In the recent past, more sustainable beauty products have started claiming their space on the beauty isles. Why you might ask? This is because it is a given that our modern lifestyles are a bit rough on mother earth. And most of our beauty products are no less guilty, and it shows.

The October issue of Women’s Health magazine reveals how beauty companies are no longer reducing the green chatter to whether a product is just “natural” or “organic”. In fact they’re now paying more attention to every single way their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes affects us and the planet.

Since, navigating these new waters can be murky and sometimes challenging to know if you have chosen sustainable beauty products, the magazine has decided to share a primer on what to look for next time you shop the beauty aisle.

Here are a few tips on choosing sustainable beauty products

Avoid Microbeads

Those plastic balls in face scrubs end up finding their way into waters, fish, and now us. Last year, the US Congress passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act. This bans the manufacturing of the ingredient by next year. To help mother earth while you are still finding beauty, look for sustainable beauty products with jojoba wax instead. It is a plant-based ingredient that is biodegradable.

Recycle Through the Brand

Some companies have created programs that make recycling easier than ever. For instance, Burt’s Bees, that company that produces natural skin care products, has a program for all of its lip-care products. To make it easier for you, you can print a prepaid mailing label from their website. You see, there are quite a number of sustainable beauty products out there. You just have to know where to look.

Look for Refillable Containers

This one is my favorite because I am always refilling my containers. Using the same bottle or container eliminates even the energy it takes to recycle. Makeup compacts are the easiest place to start and make the switch. Some boutiques sell products out of giant vats and into a bottle that you can continually reuse.

Be Water-Wise with Concentrates

Avoid buying skin products where water is listed as the first ingredient. Balms and serums can deliver ingredients into skin without the need for water. The United Nations estimated that 1.8 billion people will live in regions with absolute water scarcity by 2025. So wasting a drop on your beauty routine is practically a crime against humanity. Sustainability people; choose sustainable beauty products and help humanity in the process.

Check the Seal of the Sustainable Beauty Products

Look for labels that say Ecocert, Cradle to Cradle, Fair Trade Certified, Rainforest Alliance or, Trustmark in the UAE. Any of them mean these products went through a third-party vetting process to prove they meet sustainability guidelines.

Choose Biodegradable

Cleansers and cleansing wipes eliminate the need for water – and you can trash them. Easy!

Be Careful with Glass

In theory, glass can be recycled. But the reality is that different colors don’t always get sorted, and transporting them can increase CO2 fumes. To show more love to mother earth, buy glass items with longer shelf lives, like fragrances, or products made in small batches to minimize waste.

Plastic Isn’t Always Bad

It is light-weight, which means fewer CO2 emissions when shipped than glass. Also a portion of many bottles consist of post-consumer recycled content (PCR). Some brands use 100 percent PCR plastic recovered from the ocean. And in a way or another, they fall into the category of sustainable beauty products.

Don’t Always Assume Natural is Better

If you are one of us who have to schlep to some far-flung place to get the natural version of a certain product, then we are not helping our planet. This is because it takes more energy and releases more CO2 emissions. So don’t kid yourself because it could actually make more sense to use a synthetic version. When you do opt for a natural product, look for local, sustainably grown ingredients.

And that beautiful people, is how you can shop for sustainable beauty products and help in the fight to ease the pressures we put on our beloved planet. Remember, it’s the only one we’ve got.

xoxo