8 Essential Items to Consider Before Buying Cosmetics

Sustainability is not only about the environment, but also about leading a healthy lifestyle. Whether it is soap, shampoo, deodorant, makeup, we all use personal care products in our daily life. By being aware of their components and their production process, we can make a difference and push cosmetic companies to act more sustainable.

 INGREDIENTS   

The list of ingredients in beauty and personal care products is usually long and contains complicated chemical names that most of us cannot even pronounce. Those toxic components have influence both on the nature and our body, since they are linked to serious diseases and they can have negative impact on the environment.

• Less is More

Our first suggestion is to follow the principle of less is more. Use products which are composed of fewer ingredients. By doing so, you will minimize the possibility of using hazardous chemicals. A product composed of 6 ingredients is a better option than one that has 16 ingredients.

• Ingredients to Avoid

The list of ingredients to avoid is long and includes components which are bad for both the environment (not biodegradable components) and your health (components linked to tumour growth and skin irritation). Parabens, phthalates and fragrances are only few examples of harmful components used in beauty industry. For further information, you can try ThinkDirty, an application disclosing ingredients and information about their safety. Another option is to simply cross-check the ingredients with this Chemicals Of Concern Database.

GREENWASHING

You can find a lot of so-called “bio”, “eco” or “organic” products and many of us believe those labels are facts without clear evidence of real environmental consideration. Greenwashing is “when a company or organization spends more time and money claiming to be “green” through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact”. The cosmetic industry is mostly self-regulated, therefore it is common for companies to label their product organic or green when it has only a very small fraction of certified organic or natural ingredients.

• Avoid General Expressions

Do not trust  common words such as “natural” and “green” since many companies use those general terms only for marketing without any proof to back up their statements.

• Check for the Certification

In order not to get greenwashed, check for a genuine certification on the packaging. Certifications like Ecocert, COSMOS or EWG are provided by independent reviewers rating objectively the environmentally friendliness of products. Because these organizations are independent, their approval cannot be misinterpreted or biased.

• Use your Voice

In the age of social media, there are many places where you can leave your comments and thoughts about companies and their green policies. Let them know that you are aware of their actions, both good and bad. You can support green products with your wallet. You should also take the important step to make sure companies take responsibility and know consumers want them to act more sustainable.

SUSTAINABILITY OF COMPANIES

Choose wisely the company you buy the products from. It is not only about finding healthy products but also about finding the companies who are responsible of the manufacturing of these products in more sustainable ways.

• Cruelty-Free

Make sure the product is not tested on animals. Many companies use the “cruelty-free” logo even though they ask other companies to test their products or buy ingredients from suppliers using animal testing. By using animals to test products at any step in the manufacturing process, companies show disrespect to the nature. Support companies who have respect for the environment and all kinds of creatures. Here you can find the list of cruelty-free companies from here.

• Social Responsibility

Make yourself aware of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and how they give back to society. These actions could be support for green initiatives or help for those in need. 

• Green Policies

Find out also about the company’s environmental practices. It can be as obvious as their packaging; using recycled materials or paper instead of plastic are good indicators of environmental practices. You can also do your own research on your favourite companies to find out if their manufacturing process is transparent, if their distribution system is efficient and  so on.

It’s an unfortunate reality that the products we use every day are composed of hazardous substances. However, if you consider these eight items, next time you buy shampoo or deodorant you will be able to make wiser decisions, support the companies who care for our planet, and make a change.