Did you know that a typical skin care product usually contains about 15 to 50 ingredients.. including components like emollients, solvents, emulsifiers, surfactants, and preservatives (none of which benefit your skin!) However, most conventional formulas contain ingredients (both synthetic and toxic), most of which have been scientifically proven to have long-term ecological and human health concerns.

Fortunately, green chemistry and biotechnology have given us some amazing alternatives! Natural ingredients like plant extracts, essential oils, cold-pressed oils, and earth minerals are sustainable and more effective for your targeted skin problems.

Let’s explore how to make the most out of these clean/sustainable beauty ingredients:

Using Natural Ingredients for Sustainable & Clean Skincare

Sustainable formulas focus on using only ingredients that are non-toxic (such as being free from petrochemicals, heavy metal catalysts, and other bioaccumulative materials), eco-friendly, and minimize the exploitation of natural resources. With the rising awareness in today’s world, more than 40% of consumers prioritize natural components in their skin, hair, and personal care products.

One of the biggest challenges of using natural ingredients is ensuring that their effectiveness (concentration/freshness/potency) is maintained during the formulation process. Each ingredient’s quality and efficiency can greatly vary greatly, based on the method of sourcing, extraction, and formulation techniques.

At Puraveda Organics we obtain all our ingredients from ‘Fair-Trade”, reputable, sustainable and ethical sources internationally, or as certified organic ingredients from US sources produced without habitat destruction or biodiversity loss. This ensures that our ingredients have much higher antioxidant and potent active ingredient levels than non-organic or synthetic products.

Natural Emollients

An emollient forms a protective film on your skin to prevent dryness and improve moisture levels. Since 2022, (we are proud to say we have been at the forefront of this concept since our inception) there has been a significant overall natural brand movement away from petrochemical-based emollients towards using plant-based and vegetable oils, microbial fermentation products, and fatty alcohols and esters from sustainable agriculture or bio-engineered sources. (Note: Greenwashing of Ingredients).

Best Natural Emollients: Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and other plant-based cold-pressed oils.

Natural Preservatives & Enhancing Shelf-Life of Products

All skincare brands and products utilize ‘preservatives’ to increase shelf-life/ increase their longevity/ lifetime value. Traditionally, ingredients like parabens and formaldehyde have been used in cosmetics, which have now been proven to cause hormonal disruption, and have potential carcinogenic effects.

As an alternative, look for ‘cleaner’ formulas made of plant extracts, with natural antimicrobial properties. The active compounds from these ingredients provide safer and more effective preservative action, thus extending the shelf-life of a product.

Best Natural Preservatives: Green Tea, Thyme, Rosemary, Potassium Sorbate from Mountain Ash Berries.

Natural Cleansers (Alternatives to Surfactants)

Surfactants (better known as detergents) have a molecular structure, having both lipophilic (fat dissolving) and hydrophilic (water soluble) properties that enables water to mix effectively with dirt, grime, and oil to dissolve them, thus cleansing impurities from the skin. However, chemical-based surfactants such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALS), Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Cocamphocarboxyglycinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate..etc.. can and do cause irritation, and tend to cause your skin to become prone to dryness and itchiness, contact dermatitis and so forth.

Natural cleansers on the other hand, despite their gentle nature, cleanse quite efficiently, although generally do not lather like detergents, and simultaneously help nourish the skin.

Best Natural Surfactants/ Cleansers: African Black Soap base, Yucca Root, Apple Cider Vinegar.

Natural Exfoliators

Many exfoliators use ‘microbeads’ or non-degradable particles, which after being rinsed down the drains, end up in oceans. Further, the marine beings mistake them for food, thus building up in their tissues, ultimately causing their death. Even if a product contains natural physical exfoliators such as walnut shells, ensure the beads are ‘micronized’ so they are easily degraded.

Best Natural Exfoliators: Papaya Enzyme (fruit-based exfoliation), Micronized walnut shell.

Natural Solvents

Solvents are ingredients that are used to dissolve other ingredients in a product. For best skincare practices, read your skincare labels and avoid solvents like animal oil, alcohol, and silicones.

Best Natural Solvents: Pure Water, Vegetable oils/ Carrier oils such as Sweet Almond Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Natural Vinegar.

Other factors for Truly Sustainable Skincare

While sustainable formulations use conscious choice of ingredients, true sustainability goes beyond organic/environmentally friendly formulations, production practices, and packaging methods.

Do not use products containing GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).
The formulation should contain at least 95% organic material.
The product should be packaged in glass bottles or BPA-free PET plastic (read other Ecologically Conscious Initiatives by Puraveda Organics).
The brand focuses on energy efficiency – reducing unnecessary waste and utilizing green resources. Ie; Less packaging, and packaging that is easily recycled or composted.
The brand should be cruelty-free, as to both formulas and individual ingredients.