petroleum derivatives (originating from fossil fuels) that make your skin feel smooth but actually block the pores and prevent the skin from performing its natural processes. Products will probably smell more natural such as of rose or lavender, rather than chemicals. The products may be packaged smaller too. This is because they are not padded out with non-active ingredients, but rather stuffed with good ones and is therefore more concentrated. The products are also smaller because they will not contain potentially harmful preservatives, such as parabens as they are meant to be used when they are at their best.
There are many cosmetic companies seeking to make their products as organic and green as possible. For example, Eco-Beauty Organics claims to be a holistic and ecologically minded retail and wholesale company specialising in natural cosmetics. They believe that our health and beauty is deeply connected with the health and beauty of our environment and they focus not just on selling products but on educating consumers on the advantages of using natural skin care products (2). Furthermore, any product with the Soil Association logo means the product has been tested against the same strict organic standards as organic food. It ensures that if an ingredient is available organically it will be used, and if not it must meet strict criteria to ensure that it is not damaging to our health or the environment. The company So Organic was the first retailer to be certified by the Soil Association for their organic products. They use biodegradable packaging materials and recycled boxes and have a carbon neutral parcel service. They sell many brands of organic products and so are impartial (3). The Green People aim to promote an organic lifestyle and to provide high quality, truly organic and natural health and home care formulations. They also support charities related to environmental and social health. 10% of their net profit each year is donated to charitable causes linked to environmental concerns. They are committed to producing products that are 100% natural, certified organic and highly effective (4).
Another company, Going Green Cosmetics, aims to provide natural, organic products that are a greener alternative to help the environment. Moreover, because there are no chemicals in natural cosmetics, there is no risk to woman wearing the make-up and thus no reason to test on animals (5). Finally, The Body Shop strives to provide natural products bursting with effectiveness while protecting the planet and the people who depend on it. Their community trade ethos means they offer suppliers a predictable and regular income for their family and the security and confidence to develop their own businesses. Ingredients are grown and harvested by expert local farmers from all over the world and accessories are made using time-honoured techniques, helping to preserve the traditional way of life. Suppliers must sign a code of conduct which supports their ethical trade programme, developed to improve the conditions for all workers in the supply chain and to uphold their human rights. The Body Shop is committed to using responsibly sourced ingredients wherever possible and they are constantly seeking new ways to lower the businesses’ carbon footprint. They have provided energy awareness training for all their staff, are seeking to adopt energy efficient lighting in all stores and are reducing their air miles. 65% of their stores are on renewable energy contracts and they are converting their car fleet to energy efficient models. Plastic bottled are made from 100% recyclable material and so are the paper bags. Finally, all products are non-toxic and biodegradable (6).
Here are examples of some eco-friendly beauty products that are available on the market:
- The menstrual cup/Mooncup is made from silicone rubber that can be re-used, reducing impact on landfill and your wallet. Woman using the Mooncup also avoid exposure to the chemicals found in other products and the risk of toxic shock syndrome. It costs around £17.
- Triple Blade Recycled Disposable Razor is made from recycled plastic, it looks and feels like any other razor and the heads are replaceable. This costs around £6.
- Washable Cleansing Pads. These are around £5 and can be used instead of cotton wool pads to remove make-up. They can be used again and again, wash after wash.
- Deodorants that use mineral salts rather than aluminium will inhibit bacterial growth on your skin rather than blocking pores and causing irritation. These are priced at around £5.
- Solar Powered Electric Shavers are great for travelling and saves electricity (7).
- Environmentally friendly soap is available from ESW’s store.
However, there is no guarantee that so called “all-natural” skin care products on store shelves are completely free from mineral oils, synthetic preservatives, and artificial fragrances and so on. The terms organic and natural are very trendy and increasing in popularity amongst consumers but we must be aware that there are also many green-washed products around that may appear to be eco-friendly but are in fact not. A product may contain herbal extract or natural oils but it is only when you take a closer look at the ingredients that you may also see it contains petroleum based derivatives and synthetic substances. There is no governing body to keep a check on cosmetic companies, so if just 1% of the product’s ingredients are certified organic, it can be labelled as organic. Thus, it is important to check the ingredients thoroughly to establish whether the product is natural or not.
Humans are part of nature and so it is important to remember that our health and beauty is deeply interconnected with the health and beauty of our environment. The products we choose to use will affect our health and quality of life. Aside from being organic, key factors to be aware of when purchasing a product are animal testing and cruelty, rare species as ingredients and over-packaging. Wherever possible try to make sure that the cosmetic or toiletry product contains natural, non-toxic ingredients; they have not been tested on animals; packaging is kept to an absolute minimum; and that the company has an ethical policy towards its workers and operations (8). On the other hand, who says we even have to buy all of our beauty products… why not make them ourselves? It is cheap, easy and you know exactly what is in them. Your kitchen cupboard provides countless natural solutions to your beauty needs. For example: cucumber is proven to reduce puffiness and irritation around eyes; banana and honey soothes dry and irritated skin; egg white and lemon juice reduces oily skin; tomato is great for boosting dull complexions; avocados with coconut oil hydrate skin; finely ground oats mixed with double cream provides an effective exfoliator; strawberries with natural yogurt gives skin a boost of vitamin c; diluted vinegar can cure bites and stings; olive oil can be used on areas prone to dry skin; and warm milk can strengthen nails and hydrate stressed skin (9). It is simple to achieve the same high quality results with home care formulations.
(5) www.goinggreencosmetics.com
(8) www.greenconsumerguide.com
(9) www.thesite.org
