Envirosafe Cosmetics

Image: Tree Hugger

The world currently lives and breathes cosmetics. Be it female, male, child or an elderly person, everyone you know uses direct or indirect forms of cosmetics in their day to day life. Cosmetics has been in use for hundreds and thousands of years and despite all the negative side effects and deformities, the cosmetic industry has changed and evolved to be regarded as one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, but this growth came with a price, a huge number of incidences of lead poisoning were reported during the 19th century because of the trend for red and white lead makeup and powder and not to mention the pollution due to plastic packaging and synthetics. However, with the advancement of the industry by altering the chemistry of products and introduction of various fragrances into the products, by the midway of 20th century, the industry gained popularity among women and bagged the position to become a multi-billion dollar enterprise during the onset of the 21st century. The industry has continued to maintain its position ever since, but the adverse health effects and environmental pollution still remains the same. Following the government's plan to ban plastic, in turn reducing the pollution and waste and with the increasing awareness about the environment and its deterioration, public in the present time are seeking more natural and ecofriendly products obligating manufactures to add green and sustainable derivatives into their products making them green cosmetics. Cosmetics developers have started using oleochemicals which are derived from natural sources including plants and bacteria into their products making them eco-friendly and toxic-free. Its been a couple of years since green cosmetics has gained the attention of youth, but it certainly needs a large scale validation. While many amazing brands are making legit natural, organic, and herbal products there may be some bluff companies selling toxins by claiming that their products are "natural" and "organic" misleading people to buy them at extremely cheap prices. We as a well informed and well aware customers should read the entire list of mentioned ingredients carefully to avoid chemicals that are harmful to the overall health and wellbeing of the body. Products with ingredients such as toluene, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, silicone derivatives, DEA, TEA, hydroquinone, etc. should be strictly avoided as they are deadly and extremely harmful to the body and maybe to the enviornment. If you are a fan of natural oils, you should look for coconut oil, palm oil, argan oil, avocado oil, and glycerine. Make sure you check labels for the leaping bunny logo or the words "cruelty-free", "vegan", or "sustainable". While there are n numbers of companies claiming to be vegan and eco-friendly, the following is a list of top Eco-friendly brands available in India as well as abroad on which the public can easily rely,

 1. The Body Shop

Image: Maple Holistics

The Body Shop is a British company available in India and is popular for standing against animal testing. It uses the world's finest ethically-sourced ingredients to create a range of naturally-inspired beauty products. The Body Shop is 100% vegetarian and includes all the products from skincare, body care, makeup and perfumes of all kinds. Their face masks, seaweed oil-control gel cream and tea tree oil are highly loved by the consumers. 

2. Forest Essentials:

Image: Forest Essentials

Forest Essentials is an authentic, ayurvedic, traditional skincare Indian brand with a blend of ancient wisdom and modern aesthetics. The brand has adopted traditional formulations and methods of manufacturing and uses only the purest, fresh, seasonal and natural ingredients. Thier facial toner and light day lotion  

3. Plum Goodness: 

Plum Goodness an online Indian cosmetics brand is a Peta Certified 100% vegan and cruetly free cosmetics brand and is considered as India's first 100% vegan beauty brand having a wide variety of skincare products and gained quick popularity due to the products being paraben-free, phthalates free and of premium quality.  

4. Iba Halal Care:

Iba Halal care is India's first halal and vegan cosmetics brand. Iba products are PETA Certified and cruelty free. All their products are free from non-halal ingredients such as pig fat and animal-derived ingredients such as lanolin, keratin, gelatin, as well as alcohol and harsh chemicals like sulfates. Iba products are not only natural but also pure, manufactured and formulated with top notch hygine to meet the ethical needs of all consumers including Muslims, Jains, vegetarians and vegans. It is India's first, one and only Halal certified cosmetic brand.  

5. Axiology:

Axiology is a natural, organic, Californian based brand that sells liptcks. It is also a part of PETA's 'Beauty Without Bunnies' programme and are certified as vegan and cruelty-free. Thier ingredients include organic avocado oil, avocado butter, castor seed oil and camdelilla wax that make up the base of the lipsticks for a truly nourishing formula, whilist vitamin E and elderberry extracts that protect and heal. Axiology boxes are sourced from women in Bali that recycle local rubbish into the paper. 

These are the companies we should be supporting instead of those selling their products in the name of 'natural' as well as 'organic' and subjecting animals to several unnesessary experiments. Some of them surely are high end. These may be heavier on the pocket but at least they won't cost you your life. With tons of work still to do in achiving enviornmental sustainability, envirosafe cosmetics seems like a good beginning.

 

 References: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics

http://www.ibahalalcare.com/ 

https://www.thebodyshop.in/

https://www.forestessentialsindia.com/ 

https://plumgoodness.com/

https://www.alyaka.com/brands/axiology/

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