Sustainable beauty products: what to consider

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Von Natur.wiki Autoren-Team

Immer mehr Menschen bemühen sich, ihre Routinen nachhaltiger zu gestalten – und dazu gehört auch die Beauty-Routine. Denn Beauty-Produkte, die wir täglich verwenden, können eine erhebliche Belastung für die Umwelt darstellen. Von der Produktion der Inhaltsstoffe bis zur Entsorgung der Verpackungen: herkömmliche Kosmetikprodukte verbrauchen eine Menge Ressourcen und verursachen viel Abfall. Doch glücklicherweise gibt es Alternativen. Nachhaltige Beauty-Produkte versprechen Schönheitspflege, die sowohl für uns als auch für unsere Umwelt gut ist. Aber wie kann man grüne von nicht-grünen Produkten unterscheiden? Welche Zertifikate sind vertrauenswürdig? Wie liest man eine Zutatenliste richtig? In diesem Artikel gehen wir diesen Fragen auf den Grund …
Sustainable beauty products: what to consider (Symbolbild/natur.wiki)

More and more people are trying to make their routines more sustainable-and that also includes the beauty routine. Because beauty products that we use daily can be a significant burden on the environment. From the production of ingredients to the disposal of the packaging: conventional cosmetic products consume a lot of resources and cause a lot of waste.

Fortunately, there are alternatives. Sustainable beauty products promise beauty Care that is good for us and for our environment. But how can you distinguish green from non-green products? Which certificates are trustworthy? How do you read a list of ingredients correctly? In this article we go to the bottom and explain what you should pay attention to with sustainable cosmetics.

Why sustainable beauty products?

conventional cosmetics and the environment

conventional beauty products can be problematic for various reasons. Many contain synthetic ingredients such as parabens and phthalates that are harmful to the environment. These fabrics can get into the sewage and thus penetrate our rivers and seas where they can be problematic for water organisms.

In addition, many beauty products contain microplastics. These tiny plastic particles are too small to be filtered out in the sewage treatment plant and thus get directly into the environment.

The packaging of beauty products is often problematic. Many products are sold in plastic packaging, of which only a fraction is recycled.

The advantages of sustainable cosmetics

Sustainable beauty products offer a solution for these problems. They are free of questionable ingredients and use environmentally friendly packaging. Many of the ingredients are biodegradable and can therefore get into the wastewater without hesitation.

In addition, the producers of the ingredients of sustainable cosmetics often also benefit. Many brands for sustainable beauty products value fair trade conditions and thus support small farmers and workers in the countries of origin.

How do I recognize sustainable beauty products?

certifications and seal

A first clue to the sustainability of a beauty product can be certifications and seals. These guarantee that certain standards in relation to the ingredients and the production of the product have been observed. Here are some of the most important seals:

  • Natrue: This seal guarantees that a product is free of synthetic fragrances and dyes, silicones and petroleum products. In addition, at least 75% of the products of a brand must be certified according to these criteria in order to be allowed to carry the seal.
  • BDIH: Products with this seal are free of synthetic color and fragrances, silicones, parabens and other questionable ingredients. In addition, it is important on an environmentally friendly manufacturing process and social compatibility.
  • ecocert: This seal guarantees that at least 95% of the vegetable ingredients come in a product from organic cultivation. In addition, at least 10% of the ingredients must come from organic cultivation as a whole.

ingredients

Even if a product has a sustainability seal, it is always worth taking a look at the list of ingredients. There are certain ingredients that you should avoid in sustainable cosmetics.

  • parabens are often used as preservatives in cosmetics, but are suspected of being hormonal.
  • silicones can make the skin and hair supple, but are difficult to break down and thus strain the environment.
  • microplastics is contained in many conventional cosmetic products, especially in peeling. It heavens the environment heavily and can incorrectly consider to be considered food by animals.

packaging

The packaging should also play a role in the selection of sustainable beauty products. Ideally, the packaging should consist of recycled or recyclable material. It is even better if unnecessary packaging is dispensed with, for example through fixed shampoos or conditioners that do without packaging.

Sustainable beauty routine: step by step

cleaning

opt for soaps and cleaning products without plastic packaging and synthetic ingredients. A good option are fixed soaps or cleaning products in glass packaging.

care

Use reusable slowdown pads instead of disposable pads made of cotton. Creams and lotions with natural ingredients in glass packaging are suitable for skin care.

makeup

There are sustainable options even with MakeUp. Select products with natural ingredients and avoid once. Many brands also offer refill packs to reduce packaging waste.

hair care

There are now many sustainable alternatives for hair care. Fixed shampoos and conditioners are a good way to avoid plastic waste.

FAZIT

Sustainable beauty products are a good way to make your beauty routine more environmentally friendly. Pay attention to certificates such as Natrue, BDIH or Ecocert, avoid questionable ingredients and select environmentally friendly packaging. With these tips you can make your contribution to a more sustainable handling of our earth.