Beauty trends come and go faster than ever these days. There’s always a new skincare ingredient, a controversial cosmetic product, and a hot shade of the season to try. Even for the self-care and makeup-obsessed, this cycle can start to feel a little, well, wasteful.
On the other hand, there is another more sustainable trend: rechargeable beauty products. They are exactly what they sound like: personal care items, toiletries, and cosmetics that you buy, use, and then replenish instead of just throwing them away. These easier-to-use refills can take many forms, from pouches to powders to tablets and pods.
Rechargeable beauty products aren’t new per se, but you may have noticed a recent surge in brands getting into the rechargeable game. “During the pandemic, people became more aware of taking care of each other and our planet, and consumers began to look for more sustainable options in addition to brands also focusing on this as a priority,” says the certificate by the board. based in New York City. dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD.
The advantages of rechargeables
“Refillable products are a big step in reducing waste and our carbon footprint,” says Dr. Steve Xu, MD, founding dermatologist at Geologie, which just launched reusable hair care bags.
That’s because, in general, as he points out, a refill tends to have less packaging material than buying the original item all over again, which can lead to a lower carbon footprint both in production and in transit. Additionally, refill systems allow you, the consumer, to accumulate less plastic and glass waste, which can sometimes be more difficult to recycle than you think.
And not surprisingly: “Refillable containers are also believed to offer convenience and cost savings,” says Dr. Garshick. The latter tends to be more pronounced when you sign up to top up subscriptions, which many brands offer at a lower cost as an incentive.
Are rechargeable beauty products greener and cleaner?
Today, a number of the companies you’ll find creating refillable beauty products tend to be of the “clean” variety, as sustainable packaging certainly fits the best-for-you beauty ethos, often fueled by plant-based ingredients. and greater transparency. in formulas.
But: “In general, rechargeable beauty products are not necessarily of higher quality than others,” says Dr. Garshick. “Without a formal definition of what constitutes ‘clean,’ each brand can create their own terms, so just because it’s refillable doesn’t necessarily mean the product itself is ‘cleaner.'”
The bottom line: You’ll want to carefully examine any and all product labels if natural ingredients are of the utmost importance to you.
How to top up your beauty products the right way
Dr. Garshick recommends cleaning and sterilizing its original container once it is empty. (Exactly how to do this may depend on your container material.) Then, it’s best to transfer your refill product (which may come in a smaller package like paper) quickly, once opened, to maintain potency. “When formulas are exposed to air and start to oxidize, the clock starts ticking down on their effectiveness,” says Dr. Xu.
It is worth noting that some products are simply not suitable for recharging. Dr. Xu lists vitamin C serum as one such example; It typically comes packaged in a dark, solid-colored bottle to prevent exposure to air and sunlight, which can degrade this ingredient.
Perhaps he sums it up himself best: “It’s important to watch out for brands that are consciously creating formulas and packaging that are actually meant to be refilled.”
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Source: news.google.com