The skin is our largest organ and a very complex system. It functions as a communication system, a barrier, and a protective shield to the outside world. Therefore, we should care for, protect, and strengthen it with valuable ingredients.
Countless products advertise to care for and protect our skin in the best possible way. A rough distinction is made between conventional cosmetics and natural cosmetics – in between, innumerable terms such as “vegan”, “animal-free”, “organic cosmetics”, “biodynamic”, “green”, “clean” and “natural” are thrown around. But how can I be sure in the greenwashing jungle that it is natural cosmetics? And how can I tell that the products are sustainable?
What means “sustainable natural cosmetics”?
In the face of the world’s dwindling resources, the call for environmental responsibility and sustainability is increasing. More and more companies are committed to an environmentally friendly production and manufacturing process.
Sustainable natural cosmetics are based on a holistic concept that uses organic ingredients, avoids animal testing, keeps its ecological footprint as small as possible, offsets carbon emissions, and pays attention to fair working conditions. Packaging also plays a significant role: with sustainable cosmetics, less is more. Packaging material is reduced to a minimum, and recyclable materials such as glass, paper, and aluminum are preferred.
Nevertheless, many companies only fulfill a fraction of these conditions and talk about sustainable cosmetics. Various labels and certifications provide information to distinguish “greenwashing” from truly sustainable approaches.
How can I recognize sustainable cosmetics?
Natural cosmetics and organic cosmetics are not legally protected terms, which is why supposedly “natural” and “sustainable” products do not always deliver what they promise. In genuine natural cosmetics, oils, fats, waxes, colorants, and fragrances are only obtained from vegetable, mineral, and sometimes animal raw materials such as beeswax. Paraffins, silicones, synthetic dyes, and fragrances are prohibited, as is animal testing. There are numerous certifications to help recognize genuine natural cosmetics. Reliable labels are, for example, ICEA, BDIH, EcoCert, NaTrue, Demeter or COSMOS. The seals guarantee that the ingredients are free of genetic engineering, resource-friendly, and obtained under fair working conditions.
Advantages of sustainable cosmetics — for the skin and environment
We become more and more aware that the origin of the food plays an essential role. But as our skin can directly absorb up to 60% of what we apply to it, we should also care for it with natural ingredients.
Better for your skin.
Sustainable natural cosmetics aim to strengthen the skin’s independence. It brings balance to the imbalance that can be caused by external stimuli. The ingredients aim to stimulate the skin’s natural functions and support it in its self-regulation. The transparent specifications of the natural cosmetics seal also make it possible to trace the ingredients precisely.
Conventional cosmetics take a different approach: “fillers” like silicones only imitate the natural skin functions and do not support them. Incidentally, this also has the effect that conventional cosmetics seem to work faster. In reality, however, skin problems are only covered up.
Better for the environment.
Usually, the raw materials used in natural cosmetics are renewable, produced sustainably, and often from controlled organic cultivation. Certified natural cosmetics do not contain any raw materials from dead animals and do not conduct animal testing. Unlike conventional cosmetics, natural cosmetics do not have any petroleum-based ingredients that can get into the drinking water and thus harm the environment.
Why do natural cosmetics cost more than conventional cosmetics?
Natural cosmetics contain valuable oils and plant extracts requiring more elaborate production than cheap silicone oils and synthetically produced functional ingredients. Natural cosmetics are usually the better alternative: for the skin, the environment, and the wallet.
Since there are also differences in the high quality of the oils (for example, cold-pressed or refined oils), some natural cosmetic brands seem more expensive than conventional brands. In fact, natural cosmetics are often even cheaper than ordinary cosmetics. Only they are usually compared to drugstore products. Suppose you include the prices of the big cosmetic brands and compare the ingredients. In that case, natural cosmetics are generally the better alternative: not only for the skin and the environment but also for your wallet.
Sustainable natural cosmetics of TEAM DR JOSEPH
In our certified organic natural cosmetics, we combine our many years of experience using highly effective, natural raw materials and the latest technologies in harmony with nature and its resources. We want your skin and our environment to be protected and cared for most gently. That is why we use high-quality botanicals of the finest organic quality and prefer plants from wild collections and organic cultivation. Using ingredients from organic cultivation, we can mostly avoid residues of pesticides, unnecessary chemicals, and fertilizer. Through gentle extraction processes and state-of-the-art technologies, we make the plant’s effective components usable for people and their skin. For us, sustainability means exquisite raw materials, a sustainable cultivation method, the preference for wild collections, a profound appreciation of nature’s genius, the use of renewable resources, and the abandonment of anything unnecessary. True sustainability involves recognizing that all our actions have an impact.
We are a carbon-neutral company and offset our carbon emissions through various climate protection projects such as reforestation, collecting plastic waste, and supporting alternative energy sources.
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