What Is Ethical Skincare: 5 Factors To Look Out For...
In today's day and age ethical skincare brands - and ethical brands in general - are on the rise. And for good reason! More and more consumers are starting to care about their own health, as well as the impact they are having on the world around them.
As we shift towards more ethical, sustainable and healthy ways of living, we are also seeing a wave of greenwashing across the board. Brands and businesses may try to keep up with consumer demand and cut corners to stay "on trend".
We still believe in the power of ethical products and ethical skincare, despite the greenwashing. That being said, it's important to understand the different pieces of the puzzle that fit together to form ethical skincare.
Firstly, what is ethical skincare and why should I care?
Ethical skincare is a term used to describe cosmetics and skincare products that are produced in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible. This means that the products are better for the environment and are actively aiming towards a smaller environmental impact than conventional skincare brands. In a world where climate change, pollution and environmental degradation are major issues - this is super important!
Ethical skincare also means that the products created under ethical skincare brands are more humane: they are not tested on animals and do not contain harmful chemicals. As a result, they're often kinder to your skin and better for your overall health. And who doesn't want better health?
Here are 5 factors that will help you in identifying ethical skincare brands:
Ethical skincare is cruelty-free
Cruelty-free skincare refers to products that have not been tested on animals. And we'd like to extend that even further to say that ethical skincare doesn't use any animal products at all.
There are a number of different ways that companies can test their products on animals. The most common way is through the use of rabbits or mice. Animal testing can involve exposing them to new drugs or chemicals, assessing their reaction to medical procedures, or other research. These methods often results in the death of the animals.
Ethical skincare prevents this and in doing so protects animals from being subjected to cruel experiments. It's actually argued that animal testing is unreliable - the results of experiments on animals may not be accurate when applied to humans - and that there are alternative cruelty-free methods of testing that are just as effective.
Ethical skincare is healthy
If ethical skincare products are socially-responsible, then there's no way that they can contain ingredients that are harmful to your health!
Many skincare products on the market today contain harmful chemicals that can damage your skin. Did you know that since 2009, 595 cosmetics manufacturers have used chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm in over 73,000 products?
Toxic chemicals in skincare products can have a number of harmful effects on our skin. These chemicals can cause irritation, dryness, and redness. They can also strip away the natural oils that protect our skin from damage.
Look out for ethical skincare products that have gone through the requisite health and safety testing and have been approved and tested by a dermatologist.
Ethical skincare should be completely free of harmful chemicals and full of natural, healing ingredients that are going to strengthen and support your skin both in the short and long term.
Ethical skincare is environmentally-friendly
Now, "environmentally-friendly" can mean a range of things. We like to include the following factors under this term:
- sustainable
- free of toxins
- no plastics
The production of unethical skincare products often has a negative impact on the environment. The manufacturing process often uses harmful chemicals and produces a lot of waste. This waste can pollute the air, water, and land. It can also harm animals and plants.
Another factor to consider when looking for ethical skincare is whether or not the products are sustainable. Sustainable skincare products are made with ingredients that are from sustainable sources that do not cause environmental degradation.
Look for products that are made with organic ingredients and packaged in recyclable or biodegradable packaging. There is a lot of waste associated with the cosmetics industry - and ethical brands should be doing what they can to reduce this!
Ethical skincare has only natural ingredients
At Tierra By Maria, we believe that ethical skincare uses natural ingredients. This means absolutely ZERO synthetic ingredients, dyes, sulfates or parabens. Everything is directly from or derived from Mother Nature!
Some of our favorite natural ingredients include hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, passion fruit seed oil and lactobacillus ferment lysate (a pretty cool probiotic with amazing skin benefits!)
Ethical skincare cares about its wider impact
It's increasingly common to see ethical brands partner up with charities and foundations as a means of 'giving back' and contributing positively to the world around them.
If you're looking at an ethical skincare brand, read up more about the kind of work they are doing and the impact they want to have. If they are connected to a charity, two options are likely:
- Upon purchase you will be prompted to "donate" above and beyond the price of the product.
Or
- They will have a set policy of donating a certain percentage or absolute amount to the charity.
At Tierra by Maria, we're actually partnered up with an amazing organisation called the Wayuu Taya Foundation - read more about it here.
Ethical skincare is an important consideration for anyone who wants to be sure their beauty products are not causing harm to animals, the environment or to themselves. With a little research, it is easy to find brands that align with your values. The next time you are shopping for skincare products, look out for our top 5 factors to consider when purchasing ethical skincare.