It might seem fairly superficial on the surface, but the small acts that the beauty industry is making will actually have a positive impact on our planet. When you think about it, your bathroom cabinet holds the products you use on a daily basis, without fail. 

And when it comes to those products, we’re all well aware of how important it is to reduce our plastic usage, to recycle and refill products where it’s possible to, and how testing on animals is bad – both ethically and environmentally – but beyond those things, what processes can we hold the beauty industry, and ourselves, accountable for?

Well, actually, there are quite a lot. But we get it – it’s an overwhelming subject and one that doesn’t seem to get any easier to understand. However, like anything, the key is education and learning about what’s good, what’s bad and what could perhaps be done better – and the power you hold with your own personal choices, whether that’s through the brands and products you buy and shop from, the ingredients you want to avoid or what you want more of in your routine.

Here, we’ve broken down some of the key things that have an impact…

Some green flags to look out for when it comes to processes – 100% cruelty-free, natural and organic ingredients, brands that talk about their chain of good. When it comes to choosing cruelty-free, it’s not just about ethics – the process of testing on animals contributes to pollution, can contaminate soil and impact delicate ecosystems.

A red flag – mineral oil. There is a lot of debate around mineral oil which is often used in products to help with hydration. It’s derived from petroleum and while there isn’t evidence that it has an impact on human health, it does have an impact on the planet. The biggest issue with it is that it’s a non-renewable resource. Not only does producing it add to pollution levels, it’s also unsustainable and non-biodegradable, meaning it ends up being harmful to plants, fish and wildlife.

The two most common types used in beauty products are petrolatum and paraffin, but look out for mineral oil, microcristallina, ozokerite and synthetic wax in ingredients lists too.

That said, not all minerals are created equal. While mineral oil can be harmful, minerals like titanium dioxide, zinc and iron oxide and responsibly sourced mica (found in natural mineral foundations like bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation) can be super-kind to your skin and the planet.

Preservatives play a vital part in the cosmetics industry and their core job is to protect against the growth of bacteria and to prevent formulas being altered or contaminated throughout the shelf life.

In short, they work to keep the products we’re using on our faces and bodies safe and effective – but some preservatives are better than others. 

Parabens are one of the main types to avoid – while there are concerns around the fact that using them could possibly disrupt hormones and potentially be linked to breast cancer, it’s more the environmental impact they have. Studies have shown that they’ve been found inside sea creatures and it’s believed they can damage and kill coral, too.

Formaldehydes are another example of preservatives often found in cosmetics, and while the levels used in most cosmetic products are low enough to not be deemed dangerous, it is an ingredient that a lot of people can be sensitive to and it can often cause redness, blotchiness, itching and peeling of skin. 

However, it’s not all bad and since preservatives are a vital part of any formulation, the ones to look out for include propanediol, phenoxyethanol in concentrations of 1% or less and phenoxyethanol. 

Our oceans suffer huge consequences because of human choices. 

Not only is plastic polluting the waters, but there’s an array of other things that are having a negative effect too. A ban on sales of products containing one of the biggest culprits – microbeads – came into force back in 2018 due to the serious harm they can cause to marine life. But other ingredients, like chemical sunscreen filters, like oxybenzone and octinoxate, are best avoided too because they’re believed to be harmful to our depleting levels of coral reef.

Instead, choose mineral or zinc-based filters (also called physical sunscreens) as they’re a much better choice for people, especially those with sensitive skin, and the planet – try bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser which has SPF30 in mineral form. 

Finally, the biggest difference you can make to the future of our world is by utilising the power of your choices. Ultimately, we are all responsible for our own decisions and the impact they will have – and the power to educate yourself, to work out what’s best for you personally and to figure out exactly what impact those choices will have on the planet is in your hands. 

And although that sounds like a lot of weight on your shoulders, those decisions are being made easier because there are plenty of brands out there who are doing their bit to make your life easier. Look for beauty products that actively shout about the ingredients they don’t formulate into their products in order to help you on your own journey (bareMinerals are champions in this area – check out their no-go list here).

The saying about small steps adding up to create big, positive change has never rung more true than it does right now. 

bareMinerals are the creators of clean beauty products that are skin-improving, Earth-conscious and cruelty-free. They function with the belief that if we look good, we feel good and we do good.

From skincare to make-up, their products take care of your skin and the planet while you wear them. Shop the range below.