Green Beauty Products: Which ones to consider?
Green beauty products used to be hidden away in health food shops on the back shelves but times have changed and as we all grow far more conscious of what we put onto and into our bodies, the natural personal product market has grown exponentially.
Everyone is now far more aware of the chemicals and potential toxins which can be found in non-green products and green beauty products are gaining more and more of the market share every year. But where do you start and what exactly is a green beauty product?
What does Green actually mean?
There is no actual legal definition for what constitutes a green beauty product – there are terms such as natural, organic, clean, or eco-friendly which are often used interchangeably with green so it can be incredibly confusing, particularly for consumers.
Green as a broad term generally refers to products which are made only from plant-based ingredients. They have been created without using synthetic chemicals, harmful or toxic ingredients and produced using cruelty-free methods - without animal testing - and using ethical sources and packaging materials.
The types of products which are considered green are those which are paraben-free and exclude chemicals like sodium lauryl sulphate. They are generally fragrance and alcohol free as well but you should take time to read the labels carefully as there is no exact definition for what constitutes a green product.
What kind of green products to go for
Many natural products can be incredibly effect as beauty products but for most people it’s daunting to know where to start. Some high quality natural products such as beeswax, coconut oil, aloe vera, green tea, almond oil and chamomile have been around in the background for years as effective, natural beauty products but are now becoming more and more popular in the mainstream market.
Where to start
Why not look at natural skincare first? Try using a natural body oil or moisturiser because you will be using it for your whole body and experiencing the benefits all over. Look for a natural shower gel or body wash in the same range and your body will thank you for it as well as the environment.
Next, try swapping out your shampoo for a natural version. Shampoos are often full of added perfumes and fragrance which ends up going into the water system every day, so using a more natural product will not only leave your hair shiny, but help clean up our water too.
If you want to protect you skin from the sun, watch out for all the chemicals which can be featured in some sunscreens and try switching to a more natural version. Some sunscreens feature chemicals which green advocates are highly against using in skin products.
And don’t forget to check reviews. You can use a site like whichbeautyproducts.com to find these.
Won’t it be expensive to go all natural?
Organic and natural products have a reputation for being incredibly expensive but this doesn’t have to be the case. Most supermarkets now stock green and natural product ranges, making them far more accessible previously.
There are of course luxury versions of green and organic beauty products if you wanted to treat yourself to something more expensive. These tend to be specialist artisan products made with very high quality ingredients.
That’s the main thing with natural and green beauty products – check the labels and assess the quality of the ingredients. If the first thing on the ingredients list is a chemical then the product isn’t necessarily going to be very high quality – decide what you are happy with.
While the labels can be very confusing, here are a couple of tips to help you assess your preferred beauty products and work out just how green they really are:
1. Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s organic
There is no distinct definition for what makes something a natural product, so just because the label says natural, don’t assume it’s organic – in the same way that not all fruit in the supermarket is organic.
2. Should I look for organic on the label?
Not necessarily – water is a key ingredient for many beauty products and it can’t be called organic so don’t worry if a product is not 100% organic – just look at what other ingredients are on the list – if it’s all chemicals then look elsewhere.
3. What about certification?
Yes, the only way to know if a product is truly organic is to look for an independent certification logo on the packaging, such as The Soil Association. This carries far more weight than just labelling a product “natural” as that is no guarantee it has been sourced sustainably.
Green beauty products are here to stay as more and more people become environmentally conscious about what they are using on their bodies, helping to grow the market place. Using green beauty products not only helps the environment but thanks to the quality ingredients, will also leave you looking and feeling fabulous.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the guest blogger. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Face Palette and Face Palette does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.