“While other countries have banned almost 1,300 ingredients from use in cosmetics, the U.S. has only banned 11.”
Source: Beauty Counter
These ingredients can not only cause detrimental effects to your health in the long run but also end up in landfills or the ocean causing harm even after they have been used for their intended purpose. In short, with non-eco-friendly brands, you are not only subjecting your skin to toxic ingredients but also your body, health, and the environment.
But that need not be the path you take for your skincare routine. With many options now available in the market, switching to a clean skincare routine is not very hard. We all have beauty rituals, no matter how extensive or minimalistic they are. By switching to sustainable and clean skincare your skin’s problems, needs, and wants can be met with a clean routine MINUS the harmful side effects.
“It has been 80 years since Congress last passed legislation regulating the cosmetics industry.”
Source: EWG
Take a glance at the ingredient list the next time you grab your face serum while doing your skincare routine. You're likely to encounter a list of lengthy-named parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and other chemicals. The cosmetic industry, specifically in the United States, is highly unregulated when it comes to how products are made and their ingredients. Formaldehydes in presence of other chemicals, for instance, have been found to be linked in some cases to skin irritation and others, cancer. Phthalates, which are commonly used to stabilize products, are known to cause hormonal issues, reproductive issues, and also cancer.
With no new laws passed in almost a century, existing regulations remain highly outdated making way for many mainstream personal care companies to use ingredients that are toxic to your skin and the environment. This leaves it upon you, as a customer, to make wise choices in your consumption patterns so that your money goes further than just one product.
While the beauty industry has not always been sustainability-forward, the changing demand for a more conscious lifestyle has pushed brands to adopt a cleaner approach. Many mainstream brands are slowly making the shift to cleaner beauty but the true pioneers of this movement are those small businesses and indie companies who have been advocating for sustainability since before it became a ‘trend’. Sustainability represents the future of skincare, self-care, and the environment. But, the immense amount of greenwashing around the idea can be confusing for first-time consumers.
Sustainability works on a spectrum depending on the impact on the environment. While no company is perfect, there are a plethora of brands in the market that care about their product and their environmental impact by using natural ingredients, recyclable packaging materials, and ethical manufacturing processes.
Conscious brands care about more than just selling products. They are aware of the impact, both positive and negative, they are capable of making and working towards improving their practices to protect their home.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE?
With an increase in consumer awareness and demand for sustainable skincare, greenwashing or the practice of making products appear sustainable has emerged. This can make it difficult for you to decide what products are right for you. While many companies might claim to be ‘natural’, here are some things you should look out for while picking the right product.
Ingredients
First and foremost, you need to know what is in your products. Just because a brand markets itself as ‘natural’ does not necessitate similar action. Check whether the product has all its ingredients listed and if they truly practice what they preach. Ingredients in high-quality sustainable skincare products have been barely processed, denatured, or chemically changed. Essentially, retaining the natural composition of the substance means it is healthier for your skin.
Look at where the ingredients originate from, how they are grown, and their harvesting practices. These factors together form an ideal sustainable ingredient that requires minimal resources but can provide maximum effectiveness.
Empress Naturals uses 100% pure virgin Rosehip Seed Oil that arrives straight from Chile, South America to our manufacturing facility and remains untouched till it reaches your hands in one of our bottles! When used in its pure form Rosehip Oil is a miracle anti-aging ingredient that can solve multiple skin care issues including sun damage, low collagen levels, and low hydration, and leave your skin looking youthful and radiant. To ensure the highest quality standards, we only source from sustainable farms, with the best ingredients, that empower local women cooperatives because we believe in making a difference in every step we take as a brand.
Another incredible brand with the best quality ingredients is Masami, a luxurious hair care brand that finds its roots in using only the best quality ingredients that nourish your hair.
Packaging
Once you are confident of your ingredient choices and quality, you need to look at the containers that your product arrives in. Choose brands that have a minimum plastic-use policy and are conscious about incorporating sustainable materials in their packaging. At Empress Naturals, we made it a point to design our bottles with amber glass to avoid any ultraviolet impact on the product and promote sustainability in our packaging. Another option can be to find products that offer refillable options for their products like Loop.
Picking a sustainable skincare product entails not just selecting a product with sustainable components, but also paying attention to what you do once you've finished using them. Don't forget to reduce, reuse, upcycle, and recycle your skincare components so you can control your contribution to waste.
At Empress Naturals, we reuse and upcycle packaging materials that we receive from our suppliers because we truly believe reducing our environmental impact in small ways can cause a lasting effect. For instance, our serums come in luxurious velvet pouches that can be reused by customers to store their jewelry or valuables. We choose to invest in premium quality sustainable packaging because an investment in sustainability is an investment in the environment.
Brand Philosophy
While the products are important, as consumers, it is also important that we understand the practices and philosophy brand advocates.
Do they support local communities? Do they source their ingredients ethically? What else are they doing to help the planet? How transparent are they with their processes?
When you see answers to these questions are positive, you know you have chosen the right brand to start your sustainable skincare journey.
To find more information about conscious and clean brands that care about the environment more than selling products, you can check out the Conscious Beauty Collective.
HOW DOES SWITCHING TO SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE BENEFIT YOU?
Contribution to the Environment
Our obsession with sustainability is majorly grounded in the eco-friendly practices brands use to ensure no harm to the environment. Sustainable products help us fulfill our environmental obligation to be more wise and conscientious in activities toward the environment.
Increased Effectiveness
When you use eco-friendly skincare products, you are less likely to have negative side effects since they are incredibly gentle on the skin. Sustainable skincare products rely on the kindness of nature to reflect their influence on the skin.
Long-term Wellness
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and any chemicals are bound to cause some reaction. With organic and sustainable skincare, you get the promise of zero side effects and radiant, healthy skin. Not only do they work effectively for your skin but also have no adverse effects on our inner well-being by interfering with our reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems. With sustainable products, you protect your long-term wellbeing and that of the planet.
SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST YOUR SKIN!
At Empress Naturals, you will always experience sustainability at its best. From ethical sourcing practices to manufacturing processes, every action we take is towards a bigger goal. Empress Naturals is USDA and GBB certified with non-toxic and vegan processes. We are obsessed with the change towards an eco-friendly, clean, and sustainable future and we cannot wait to have you join the community!
Switch to clean and conscious beauty today. For your body and the planet!
Empress Naturals - Your Trustworthy Organic Skincare
At Empress Naturals, we believe in year-round skin nourishment, healing, and repair. Our Rosehip Oil-based skincare line is meticulously formulated by industry experts that cater to the specific needs of mature and aging skin ensuring ageless radiance and luminous skin.
Our Hero products - Anti-aging Day Serum and Luxe Night Elixir Serum are all you need to cover the essentials when it comes to aging skin.
Our mission is to provide 100% pure and organic skincare products that make you feel incredible in your skin. We carefully cultivate our ingredients from sustainable farms worldwide that harvest the highest quality without the use of hazardous preservatives or pesticides. Our products are non-toxic, clean, Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty-Free with USDA Certified Organic ingredients.
In fact, our products, including the revered and 100% pure Rosehip Seed Oil, are safe to use even during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. However, we do recommend you consult with a medical professional as a safety precaution before using new products.
Our massage oils are known to calm your nerves and improve your blood circulation to make you feel beautiful inside and outside. Along with our super serums, we offer 100% pure oils like the magical Prickly Pear oil and the miraculous Argan oil.
Experience the power of clean skincare with Empress Naturals.
*Disclaimer: We highly recommend that you contact a trained health professional, before introducing any products into your routine especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
