How the Environment is Paying for Our Skincare Routines 

In a world where profit and consumption come leaps and bounds before sustainability and moderation, it shouldn’t be surprising that the skincare industry is environmentally destructive, particularly to aquatic life. What you put on your skin matters just as much as what you eat. It affects the ecosystem and your personal well-being. 

Toxic Ingredients 

These are just a few of many ingredients to avoid. We read the backs of food packages, so why not get in the habit of checking what’s in our skincare. Developing a basic knowledge of popular skincare ingredients will help you make more eco-friendly choices and keep your skin looking happy! 

Oxybenzone and Oxtinoxate

These are the most common sunscreen ingredients. In 2018, they became restricted in Hawaii because they cause damage to the coral reefs. The two popular ingredients bleach and stunt the growth of the delicate coral reefs. 

Damage to the coral reefs is incredibly serious since they are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. About a quarter of oceanic fish depends on healthy coral reefs for shelter, food, and a safe place to raise their young. From 2014-2017, unusually warm water bleached an enormous amount of coral reefs, and “affected 70% of coral reef ecosystems worldwide”.

Triclosan 

This antibacterial agent cannot be fully filtered out of wastewater. It’s being found in aquatic ecosystems, even after having run through water treatment processes. The bioaccumulation potential of this substance is scarily high. Triclosan has also been found in breast milk, urine, and plasma. Much like microplastics, once it gets into the ecosystem it’s hard to get it out.

Trash is so much more than a used wrapper, it’s practically invisible and is soaking into our bodies and ecosystems. 

Microbeads 

These tiny plastic beads or fragments are typically used in cosmetics and cleaning supplies. Think of an exfoliant or face wash with little balls in it that help scrub away dead skin, those are microbeads. They are essentially a man-made replacement to a sugar or oatmeal scrub. Microbeads are the epitome of single-use plastic since they get washed down the drain after being scrubbed on your face for no more than thirty seconds. 

It should come as no surprise that microbeads have ended up in aquatic habitats. After wastewater processing, there are still up to seven microbeads per liter of water. That may not sound like very much, but think about how insignificant a tiny liter of water is. It all adds up. Attempts to phase out microbeads are being made, but it’s still important for individual consumers to keep an eye out for this ingredient and stay far far away from it. 

Parabens 

This type of ingredient is a cosmetic preservative linked to breast cancer. It’s also been shown to cause harm to the reproductive systems in humans and other animals. To make matters even worse, parabens kill coral and have been found in water, fish, and ocean sediment. There’s still a lot to learn about parabens, but so far, the negatives outweigh any potential positives ten-fold. 

Shopping Habits 

Andrea Cheng with the New York Times makes the great point that the ‘more is more’ mentality is very prevalent in the skincare world. Over consuming skincare is a serious problem that harms Earth and doesn’t necessarily help your skin. That’s not even considering how much packaging all of these products come in!

Anhydrous skincare is skincare made with less or no water in it. This solves a lot of problems because: 

1. Highly Concentrated: so you can use less of it 
2. Long Shelf Life: water makes things spoil quicker 
3. Source: Hopefully comes from a company that cares about water Conservation 

You should also be looking for cosmetics and skincare with less or zero toxins. Start reading the backs of those containers! 

You Are Your Skin 

It can definitely be overwhelming to add yet another thing to the growing list of non-eco-friendly products, but we know you can do it. Take those baby steps, and feel empowered knowing that your choices make an impact on the world you live in!

Sign this petition and ask that Costa Rica pass its own toxic sunscreen ban, now!

Related Content:

• 8 Simple Swaps to Make Your Personal Care Eco-Friendly
• 10 Common Cosmetic Ingredients That Are Derived From Animal Products
• What?! Sewage Plants Tasked With Cleaning Water Are Spilling Plastic Microbeads Into the Oceans
• The Disturbing Environmental and Health Impact of Pouring Personal Care Products Down the Drain
• 5 Chemicals to Avoid In Personal Care Products And Why
• 10 Dangerous Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid and Natural Alternatives to Trust
• 7 Ways to Avoid Parabens and Phthalates in Personal Care Products

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