Green beauty

Your Ultimate Go-Green Guide to Sustainable Skincare

Everyone knows green or eco-friendly skin and beauty products are the "right" way to go, but many don't really know why. What makes natural skin products different from conventional? A lot actually. From production and manufacturing to packaging and application, here's exactly how organic products differ from traditional products.

Congratulations on taking charge of your beauty and overall health, or at least the desire to take control! Now it's time to make sure your skincare routine is sustainable and friendly to this beautiful planet we call home. And friendly to your skin. But how does one make sure their skincare routine is eco-friendly and that the ingredients are right for your needs?

You've come to the right place, we have all of the information below. 

If you want to buy natural skincare products, it can be difficult to know exactly what's best for your skin type and where to start looking.

Natural products often cost a little more than conventional options – but they shouldn't be outrageously expensive. In fact, a lot of skincare companies want to rip you off for that "eco-friendly" label which we feel is wrong.

Here's everything you should take into consideration before making a purchase.

What Makes Natural Skin Care Products Different?

It's not just about ingredients.

Natural skincare products are often much better for the environment and local workers too.

Let's look at everything that sets natural skincare products apart from conventional.

1. Production and Sourcing

Because these products are made from plant-based products, they generally help support local farmers and small businesses. This doesn't necessarily mean farmers are paid fairly. The "Fair Trade" label was created to ensure farmers were paid a negotiated rate for their coffee beans.

However, it's common for distributors to charge retailers very high prices without sending significant profits back to the local farmers. This is because "Fair Trade" indicates that distributors only need to pay a previously negotiated rate – not a percentage of profits.

2. Ingredients

Your skin absorbs everything you put onto it. Hopefully you remove your makeup every night. (And if you don't, you should!) Are you ever surprised in the morning when you wipe or wash your face again and notice MORE makeup coming off?

That's because your skin does a really good job of absorbing things – that's exactly how tattoos work, just on a deeper level.

The only question is: what are you feeding your skin? Will you buy natural skin care products or feed your skin synthetic chemicals?

3. Environmental Impact

Natural skincare brands are often committed to sustainable practices. For one thing, they use packaging that is very easy to recycle, made using recycled ingredients, and manufactured using processes with a minimal environmental impact.

The ingredients inside the bottle themselves are also much better for the environment as well. Think of it this way. Everything you wash down your drain ends up making its way into local waterways like rivers, lakes, and ponds.

What would you rather find in your local water: plant-based substances or strange chemicals? (This is actually a huge problem when it comes to plastic-based products.

Why Should You Buy Natural Skin Care Products?

Your skin is the body's largest organ. You already know that it absorbs everything you place on it, but it takes a look at what that really means and what certain products do to your skin.

Conventional skincare products may be filled with chemicals. This doesn't necessarily mean they're dangerous – plenty of chemicals are perfectly safe – but it doesn't mean they don't come without their own interactions or negative effects, either. These effects often include:

  • Premature aging from free radical exposure
  • Developing allergies from synthetic ingredients
  • Stressed or irritated skin from abrasive ingredients
  • Impurities triggering acne flare-ups

Premature aging is one of the biggest effects. Although these products are safe and may clean your skin very well, toxins are never good for maintaining your skin's youthfulness and resilience.

Selecting the Right Skin Care Products for YOU

A lot of companies use the word "natural" in their product labels – this doesn't mean they contain 100% plant-based ingredients. Use the knowledge below before you buy natural skincare products.

Read Product Labels

If you meticulously read ingredients before purchasing food, you should do the same for your skincare products. This ensures you'll not only buy high-quality products, but also avoid getting ripped off in the process.

If a cleanser or moisturiser is outrageously expensive, ask yourself why that is. Chances are the first ingredient is water. Do you want to pay $100 for water and a few essential oils? Probably not.

It's important to understand that the word "natural" doesn't bear much traction. It doesn't mean anything. Companies must meet rigorous standards to apply an "organic" label on their products. "Natural?" Not so much.

This also means that many legitimately organic products are not allowed to carry an official "organic" label. In fact, many small businesses simply cannot afford the fees. This just reinforces how important it is to read product labels. Keep an eye out for the word "organic" or any synthetic products like plastic substances.

Understand Which Oils Are Best for Your Skin Type

You'll want to make sure you're buying the right kind of products for your skin type. Essential oils differ in a lot more ways than smell alone.

Whatever your skincare goal is, there are essential oils and other substances that can help get you a few (or many) steps closer to reaching it.

You'll notice a lot of ingredients appear on multiple lists – that's because they're very effective for multiple problems.

Ingredients For Dry or Stressed-Out Skin

  • Green tea
  • Oatmeal or oats
  • Aloe
  • Carrot oil
  • Mānuka
  • Chamomile
  • Geranium

Ingredients For Oily Skin

  • Witch hazel
  • Jojoba oil
  • Mānuka
  • Kaolin clay
  • Honey
  • Clary sage
  • Lavender

Ingredients For Combination Skin

  • Avocado
  • Mānuka
  • Honey
  • Olive oil
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Orange oil

Ingredients For Anti-Aging

  • Rose oil
  • Olive oil
  • Retinol
  • Pomegranate
  • Coffee oil
  • Citrus oils
  • Frankincense oil

Ready to take your sustainable skincare to the next level? Try our environmentally-friendly and sustainably produced lineup of East Cape mānuka essential oil products today!

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