The environmental bill for daily beauty routine is much higher than in the past; As a result of the method of packaging the products and materials used, which led to the pollution of the oceans and the elimination of large areas of forests.
50 years ago, or maybe as recently as 10 or even 5 years ago, a single skin care product could last a few weeks, sometimes months.
Now, however, beauty companies are fueling our single-use behavior - the incredibly comfortable way of using something once before throwing it away - with a flood of disposable products that aren't recyclable or biodegradable.
Not only is there an abundance of sheet masks, but there are also derivatives sold to target specific areas of the skin: such as laugh lines, the buttocks or lower areas.
Almost every brand on the market makes their own disinfectant wipes, and there are pill patches that come packaged in multiple layers of plastic.
“People have not been educated about the effects of beauty,” said Freya Williams, chief executive of Futerra in North America, an agency that helps companies strive for environmental sustainability. “In school we learned recycling, but they focused more on it in the kitchen than in the bathroom. So it doesn't look important. "
The one-time use phenomenon is a fairly recent development. This happens without anyone realizing how much these items are taking.
Excessive consumption of beauty
It's hard to resist the innovations of innovative products, seasonal trends, and promises of clearer, smoother, and firmer skin.
And at the height of the K-Beauty trend, the 10-step beauty routine was not just the answer to flawless skin; It also came to be a form of self-interest.
"We have seen an increase in the number of consumers of skin care products being used at the height of the Korean-style skin care trend, and many have been adding an additional product or mask," said Larisa Jensen, chief executive and cosmetic industry analyst at NPD Group, a market research consultancy.
Of course, every additional serum and mask generates side effects. And humans subconsciously increase the environmental impact with consumption of each product.
Elizabeth Mullans, MD, a dermatologist in Houston, believes that the premature anti-aging regimen can be reduced to three basic products: sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, retinol available over the counter or a prescription retinoid, and a vitamin C serum.
"I don't think you can use many products, because the skin will absorb them all," Elizabeth said, "but those three products will achieve the most benefit." Other products can be added to target a specific problem, such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid for pills, or hyaluronic acid for inflammation or dryness.
Elizabeth added: "Stay away from any product that contains collagen, because the molecules are too large for the skin to absorb. It is essentially an enhanced moisturizer."
The problem of extravagance caused by luxury
Many believe that the biggest culprit, and the most challenging hurdle in the industry, is packaging, with luxury brands being the biggest aggressor.
"(Luxury) brands are created by layers of heavy-duty packaging, which are often not recyclable and are disposed of,” Freya said.
We have already reached a stage where extra packaging is no longer a sign of luxury. Industry watcher Estee Laundry, an Instagram account that exposes bullying, imitators and social grievances, has long caused brands to be embarrassed by corruption. A recent goal of math at Pat McGrath is the excessive amount of plastic that is generated from a single beauty product.
“Making sustainability synonymous with luxury is an opportunity, and this is something we are starting to see in the fashion world,” Freya said.
Investing in anhydrous beauty products is a cited example. Anhydrous products eliminate water as essential to achieving three things: higher strength (and in return, greater effectiveness), longer shelf life (because the risk of bacterial growth decreases in the absence of water), and fewer toxins (because parabens or parabens are no longer needed). Preservatives), to add to water preservation.
The environmental bill for your daily beauty routine
Products that use plastics - such as glitter or microbeads - can contribute to increased ocean waste. And some chemicals in sunscreens can harm marine life.
If obtained irresponsibly, a product can cause environmental damage, such as deforestation.
Some companies are making an effort to make a difference, such as Unilever, which recently pledged that all Dove bottles will be made from recycled plastic, that Dove Beauty Bar soaps will be plastic-free later in 2020, and that stainless-steel deodorant is in the making. All this in an effort to reduce the use of primary plastics in its products by more than 20,500 tons annually.
For many of the good companies emerging online, sustainability is an integral part of their formation, such as By Humankind, a personal care brand dedicated to reducing the use of single-use plastics, by producing shampoos, conditioners and deodorant containers that are refillable and free of Plastic.
Although 75% of consumers believe sustainability is very important, it is the key buying criterion for only 7%, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group.
“Consumers think that companies are unwilling to change, and companies think that consumers are unwilling to change, so it is a dead end. Once consumers are not forced to choose between sustainability and efficiency, then they see solutions launch,” Freya said.
However, there are small actions you can take right now: Look for unpackaged products (Lush has long championed them), avoid single-use products, and replace disposable wipes and cotton pads with reusable and recyclable ones whenever you want.
You are absolutely right, we need to have a little more conscience and protect the environment, and use packaging made of recyclable materials.