A growing number of Australians are choosing skincare products that align with their personal values. But how can we be sure where our skincare products came from and if they really are ‘natural’? We ask two experts to weigh in.
Rohan Widdison
CEO, New Laboratories
When it comes to cosmetics, skincare and personal care products, a large number of Australians purchase beauty and skincare products that are in line with their personal values.
Personal values when it comes to selecting our beauty products range from ‘natural ingredients’, organic and vegan products, brands that don’t test their products on animals, sustainability, ethically sourced ingredients and Australian made.
Whilst as consumers we can tell if a product is Australian made or owned, because of the Australian made symbol, how can we tell where our skincare products come from, if they’re ethically sourced, and are in fact organic?
Ethical sourcing and verifiable supply chains
When it comes to ethical sourcing, in Australia it is currently difficult for consumers to know if their favourite brands are actually ethically sourcing their ingredients. Whilst some brands have ethical sourcing or ethical buying policies on their website, there currently aren’t any Australian standards, certifications or accreditations in verifying ethical supply chains.
The beauty industry, however, is moving towards more transparency in their supply chains with more and more companies using blockchain, which records each step in the supply chain. In the future we may also see QR codes on packaging that consumers can scan so they can see where the ingredients in the products are sourced from. At this stage though, the only way we as consumers can tell if a company is ethically sourcing their ingredients is by doing our own homework. Check to see if the company has an ethical sourcing or ethical buying policy or statement on their website and check their annual reports to their shareholders. Also do a deep dive to see what information they are making publicly available in regards to where their product ingredients are sourced.
Organic ingredients
Organic ingredients on the other hand are easier for consumers to verify. With certifications such as COSMOS and Organic Food Chain (OFC) regulating the word ‘organic’, consumers can rest assured that the extra dollars they are spending to purchase organic products are in fact organic when they see the COSMOS or OFC logos on their favourite products. If on the other hand brands are using the word organic in their product name with no certification, then buyer beware. Unfortunately there are many brands out there that use the term simply for marketing purposes with no verifiable elements to their claim.
If using organic products is one of your personal values, again do your homework and do not take the word of a product name or label. Check for organic certification and that the certification is from a reputable body.
Sustainability
National resources are finite, so it’s important that the natural ingredients being used aren’t negatively impacting the environment. One example is palm oil. If sustainability is one of your personal values, ensuring your favourite beauty products that use palm oil are RSPO (Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil) certified, may be of importance for you.
The carbon footprint of your products may also be an important factor for you. Therefore knowing where your products are manufactured will be an important factor. Locally sourced and locally manufactured products will be the best option for you if lowering your carbon footprint is a personal value.
The beauty industry supply chain is an in-depth one, with thousands of products on the market with natural and synthetic ingredients that are sourced globally. Learning who owns your favourite brand/s, what their company values are, where your products are manufactured, and what ingredients are in your favourite products are the first steps in understanding if the products you are purchasing are aligned with our personal values. And remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Ross Macdougald
Founder and Cosmetic Chemist, Biologi
Greenwashing is a term used to describe when a brand makes claims to be green and natural through their marketing, yet when you delve a little deeper, chances are there is more effort put into the perception rather than the actual practice. Terms like ‘natural’, ‘organic’, ‘naturally derived’, ‘green’ and ‘dermatologist approved’ are all some claims that are seemingly everywhere on skincare labels but sit in a grey area of confusion and unsubstantiated claims.
Unfortunately unsubstantiated and misleading claims still abound in the beauty industry, so it’s important to make yourself informed when it comes to the purchases you make. Do your own research and don’t take things at face value. A great way to delve a little deeper is to read the ingredients label on the back of the product, then research each ingredient. If the product is deemed ‘natural’ but there seems to be a huge list of chemically sounding ingredients on the back, chances are it isn’t as natural as it is making out. Research the brand, learn about their processes and Google what ingredients really mean and how they’re made. In most cases, you can also ask the brand or manufacturer directly – if they have nothing to hide, they will be open and honest with you about their practices and what’s in their products.
At Biologi, we avoid Greenwashing at all costs by offering full transparency regarding the sourcing, manufacturing and supply of our products to help consumers make informed choices. Biologi products are created through a plant-to-bottle process using locally-sourced fruits and quite literally putting them in the bottles. We rely on the earth’s natural resources to give us our ingredients for our products (which are natural and not synthetically made), so being transparent, ethical and sustainable is incredibly important to us.
Below are some common terms to be mindful of:
‘Natural’ – Natural is a term seen on a lot of beauty and skincare products, however it is often misused. In some cases it can mean that only a small percentage of a product’s ingredients is plant based or what was originally ‘natural’, has now in fact gone through a production process which now results in a less-than-natural form.
‘Naturally derived’ – In essence this refers to ingredients that are derived from nature but the process means that it is then delivered in an unnatural form (so it sounds natural but may be laden in chemicals).
‘Clean’ – Clean is often a rather puzzling term that is shrouded in confusion and holds many different meanings. It could refer to the ingredients that are free from synthetics, but it can also refer to the brand’s sustainability practices or reference that the product is vegan, or ethical, etc. Ideally the term Clean should refer to a natural product using raw plant extracts and without a long, ever-evolving list of ingredients that can be linked to harmful health effects.
‘Paraben-free’ – There has been a surge lately of brands claiming ‘no parabens’ and rightly so because they are synthetic preservatives that have been linked to things like cancer, hormone disruption, DNA damage and increased skin ageing. To keep on the safe side, try to avoid anything ending with the word paraben, such as ingredients like methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and isobutylparaben. CBM
