By: Krati Agarwal, an avid reader, poet and a writer.
Eco-friendly products are the latest popular among the gen Z. Unlike before, the customers are no longer attracted to fancy packaging and cute bottles. What intrigues them the most are the ingredients and the production method behind these products!
To meet the increasing demands of the customers, many companies are stepping up and taking the initiative to make the beauty industry a little more nature-loving by making healthy and eco-friendly skincare and makeup products.
What are eco- friendly products?
Broadly defining, eco-friendly products are those that do not cause any harm to the environment. The eco-friendly products are composed of ingredients (chemical and non-chemical) that do not have any adverse effect on nature. The ingredients are renewable, non-toxic and can be found in abundant quantities. Similarly, the packaging of these products is often made from recycled material using minimum resources.
Defining the ‘toxic’
Several ingredients go in the making of one little bottle of a product of which not many people are aware of. These products not only harm our skin but also harm our environment beyond measure. Since not many people are aware of these products, it makes it easy for companies to sell anything they want.
Some of the toxic ingredients to watch out for- diethanolamine (a foaming agent found in shampoos and body washes), fragrances, talc, synthetic colours, phthalates (found in nail polish, shampoo), silicone and paraben.
What goes into the making of these eco-friendly products?
Due to the constant research and rapid developments in beauty science, several new ingredients are being discovered along with the new ways of using the already existing ingredients. The switch to eco-friendly products has also brought ancient as well as household products on the centre stage.
Some of these ingredients are- castor oil, fatty acids , glycerin, chamomile, antioxidants, argan oil.
Eco-friendly products v/s clean products
Although used interchangeably, eco-friendly products and clean products are mutually different. While clean beauty has several open definitions, it actually means using toxin-free products. Clean products aren’t 100% natural or eco friendly. The clean products can contain both natural and synthetic products along with the safe amount of preservatives (which are not toxic).
On the other hand, the definition of eco-friendly products is self-explanatory. Eco-friendly products do not harm the environment and are made up with minimum possible ingredients or resources. While all clean products are almost eco friendly, all eco-friendly products may not necessarily be clean.
Why the switch?
Multiple factors are responsible for the transition from toxic products to eco-friendly products.
1.Increasing awareness
There is a wave of information that is being spread through news, commercials, social media platforms, health experts etc. that has made people aware of the toxicity of beauty products that they use almost every day. This rising awareness has made them conscious of their skin and health and they are gradually switching to eco-friendly products.
2.Responsibility towards the environment
The toxins in the beauty products are contributing to the environmental depletion extensively. The companies also conduct tests on the animals which is a best-kept secret to the customers. But people nowadays have a sense of responsibility towards the environment and its constituents and are hence, inclined to using eco-friendly products.
3.Effectiveness of eco-friendly products
Eco-friendly products are harmless on the skin and show effective results in a short period. These products sometimes contain healing properties and can be used on any skin type. There are hardly any allergic reactions or skin irritation from using such products. Further, these products are decently priced, unlike many chemical loaded products which are bizarre.
Three brands on the path of eco-friendly beauty-
1. Khadi naturals – khadi naturals offer 100% herbal and natural handmade products. The products are verified against harmful reactants and are free from chemicals like sulphates and parabens. They believe in the importance of natural beauty and sticking to the Indian roots of herbal skincare. Hence, they have a wide range of natural face masks and scrubs to give the skin natural care.
2. Vivlah – Vivlah is a skin and hair care brand based in Tamil Nadu. The ingredients used by Vivlah in the production are directly procured from the local farmers. Their products are sustainable, eco friendly and free from harsh chemicals, additives and synthetic oils.
3. Beminimalist.co- It is a recently launched brand with ‘transparency in beauty’ being its core value. Minimalist deals with a variety of toxin-free products for all skin concerns ranging from anti-ageing and oil control to sun damage. The products are free from any fragrances, artificial colour or harmful chemicals. The brand believes that the customer should be well aware of everything they put on their bodies and hence, disclose every detail about their products to maintain 100% transparency. Their products are easily available on Amazon.
To conclude, there are hundreds of companies having the power to lure customers with their eye-catching products and concocted claims. But it’s us, who can give a necessary push to the companies and especially the startups to flourish in the market with their harmless and sustainable products.
So, let’s switch to the eco-friendly beauty and be kind to our skin and our planet.
