The cosmetics world is often wrought with questionable ingredients, animal testing, and unsustainable ecological practices. Recently, more and more companies have altered the ingredients in their products and removed animal testing, but there are still many companies that continue to use business practices that harm the environment. Some companies even flaunt organic products but simultaneously continue to produce lines of products that negate these little attempts at appearing green just to boost their public relations.

In this article, we will be discussing ways to identify sustainable cosmetic businesses so that we can collectively change how the entire industry produces its products. You can do your part to contribute to a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle by supporting companies that go above and beyond to create quality beauty products.

What are Cosmetics?

Cosmetics are any beauty products that are applied to the skin. From make-up to lotions to hair supplies, if a product is being applied to the body, chances are it’s considered a cosmetic. Below is a list of common cosmetics:

• Bath– soaps, exfoliates, bath bombs, shower gel
• Hair– shampoos, conditioners, dyes, hair masks
• Face– make-up, lotion, face masks, wrinkle creams
• Hands/feet– nail polish, exfoliates, lotions
• Skin– lotion, deodorants, shaving cream, wax, tanners, sunscreen
• Teeth– toothpaste, teeth whiteners, mouthwash

What to Look for When Buying Eco-friendly Cosmetics

Finding eco-friendly cosmetics for your body comes down to knowing what to look for (and what not to look for!) Generally speaking, vegan products are often the most-sustainable, although that is not always true. Looking at the box for your products or doing a quick search online for the store’s mission or “about us” page can give you great insight into what you’re really purchasing and whom you’re really supporting.

Certification Labels

Labels are a useful method for quick identification of potential, sustainable companies. Keep an eye out for packaging that has the following labels, as these labels indicate the product is more ecologically made.

• “Eco-friendly”
• “This Package is Made from Recycled Ingredients”
• “Biodegradable”
• “Certified vegan”
• “Vegan”
• “Fair Trade”
• “Organic”
• “Cruelty-free”
• “Not tested on animals”

It’s important to note that not all labels are indicative of sustainable business practices. Cruelty-free products might not have been tested on by animals but might not be vegan or use recycled packaging in their products, for example. Likewise, there are various brands that don’t use the labeling system but still produce sustainable products.

A company might not use labels due to the cost of getting certified, which can be quite pricey for small businesses. Another company might prefer to make their sustainable products more affordable to buyers by avoiding certifications altogether, so don’t always make purchases based on labels alone. Always research the companies you’re investing in to determine the eco-friendliness of the business.

The Price We Pay for Health

The most sustainable cosmetic products are going to be pricier than products from unsustainable companies. This is largely due to the effort sustainable companies put into providing environmentally-friendly packaging, certified labels (which, as mentioned, can cost a lot, depending on the certification), and high-quality ingredients. Rest assured that your purchase is contributing to a good cause while also providing you with safer, purer ingredients.

Ingredients to Watch Out for When Buying Eco-Friendly Cosmetics

Now that we’ve covered what to look for in buying sustainable cosmetics, let’s take a look at what to avoid. Our highly absorbent skin accounts for 16% of our body and can absorb up to 60% of chemicals found in cosmetic products (Science). The products that we apply to the skin, therefore, can pose a hazard to its elasticity and overall health if we’re not careful. When chemicals from unsustainable products enter the bloodstream through the skin, they can also have both known and unknown hazardous effects on our entire bodies.

Although there are regulations limiting the use of many ingredients in a given product, we are frequently, and often unknowingly, exposed to many of these chemicals in our food sources, soaps, toothpastes, soil, and surface waters in amounts that can surpass the safety recommendations. Multiple household products can contain “safe” amounts of certain chemicals that, when combined through daily use, lead to unsafe quantities.

With this in mind, here is a detailed list of toxic cosmetic ingredients to watch out for, as some companies tout healthy cosmetics only to still have many harmful or questionable chemicals.

