Consider the sniff test
Every skincare product promises to change your life in some small or giant way. Whether it’s reducing your pore size,improving overall skin tone,or rewinding the ageing clock,there’s always a reason to buy into the hype.
But as researchers inNot So Prettypoint out,many common skincare products contain endocrine disturbing chemicals (EDCs),which dramatically impact our reproductive health.
Chief among the EDCs in skincare are phthalates (used to stabilise fragrance) and BPA (a common packaging material). Both are known to affect sperm levels,egg quality and pregnancy viability.
It’s no great shock,then,that slathering our skin – the body’s largest organ – with products containing these chemicals is a risky decision and should be something we move away from.
Tip:Opt for fragrance-free products contained in BPA-free packaging and look intoperfume and colognebrands offering safe fragrance options.
Speaking of packaging…
While the many tubes,pumps,bottles and pots of beauty products may look great on your shelf,they’re having a seriously negative impact on the environment.
According to recent data shared inNot So Pretty,the cosmetics industry produces 120 billion packages each year,with the vast majority of these ending up in landfill or being incinerated.
While the stats are scary,there is a lot of positive change afoot. The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation isoverseeing the transition away from single-use harmful plastics by 2025,and thanks to projects likeTerraCycle,empty beauty containers can now be returned to stores and recycled correctly.
Experts also recommend purchasing products in glass or with minimal packaging,and looking for brands who haverefill options.
Tip:Switch pump hand wash bottles to bars of soap.
Support local industries
Nails and hair are seminal to a person’s self-expression. But the enforcement of Caucasian-centric beauty standards via products like hair relaxers and the expectation of cheap manicures are having a devastating impact on the health of Asian women and women of colour.
Common nail and hair products contain a slew of chemicals known to cause a terrifying array of health issues ranging from minor irritations like skin flaking to lifelong debilitating harm to brain function and cancer.
Whether it’s nail polish or a hair treatment,embracing natural and broader beauty standards is the biggest taboo to break in keeping ourselves and others safe. But continuing to support female-led industries like hair and nail salons is essential,which is why experts recommend seeking out green salons and opting for vegan nail polishes where possible.
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Tip:Take your own nail polish with you to your next manicure appointment,or ask staff to consider stocking environmentally-friendly brands.
Get app’y
Finding beauty products that are safe,environmentally friendly and within your budget is a long and arduous task. But thanks to apps like Skin Deep,Think Dirty,Detox Me,Good Face and ClearYa do the hard work for you and provide clear information and rating systems,and other helpful product advice.
Tip:Use an app’s product barcode scanner to audit your beauty cabinet.
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