Green Beauty ≠ Eco-friendly

The trend of eco-friendly or “green” beauty products has been on my radar since Jessica Alba launched the Honest Company. Naturally, I am skeptical that a celebrity would want to produce eco-friendly beauty products. So I decided to do my own investigation and try out products that are great for the skin and the environment while not spending a lot of money. 

In 2018, the LUXE Botanics team wrote a post on the brand’s website giving a quick rundown of “green” beauty and their products. “Generally speaking, “green beauty” is an umbrella term that refers to totally natural skincare made with true-to-nature or naturally derived ingredients in the lab.” Our skin is the largest organ in the body and is the most absorbent. Whatever we put on our skin seeps into our bloodstream and organs. Finding real “green” beauty products is not hard but it is time-consuming.

When reading the label of the “green” product, steer away from products that contain:

Not only do I want my skin to look good but I also want to know that I am being ethical in my everyday life. “Some might take it a step further and say green-beauty products should be made by using sustainable and renewable resources.” (LUXE Botanics, 2018) I am those people who want to take it a step further and ensure that the products I am using are made by sustainable and renewable resources. I look for “green” products that are plastic-free and have minimal packaging. Again, this is time-consuming but it takes the same amount of time to go through your ex-boyfriend’s girl’s Instagram. Emily Doyle wrote on White&Elm.com “Green Beauty is a lifestyle and a philosophy that we no longer have to sacrifice our precious health or environment to look and feel beautiful.” (2015) 

Unfortunately, we are not in a place where beauty brands are willing to 100% commit to being “green”. On the website, Impakter.com, writer Naume Guveya brought up the point that the #GreenIsTheNewBlack does create a campaign of awareness but not of action. “The hashtag campaign is great but more work should go into bettering health and the environment because green beauty is a phenomenon that pertains to more than just green cosmetic products.” It will take much more than a hashtag to change the impact the beauty products have on the environment. We should look for beauty products that contain materials such as glass, bamboo, and other biodegradable products, which minimize waste.

To conclude, we live in a time where we want to look good on the outside as well as feel good on the inside. We should not go bankrupt buying products that minimize our carbon footprint. The process of going fully “green” cannot be done immediately if you are on a tight budget. I must also warn you that is also an experimental process. I had to test out and research many products to see what works best for my skin. Do not get discouraged if the first “green” beauty product you try does not give the result you want. You are detoxing your skin which will cause changes in your skin texture. Trust the process and remember this is for the greater good. 

If you would like to read the upcoming post reviewing cheap eco-friendly beauty products subscribe to the Lefauxblonde email list to get alerts. I am excited to share the “green” beauty products I love with you all.