Parabens

Parabens are chemical compounds that are often added to cosmetics and foods to preserve them. They are cheap and common additives used to prevent the growth of yeasts, molds, and bacteria. The push to remove parabens comes from numerous studies that document concern of its effects on the environment and endocrine system.

One study on the effects of parabens on the endocrine system and environment found that parabens are a wide-spread pollutant to our water, soil, and air systems. Varying amounts of the compound have been found in tap water and surface waters and their sediments, especially in places that produce large quantities of cosmetics, such as China. Even household dust particles contain parabens, depending on the location and amount of paraben-heavy products within the household (Błędzka).

In addition, parabens have been shown to react with certain cells and receptors within the endocrine system that may make them unsafe. Endocrine disruption can affect hormone synthesis (estrogen and testosterone, primarily), metabolism, and the ways in which the hormones are transported. This may impact the functions of other systems, such as the reproductive system, central nervous system, immune system, the thyroid, and glucose regulators. When exposed to UBV rays, parabens can also potentially harm the skin (Błędzka).

Since most cosmetics are applied topically to the skin, adding this questionable ingredient to products is an unnecessary and unsustainable practice. Alternatives to parabens include sodium benzoate and benzyl alcohol, which can be derived from natural sources (Blackpaint).

Phthalates

Phthalates are substances used to help cosmetic products be absorbed by the skin. They have been shown to harm the reproductive systems of animals during lab experiments, but the effects these chemicals may have on humans is largely unstudied. What has been studied, however, is how widespread and common phthalates are in the bodies of random human samples. There is suggestive evidence that phthalates might also affect human reproductive systems, especially that of human sperm (Barrett).

Phthalates are not always directly mentioned in ingredient lists, but when they are, beware of ingredients such as dibutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and dimethyl phthalate. You might see these phthalates in the ingredient labels of your nail polish, perfumes and lotions, or hair spray products, respectfully. Steer clear of products that seem vague in the details of their ingredients to avoid hidden phthalates.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is another preservative used to prolong shelf-life of products. Exposure to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances can cause contact allergic reactions such as dermatitis. Chemicals that have formaldehyde-releasing properties also can cause hypersensitivity. In addition, formaldehyde is considered carcinogenic, and various studies suggest that it increases one’s risk of developing lymphatic and respiratory-related cancers (IARC 2.3.2).

The most common formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are DMDM hydantoin and imidazolidinyl urea, so avoid using products containing these ingredients.

Triclosan

This pesticide is used in numerous toothpastes, mouthwashes, and disinfectants as an antimicrobial agent. It was also used in hand soaps until the FDA banned it in 2016 (Weatherly). There are growing concerns that the use of triclosan to kill bacteria is creating antibiotic-resistant strains of microbial lifeforms (Yazdankhah).

Triclosan has also been found in the environment and wildlife. Fish, zooplankton, minnows, and earthworms are just a few animal species that have been found to contain traces of triclosan in their bodies, suggesting that the pesticide is present in the earth and water. In humans, triclosan has been shown to be an endocrine-disrupting chemical, much like parabens, and a carcinogen (Weatherly).

When purchasing tooth care products or hand sanitizers, be sure to avoid triclosan at all costs by looking for it on the ingredient label.

Petrochemicals

Petrochemicals are made from refining petroleum and, in some cases, other fossil fuels. These chemicals are commonly added to cosmetic products, but they are unsustainable for a number of reasons.

For one, petrochemicals have been shown to be highly contaminated in beauty products. While petroleum itself hasn’t been shown to harm the skin, the risk of contamination makes petroleum-based products unsafe for bodily use (Panico). The chemical has also been shown to paradoxically dry skin, providing only a barrier from external irritation rather than serving to moisturize skin.

The biggest harm petrochemicals pose, however, is to our environment. The natural gas industry is a major source of greenhouse gases. Petrochemicals end up in our water sources and environment, and because they take so long to decompose, use of non-recyclable plastics such as these threaten wildlife and the overall health of the planet (Donev).

