Sustainable beauty products: What to consider

Sustainable beauty products: What to consider

More and more people are trying to make their routines more sustainable - and that includes their beauty routine. The beauty products that we use every day can have a significant impact on the environment. From the production of the ingredients to the disposal of the packaging: conventional cosmetic products use a lot of resources and create a lot of waste.

But fortunately there are alternatives. Sustainable beauty products promise beauty care that is good for both us and our environment. But how can you distinguish green from non-green products? Which certificates are trustworthy? How do you read an ingredient list correctly? In this article we get to the bottom of these questions and explain what you should pay attention to when it comes to sustainable cosmetics.

Why sustainable beauty products?

Conventional cosmetics and the environment

Conventional beauty products can be problematic for a variety of reasons. Many contain synthetic ingredients like parabens and phthalates, which are harmful to the environment. These substances can end up in wastewater and enter our rivers and seas, where they can be problematic for aquatic organisms.

In addition, many beauty products contain microplastics. These tiny plastic particles are too small to be filtered out in sewage treatment plants and so end up directly in the environment.

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

The benefits of sustainable cosmetics

Sustainable beauty products offer a solution to these problems. They are free of questionable ingredients and use environmentally friendly packaging. Many of the ingredients are biodegradable and can therefore end up in wastewater without any concerns.

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

How do I recognize sustainable beauty products?

Certifications and seals

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

• Natrue: Dieses Siegel garantiert, dass ein Produkt frei von synthetischen Duft- und Farbstoffen, Silikonen und Erdölprodukten ist. Außerdem müssen mindestens 75% der Produkte einer Marke nach diesen Kriterien zertifiziert sein, um das Siegel tragen zu dürfen.
• BDIH: Produkte mit diesem Siegel sind frei von synthetischen Farb- und Duftstoffen, Silikonen, Parabenen und anderen bedenklichen Inhaltsstoffen. Außerdem wird auf einen umweltfreundlichen Herstellungsprozess und auf Sozialverträglichkeit Wert gelegt.
• Ecocert: Dieses Siegel garantiert, dass mindestens 95% der pflanzlichen Inhaltsstoffe in einem Produkt aus biologischem Anbau stammen. Außerdem müssen mindestens 10% der Inhaltsstoffe insgesamt aus biologischem Anbau stammen.

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.

• Parabene werden oft als Konservierungsmittel in Kosmetika verwendet, stehen aber im Verdacht, hormonell zu wirken.
• Silikone können die Haut und die Haare zwar geschmeidig machen, sind aber schwer abbaubar und belasten so die Umwelt.
• Mikroplastik ist in vielen konventionellen Kosmetikprodukten enthalten, besonders in Peelings. Es belastet die Umwelt stark und kann von Tieren fälschlicherweise für Nahrung gehalten werden.

Packaging

Packaging should also play a role when choosing sustainable beauty products. Ideally, the packaging should be made from recycled or recyclable material. It is even better if unnecessary packaging is avoided, for example with solid shampoos or conditioners that do not require packaging.

Sustainable beauty routine: step by step

cleaning

Choose soaps and cleaning products without plastic packaging and synthetic ingredients. A good option is solid soaps or cleaning products in glass packaging.

Care

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

Make up

There are also sustainable options for makeup. Choose products with natural ingredients and avoid disposable applicators. Many brands also offer refill packs to reduce packaging waste.

Hair care

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

Conclusion

Sustainable beauty products are a great way to make your beauty routine more environmentally friendly. Look for certificates such as Natrue, BDIH or Ecocert, avoid questionable ingredients and choose environmentally friendly packaging. With these tips you can make your contribution to a more sustainable use of our earth.