Green Beauty

1. Green Beauty The new year is rolling along, and a lot of us are looking for ways to get healthier, be greener, and live better. This may have you overhauling your cluttered living space, starting a new fitness routine, reducing your plastic use… or eyeing your overflowing shelf of beauty products. Just like many people pick up a book because of its cover design and title, we’re often influenced by packaging and marketing. Green glass bottles, neutral boxes, and clear solutions all suggest “pure” products that are somehow more “natural”. But what makes a product “natural”? And what is the difference between a product that is labelled “organic”, “bio”, or even “green”? There’s something very wholesome sounding about a product labelled “natural”. There are probably pictures of leaves or flowers or spring water on the box as well, just to get the point through. But the truth is, pretty much anything can be called “natural”, as long as there is even the Visit Us: https://niasha.ch/ Page 1

2. Green Beauty tiniest amount of a nature-based ingredient. It is, unfortunately, a totally unregulated term. Many people also look for a “natural” product, when they’re actually looking for a plant-based formula. Perhaps you’re under the impression that using botanical ingredients is less likely to irritate your sensitive skin. The truth is that a plant-based ingredient isn’t guaranteed not to irritate (some botanical oils come to mind), and synthetic ingredients aren’t more likely to cause a bad reaction. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to look for products that don’t include common irritants to start with. If you’re concerned about the impact of the product on the environment (maybe you’re a fan of products like Elon Musks’ Tesla :) ), there are brands that are known to be sustainable and transparent with their manufacturing methods. The verdict: “Natural” tells you how the brand wants you to see their product, but it doesn’t mean the product meets any specific criteria. Visit Us: https://niasha.ch/ Page 2

3. Green Beauty “Bio” or “Green” Both of these terms suggest that the product is produced with the environment in mind. Usually consumers assume that this means the ingredients are grown sustainably, that the formula is eco-friendly (biodegradable), plant-derived, and cruelty-free. While it’s admirable to try to buy only eco things, “natural”, “bio” and “green” are terms that are unregulated, meaning brands can put this in their marketing if they feel it describes their product. It could mean that part of the product is eco-friendly, or that one ingredient out of many is sustainably sourced. There’s also a lot of leeway in what a person considers “green”. For some it can mean that the soil in which ingredients are grown is managed in a responsible way. Others may feel that no animal products should be used at all, including ingredients like honey or beeswax. Is the product made with clean energy? Is the packaging biodegradable or recyclable? As you can see, it’s unlikely one product will incorporate every single one of these things, and a lot of it will depend on what aspects are most important to you. Visit Us: https://niasha.ch/ Page 3