How to tell if your beauty products are eco-friendly

When it comes to choosing the right beauty products, there’s a lot to consider. And while most of us are pretty savvy when it comes to our skin type, hair needs and makeup preferences, determining whether a product is eco-friendly can be tricky. 

Recyclable packaging is a big tick for sure, but it’s also eco-designed formulas that do a lot of the heavy lifting.

In fact, there are plenty of ways in which your beauty purchases can help provide a better future for our planet, and it’s knowing these terms and ingredients that can help you tweak your shopping list. 

After all, every small effort we can make together will help to create a big difference. 

Recyclable packaging

Many of us are already in the habit of recycling household waste every day, and it’s something we can all strive to do with our beauty products too. When shopping for your beauty items, try to look not only for packaging that can go in your recycling bins, but also products that are made from recycled packaging. This means that materials that could have ended up in landfill or worse still, our ocean have been given a second life and instead made into the packaging for your hair products, skin care and more. The packaging of the Garnier Organics range was crafted with this in mind, with hero products like the Lemongrass Gel Wash made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and is also 100 per cent recyclable. Plus, in 2019, Garnier saved 3,670 tons of virgin plastic by using recyclable packaging, and by 2025 Garnier aims for all packaging to be made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, saving 37,000 tons of virgin plastic.

Image: @brookestyless

Organically certified actives

When looking for organically certified products or those containing organically certified actives, check the label of the product you’re buying for an official symbol. Eco-Cert is one of the world’s most trusted organisations, and so when you see those words written inside an oval-shaped symbol, you can be assured the ingredients follow environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices. All star active ingredients within the Garnier Organics range, such as lavandin found in the Regenerating Lavandin Anti-Age Night Cream, are organically certified and come from renewable sources that can be regenerated every year. But more on that below...

Renewably sourced

Renewable raw materials come from natural sources which are generally produced by agriculture and forestry. They regenerate constantly in relatively short cycles (from a few days to a few decades), the duration of which is similar to their duration of use. This means there’s no ‘over-farming’ of these ingredients, and therefore reduced impact to the environment as a result. This is exactly how Garnier Organics sustainably farms its hero ingredient lavandin, as well as the soya bean found in Garnier’s Fructis Hair Foods range. Plus, both ranges are made with entirely vegan formulas.

Image: @chantelouise

No ammonia

Ammonia is a common chemical found in hair dye, used to open the hair cuticle to allow the colour to take hold. It can also be persistent in the environment, potentially impacting local ecosystems long after it’s been washed out. Rather than using ammonia in its formula, Garnier Olia is made up of a 60 per cent oil blend enriched with natural oils derived from sunflower, meadowfoam, passion flower and camellia. The result? Hydrated, healthy hair colour with a clean conscience.

Do you like to use ec-friendly beauty products? What kind of things do you look for?