Consider this: the average woman uses 16 beauty products every day, so it’s no wonder that our everyday routines are adding to the problem. How often do you take a step back to think about where your products came from, how they were made and what impact they are having on human and animal health, as well as the environment, before reaching you? Although more and more planet-friendly beauty options seem to be popping up, let’s face it - the beauty industry still has a long way to go, and you as a consumer play a vital role in making sure beauty becomes more sustainable.

 

HOW ARE YOUR PRODUCTS IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT?

• DESTROYING CORAL REEFS. If you are using any of the major sunscreen brands, chances are they contain the chemical ingredient ‘Oxybenzone’(also known as ‘Benzophenone-3’). This chemical is directly contributing to the bleaching of the world’s coral reefs, damaging the coral’s DNA, interfering with its reproduction and inhibiting the growth of young corals. Each year, coral reefs are exposed to 14,000 tons of sunscreen, which enter the ocean whenever you go for a shower or a swim.

 

• AIR POLLUTION. The beauty industry is negatively impacting the air we breathe, with perfumes, hairsprays, deodorants and other products polluting the environment as much as car emissions! These scented products contain so-called “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs), that produce a harmful ozone layer and a pollution known as PM2.5, which can be toxic to our lungs.

 

• MASS DEFORESTATION AND ANIMAL EXTINCTION. If you’re an aware beauty user, you’ve already heard about SLS (“Sodium Lauryl Sulfate”) - an ingredient commonly used to form a foamy lather – and its numerous health risks. But did you know that this ingredient is derived from palm oil, and that extracting the oil is leading to mass deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, destroying the home of many endangered species like orangutans and tigers? Palm oil is used in HALF of all consumer goods, meaning deforestation is occurring to keep up with demand.

 

• OCEAN PLASTIC. More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. 8 MILLION. Take a moment to let that sink in. Unfortunately, most people don’t bother recycling their products because of the inconvenience, which is why they simply go into landfill. This is devastating, given that it takes nearly 1000 years for your average moisturizer pot to decompose. Not to mention all the plastic wrappings, foam and other materials that accompany your new beauty products…

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE “GREEN BEAUTY” A REALITY?

While the majority of people today wish to make a positive impact on the environment and like the idea of “reduce, reuse, recycle”, there remains uncertainty about how to achieve this through everyday actions. Here are some tips you can follow to help create a better future sooner rather than later:

 

• USE RECYCLED PACKAGING. Whenever you go grocery shopping, be sure to take reusable bags with you and look for products that are packaged in recycled bottles, like ViTA’s hair care duo. ViTA’s award-winning 100% OceanBound bottles offer the most sustainable option from an energy, manufacturing and recycling standpoint, and are even more sustainable than other recyclable materials like glass, plant based plastics, or natural cork.

 

• DITCH THE TOXINS. Harsh chemicals like parabens, synthetic fragrances, and SLS should be the last thing you want in your everyday beauty products. Wastewater treatments don’t remove them, and studies have shown that synthetic fragrances can decrease an organism’s natural ability to protect itself from toxins, making the effects of water pollution even worse for marine life. Choosing products with natural ingredients will not only make your skin and hair look amazing, but also ensure that you’re doing your bit to save the planet.  

 

• AVOID SINGLE USE MATERIALS. There are many different kinds of plastics and materials, so check the product label to find out whether or not it’s recyclable, and don’t forget to research the recycling facilities available locally.

 

• DON’T BUY NON-RECYCLABLE WIPES. Cosmetic wipes are not recyclable, and can cause blockages in sewage systems. Not only that, they also make their way into the ocean where they can get ingested by marine animals, or wash up on the beaches. Either switch to compostable, organic wipes or try alternatives like cleaning with wash cloths or face flannels.

 

• CHOOSE YOUR SUNSCREEN WISELY. Mineral based sunscreens that contain ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are a better option than those that use Oxybenzone, not only for your health but also for the environment.

 

• RESEARCH WHETHER THE INGREDIENTS ARE SUSTAINABLY SOURCED. Toxins can have devastating impacts on wildlife and the environment. Whenever you can, research a company’s sourcing and production process to make sure that their products are not only free of toxins (for example by using EWG's Skin Deep Database), but that the ingredients they’re using have also been produced in a sustainable way, without relying on suppliers that use synthetic pesticides to grow ingredients.

 

Convenience plays a major factor in consumers’ buying decisions. Nowadays, many people prefer to quickly buy the next best product, without having a closer look at the ingredients and production processes. But is convenience really worth negatively impacting both yourself and the world around you? With ViTA it’s easy to choose sustainably-sourced, toxin-free products that will not only get you better results, but also safeguard the Earth’s health with the world’s first and only 100% OceanBound recycled bottles, which capture plastic and prevent toxins and waste from entering the world’s oceans. Learn more about ViTA’s mission and its sustainable and transparent business practices here.