There are a few starting points when it comes to identifying and shopping for eco-friendly, clean beauty products.
1. Clean ingredients
Clean beauty products aren’t actually subject to much official certification, so the term ‘clean’ can mean one of a few different things. At its essence, clean beauty means products that aren’t using anything toxic in their formulations, and span from non-toxic to natural and organic ingredients.
What are the benefits?
Toxic beauty ingredients have been linked to all manner of health concerns, from life-threatening issues like cancer and hormone imbalances to smaller problems like dehydrated skin and hair loss.
Our skin is especially sensitive to toxic ingredients: as our largest organ, our skin soaks up the products that we put on it every day, including any toxic chemicals that may be in them. In addition to the more serious side effects of toxic chemicals, products containing harsh chemicals can strip the moisture out of our skin, leaving it dry, dull and uncomfortable.
When it comes to the planet, these toxic chemicals found in cleansers, shampoos, body washes and other products are constantly being rinsed down the drain and into our water supplies, contaminating it for both the environment and ourselves. Chemicals like oxybenzone, commonly found in sunscreen products, are even known to severely damage coral reefs.
What should you avoid?
The best way to pick out clean beauty products is by examining the ingredients list and looking out for any culprits known for being toxic or too harsh.
There are plenty out there, but the following chemicals are best avoided:
Parabens: once commonly found in a huge number of beauty products, the European Commission has banned many types of parabens in recent years. Look out for any other kind of paraben in formulas.
Fragrances: although not all fragrances are synthetic and many are not considered toxic (fragrances from natural origins, for example) they’re still best avoided in a clean beauty routine due to their ability to trigger allergic reactions and asthma.
Mineral oil: sourced from petroleum, mineral oil is linked to certain cancers and is known as a common contaminant in the human body today. It’s used as a moisturiser and found most often in lip products. On top of that, petroleum resources are finite on the planet, so using them unnecessarily in beauty products simply isn’t sustainable.
Sulphates: the foaming ingredient in cleansing products and shampoo, most kinds of sulphates are best avoided as they can strip the skin and hair of their natural oils, and their non-toxicity has yet to be proven. They are also derived from petroleum.
Getting comfortable with ingredient lists is key to understanding the chemicals you put on your body; thankfully, McGorisks also champions clean beauty, so look out for our sustainable collection to find our clean beauty products easily.
2. Vegan and cruelty free ingredients
Though there’s a difference between vegan and cruelty free beauty products, both take steps towards making the beauty industry more ethical.
Vegan beauty simply means products that use no animal-derived ingredients of any kind in their production process and formulas. Cruelty free means the products haven’t been tested on animals during their production.
The easiest way to spot a vegan product is by the label: it should simply state ‘vegan’ somewhere. If you’re not sure, the following are common animal-derived ingredients in beauty product formulations:
Lanolin (non-synthetic)
Glycerin (except vegetable glycerin)
Carmine
Collagen
Elastin
Keratin
Beeswax
When searching for cruelty free makeup brands, the best tactic is to look out for the Leaping Bunny certification symbol - this proves a product is certified by Cruelty Free International.
Although the European Union banned animal testing in the cosmetics industry in 2013, it’s still best to look out for the Leaping Bunny symbol to ensure the product is cruelty free if it has been produced elsewhere.
3. Minimal, reusable or recyclable packaging
Now that we’ve covered how a sustainable and clean beauty routine benefits us and the animals around us, let’s take a closer look at the waste aspect of the industry.
As we know by now, the best way to reduce the waste we produce is by reusing what we can. Luckily, the beauty industry is taking steps to continually improve its offering of reusable products.
Look for swaps you can make in your daily routine to reduce your beauty waste. Some of our favourite alternatives include:
Reusable cotton pads instead of disposable ones
String dental floss instead of plastic floss harps or sticks
Glass bottles and jars instead of plastic
Card or paper packaging where possible
Refillable bottles and containers
Microfibre makeup removing cloths instead of wipes
Metal safety razors instead of plastic disposable ones
Many brands are now offering products in recyclable packaging, with some even wrapping their products up in biodegradable packaging. Make sure to always check for recycling symbols on packaging, or check the My Waste recycling guide to see how best to dispose of it.
All empty beauty products need to be thoroughly cleaned out and dried prior to recycling, too!