58% of natural skincare products contain synthetics. Here’s how to actually build a sustainable skincare routine

You’re probably putting more harsh chemicals on your skin than you’re realizing – which is why nearly two-thirds of women are now choosing to swap out their skincare for natural alternatives. From plant-based ingredients to plastic-free packaging, here’s how to get started on your own sustainable skincare routine

Words: Amy Dowrick | Images: Shutterstock

If you pride yourself on looking for a green ‘V’ or Peta bunny every time you shop for toiletries, don’t get too comfortable. Studies reveal that around 58% of products marketed explicitly as ‘natural’ still contain synthetics – and it’s not only damaging your skin.

Modern skincare products often contain harsh additives and synthetic ingredients that can have adverse effects on our skin, disrupting its natural microbiome and irritating the skin barrier. But opting for harmful ingredients without realizing can also have a negative impact on the environment too. So, how do you successfully turn your current routine into a natural one?

Why you should choose natural skincare

Opting for sustainable skincare and natural products creates a routine that combines genuinely effective products and clean ingredients with environmental responsibility. It’s the ultimate wellness combo!

Environmentally conscious products are also directly linked to improved skin health – so in eliminating toxic ingredients, you can nurture your skin while simultaneously supporting the planet. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

Low exposure to harsh chemicals

One of the biggest advantages of organic skincare is that its gentle. With fewer synthetic fragrances, parabens, and artificial colorants, there’s less risk of irritation, allergic reactions, or toxic buildup.

Organic products are formulated without these nasty bits. Without harsh chemicals that can potentially irritate the skin, you get a concoction of gentle botanical extracts, soothing herbal remedies, and mild natural preservatives that deliver just as effective results without compromising on your skin health.

Look out for plant-based oils, botanical extracts, and natural hydrators like squalane or aloe vera – these powerhouse ingredients deliver essential vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids to nourish our complexion.

Other nutrient-rich ingredients like jojoba, rosehip, and argan oil can also help lock in moisture, restoring balance while protecting the skin against environmental stressors.

Supports natural barrier function

Natural ingredients often share the same chemical compounds that are already present in our skin, so plant-based products are absorbed twice as effectively and offer deep nourishment while supporting the skin’s natural barrier function – without stripping away protective oils.

Keep an eye out for products that contain essential oils like rose, mint, and thyme – they provide aromatic benefits but also have immense soothing, refreshing, and purifying properties.

Environmental protection

Plant-based ingredients also have impressive environmental benefits. Because their formulations are on the natural side, products are typically readily biodegradable and renewable.

Avoiding products that contain synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and plastic microbeads can stop toxic chemical runoff from entering our waterways, rivers and oceans – and any plastic-free, compostable or biodegradable packaging also poses significantly less risk.

Many natural brands also make an effort to minimize their carbon footprint. By prioritizing responsibly sourced ingredients, manufacturing standards and using delivery methods that exclusively require rail or road, consumers can trust that a product’s entire supply chain is sustainable, not just the product itself.

What to look for when buying sustainable skincare

While every product claims to be eco-friendly, it can feel like a real challenge to work out which brands are genuinely sustainable. To make it simple if you’re just getting started, prioritize a product’s ingredients and packaging design.

Ingredients

Natural cosmetics contain a lot of inorganic minerals, natural and organic plant extracts, and fermentation products from microorganisms, as well as substances derived from any of these. Here are some common ingredients to consider:

• Aloe vera – especially great for those with sensitive skin, aloe vera has antibacterial properties that helps heal the skin barrier 
• Shea butter – used to relieve skin irritation such as eczema, rashes and burns, shea butter contains antioxidants to soothe skin inflammations
• Jojoba oil – our skin absorbs jojoba oil quickly because of its chemical structure, so it can balance our natural oils without clogging pores
• Coconut oil – has antiviral properties so can increase your skin’s barrier function while boosting moisture because of a high lipid content
• Seed oils – skin barrier-enhancing properties that help to retain moisture and protect your skin’s outer layer
• Tea tree oil – a naturally antibacterial oil that has antifungal and antimicrobial properties

Top tip: Keep an eye on the label and avoid buying products that contain synthetic substances derived from mineral oil or petrochemicals like phthalates or oxybenzone.

Packaging

Sustainable packaging has become much more innovative in recent years, and now not only focuses on plastic-free designs but also on minimizing the environmental impact throughout the entire production lifecycle. Keep an eye on packaging with:

• Biodegradable materials – plant-based packaging that naturally decomposes
• Refillable containers – to reduce single-use packaging waste
• Minimalist design – to help reduce overall material consumption
• Recycled content – packaging that is made from post-consumer recycled materials
• Carbon-neutral manufacturing – where the product manufacturing and supply-chain offsets production emissions

What is greenwashing?

Just as consumer demand for natural skincare has grown, more and more brands are now trying to join the wave – but it comes at a cost.

Many products labelled as ‘natural’, ‘bio’, ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘vegan’ don’t actually have formulations that reflect this – and while some may include a small amount of natural ingredients, they can still heavily rely on synthetic components.

To avoid this, buyers need to actively look at the product standards and brand certifications to ensure a product is genuinely sustainable. Key signs of greenwashing include:

• Vague claims – broad environmental statements without specific evidence
• Misleading imagery – nature-themed packaging and ‘green’ branding that has minimal actual sustainability
• Partial truths – messaging highlights one eco-friendly aspect but fails to acknowledge broader environmental impacts
• Unverified certifications – a lot of brands feature self-created ‘eco’ labels without independent validation, banking on a consumer not doing the research
• Buzzwords – overuse of terms like ‘natural’, ‘green’, or ‘eco-friendly’ that don’t actually have any backing behind them

Although it seems like a lot of effort, the most effective strategy to make sure your skincare products are genuinely sustainable is to simply research the brands thoroughly. Understanding their sustainability framework means that you can trust that your new favorite skincare brand is making a genuine, measurable environmental impact – and you can know with certainty what you’re putting on your skin.

5 to try…

UpCircle Face Moisturizer with Vitamin E + Aloe Vera

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Flawless Aloe & Lavender Micellar Water Cleanser

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Peace With The Wild Organic Rejuvenating Eye Cream

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Caudalie Vinergetic C+ Overnight Detox Oil

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Green People Daily SPF30 Moisturizer

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