What is sustainable skincare ?

 

Sustainable means meeting the needs in the present without compromising the needs of the future generation. It mainly focuses on the process where you make choices which will have a negative impact on the economy, environment and society. These are 3 pillars of sustainablity. When it comes to skincare, sustainable practice would include minimising the environmental impact of the skincare products and having a zero impact on the planet. I refer to the practices used by the skincare brands to have a negative impact on the environment, society and the economy. In order for a skincare product to be sustainable it has various aspects starting from recyclable packaging, zero waste of single – use plastics, decreasing carbon footprint throughout its manufacturing process. People nowadays are attracted to products. 

 

Things that make skincare product sustainable 

1.  Packaging – Use recyclable products for your packaging which uses zero plastic and zero waste to the environment. Sustainable and eco-friendly packaging helps to reduce the carbon footprint. There are several ways where a brand can make its product recyclable, for example using glass bottles which are better than single use plastic. Glass bottles once used can also be reused for other purposes giving them another life and cutting down on waste. Recyclable plastic is becoming another option for brands since a lesser amount of plastic is gone to waste. 

2. Ingredients – Products made from natural origin, the product should be free from harmful chemicals and artificial ingredients. The skincare products with biodegradable ingredients are more sustainable since the skincare returns back to nature without harming nature. Some of the environmentally friendly ingredients include shea butter, green tea, jojoba oil, and argan oil. These ingredients should be present in the skincare products. 

3.     Microbeads – Plastic products are not only the one that cause plastic pollution. Microbeads in most skincare products can also harm the environment. Microbeads are small particles that are found in skincare. In scrubs and exfoliants there are these tiny plastic substances that are known to be exfoliants. When these products are used and washed off from our skin they usually end up in the drain, ending up in oceans or rivers. Due to their incredibly small ice they are not even filtered during the treatment process. This harms the aquatic animals living in the oceans or other water bodies when it is consumed by them. Due to these immense harm caused, most of the skincare brands have stopped using these microbeads in their products and have chosen natural ingredients in the skincare such as finely grounded seeds, salts or sugar. 

4.     Cruelty free and vegan – Cruelty free products are often sustainable and eco friendly. Cruelty free products are the ones that have by no means has done animal testing in their research and development. Cruelty free products are more healthier for your skin compared to the ones that are not cruelty free. Since cruelty free products use ingredients that are naturally sourced so there are no side effects on your skin, which is better for people with sensitive skin. Since these products use natural ingredients they are less harmful to the environment.  Cruelty free products also protect the animals. By choosing to manufacture this product it shows how much a brand is compassionate towards the environment. 

 

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Benefits of sustainable skincare ?

 

Sustainable products in skincare benefit not only the skin but also the environment. Let’s discuss the top benefits that sustainable skincare brings in – 

Environmental friendly – Sustainable skin care is environmentally friendly and contributes to decreasing pollution. Sustainable skin care reduces the amount of waste produced in the environment. A normal cosmetic product contributes to 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste a year. Sustainable products use mostly recyclable materials which impacts less on the environment. 

 

Natural Products – The sustainable skincare products mostly use natural products which are organic. They avoid using any kind of microbeads, and use ingredients that are biodegradable. Organic or natural ingredients have negative side effects on your skin. These products are also free from any harmful chemical, synthetic fragrance reducing the risk of adverse reaction to the skin. 

 

Cost friendly skincare – When you compare the prices of sustainable skincare and cosmetics, the cosmetics are always more expensive than the sustainable skincare. When you buy these skincare they are less expensive since these brands spend very less on marketing related activities. 

 

Healthy skin – Sustainable skin is healthier than any other products. Because it has all the natural ingredients. On the other hand, nourishing and gentle ingredients that are less likely to result in allergies or adverse reactions are prioritised in sustainable skincare products. Your skin’s health and vitality can be enhanced by using natural and organic products.