To identify discrete petrochemical in your consumer goods, keep an eye out for these ingredients: Ethylene, Propylene, Benzene, Methanol, and Toluene. Petroleum products may also be listed as mineral oils, vaseline, petrolatum, paraffin, and paraffinum liquidum (Panico). Instead of using petroleum-based products, consider using products that contain coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, cocoa butter, or beeswax.

Artificial Fragrances

Beware of using products that claim to use “fragrances.” Many of these scents are artificially made, so unless it states the kind of ingredients that go into it, even choosing a product that says “natural fragrances” can be deceptive. Unsustainable companies utilize the appearance of sounding healthy by using organic compounds that can be classified as natural, even if they aren’t ethically sourced or completely safe to use.

Instead of opting for a seemingly natural product that claims to have natural fragrances, opt for transparent products that clearly define each ingredient.

How to Have the Lowest Carbon Footprint

While paying attention to the labels and ingredients listed above is a great start towards switching to a more sustainable lifestyle, choosing the most sustainable cosmetics boils down to finding products that meet as many sustainable business practices as possible.

The most sustainable cosmetics on the market are made locally, with as many native, clean ingredients as possible. Shopping locally gets rid of the middleman, truck transportation pollution, and mass, unhealthy production of imported ingredients and packaging. To find local companies, you will need to do a bit of research on small businesses in your local area to have the lowest carbon footprint when buying cosmetics.

Second to local products is larger companies that import as little ingredients and packaging as possible, use recyclable and biodegradable products, pay workers a livable wage, do not test on animals, and promote the use of vegan materials.

Doing Our Part

Going out of our way to find sustainable cosmetic businesses is an effective way that we can collectively do our part to protect ourselves and the environment. Let’s work together to make this world a better place, so that our future is bright and green.

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Know of any sustainable cosmetic companies near you? Leave a message below, and we’ll include it on our list of sustainable businesses!

Citations

“11 Common Harmful Ingredients in Skincare.” Black Paint , 15 Dec. 2019. https://blackpaint.sg/harmful-skincare-ingredients/. Accessed 10 August 2020.

Barrett, Julia R. “The ugly side of beauty products.” Environmental health perspectives vol. 113,1 (2005): A24. doi:10.1289/ehp.113-a24

Błędzka, Dorota et al. “Parabens. From environmental studies to human health.” Environment international vol. 67 (2014): 27-42. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.02.007. Accessed 24 August 2020.

Cameron Rochelle. “The Myth of ‘Natural’ Parabens.” Environmental Working Group, 31 July 2015. https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2015/07/myth-natural-parabens. Accessed 24 August 2020.

Donev, Jason et al. (2020). “Petrochemical.” Energy Education, 28 April 2020. https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Petrochemical. Accessed August 25 2020.

IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. “Formaldehyde, 2-butoxyethanol and 1-tert-butoxypropan-2-ol.” IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, vol. 88, (2006): part 2.3.2. Accessed 25 August 2020.

Panico, A et al. “Skin safety and health prevention: an overview of chemicals in cosmetic products.” Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene vol. 60,1 E50-E57. 29 Mar. 2019, doi:10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2019.60.1.1080. Accessed 25 August 2020.

“Science: Human Body and Mind.” BBC Science & Nature, 24 September 2014. https://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/skin/skin.shtml#:~:text=Your%20skin%20is%20your%20largest,percent%20of%20your%20body%20weight. Accessed 10 August 2020.

Weatherly, Lisa M, and Julie A Gosse. “Triclosan exposure, transformation, and human health effects.” Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews vol. 20,8 (2017): 447-469. doi:10.1080/10937404.2017.1399306

Yazdankhah, Siamak P et al. “Triclosan and antimicrobial resistance in bacteria: an overview.” Microbial drug resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.) vol. 12,2 (2006): 83-90. doi:10.1089/mdr.2006.12.83

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