The Green Wind
We now rely on natural cosmetics
© Iryna / Adobe Stock
It doesn’t get any greener, but it’s revolutionary: natural cosmetics are no longer just for hippies, but thanks to cool innovations are really popular. Here you can find out why.
The green wind: These natural cosmetics are popular
Clean formulas
A green wind is blowing through our beauty shelves – and it brings with it many innovations that make us pretty and at the same time protect the earth. Being beautiful and doing something good for the environment at the same time sounds fantastic, doesn’t it?
According to the current “Nature Study” by Weleda, 83 percent of those surveyed not only consider it important that the cosmetic products are manufactured in an environmentally friendly and resource-saving manner, but also that they are of natural origin. How good that this feeling is also reflected in the beauty market: In addition to smaller eco-labels, more and more big players are now relying on the power of nature. The fact that make-up and care products are vegan and not tested on animals has been in vogue for a while. But now the focus is also on the biodegradability of the ingredients and sustainable packaging alternatives to the tried and tested plastic. Most important supplier for the new eco-cosmetics? Mother Earth herself!
Your offer not only has something to offer for the eye. Its diverse plants contain true miracle ingredients that are really good for skin and hair. The new organic care brand Trawenmoor by Dr. Spiller reveals by name which special ecosystem: the peat of a regional moor from which an anti-aging essence is extracted. Its secret is humic acid, which has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. For intoxicating beauty, Babor also relies on the power of a botanical classic – glaucine. The active ingredient is found in the yellow poppy and can cause hallucinations and dizziness as an intoxicant. But don’t worry, in body lotion, the power pack only increases the firmness and elasticity of the skin, without any side effects. Except maybe tighter curves.
Degradable
Briefly on the skin, forever in nature: According to the consumer advice center, around 977 tons of microplastics migrate into the environment via wastewater every year in Germany – from cosmetics and cleaning products alone. The solid plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm and liquid polymers are still in many tubes and jars in our bathrooms. They reach the seas and rivers unfiltered via the drain, where they accumulate – because they cannot be biologically degraded.
In peelings in particular there is still a lot of microplastic in the form of small abrasive grains. Natural cosmetics professional Lavera proves that the skin can also be cleansed without it: the finest granules of olive stone scrub the skin to make it soft and supple.
Well packed
For once, it’s not just the inner values that count here, but the outer values. Because this is also important for environmentally friendly cosmetics. Pretty packaging doesn’t necessarily have to be made of plastic – and it shouldn’t be: Every year up to 12.7 million tons of plastic waste end up in the sea, i.e. one truckload per minute! In total, an estimated 80 million tons are already on the seabed, according to the WWF. Nevertheless, the cosmetics industry likes to use plastic as a packaging material because of its stability and low production costs. There are many sustainable alternatives, and they are quite impressive.
Reusable instead of disposable – the trend is towards practical refill packs. Thanks to refills, they can be reused for a long time and don’t end up in the garbage that quickly. For example, Giorgio Armani uses refillable glass bottles for his fragrance, and Stop The Water While Using Me! immediately swears by refill packs in XL format. With the “Hand Cleanser” in a five-liter canister, around 60 percent of plastic waste can be saved. A different approach: British natural cosmetics brand Dr Botanicals uses biodegradable coffee grounds and cornstarch. She uses it to make the handles of her makeup brushes. That’s how we like to dress up – without a guilty conscience.