Conscious beauty
Conscious beauty: a sustainable trend
More and more cosmetics users want their consumption habits to have a positive impact on the environment and society. They prefer products with sustainable, natural ingredients. Many say that they feel better when they base their decisions in the cosmetics sector on ecological and ethical considerations. Conscious beauty is important to them.
The cosmetics industry is responding to this development with practices and claims that specifically target conscious beauty. This is reflected in statements about natural ingredients, social responsibility, production under fair working conditions, no animal testing, environmentally friendly products and packaging, and product efficiency. The avoidance of preservatives, parabens, silicones, or substances that are difficult to break down and harmful to water also plays a central role. In addition, consumers are paying increasing attention to dermatological test results.
Cosmetics companies that consistently implement conscious beauty see this as a growth-promoting strategy. The focus is on valuing people, the planet, and their own performance. This is reflected in the respectful use of resources, sustainable and advanced technologies, and innovative and personalized solutions.
Conscious beauty as a principle of action is also recognized in the business world. Companies that operate sustainably can, for example, be members of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, be included in the CDP Driving Sustainable Economies, perform well in the EcoVadis CSR rating, or underline their commitment by becoming members of the Ethibel Investment Register or the FTSE4Good Index.
In addition, they can join programs and initiatives that promote sustainability, such as RSPO (Round Table of Sustainable Palm Oil), Together for Sustainability, Responsible Care, or the UN Global Compact.
Various labels identify products as natural or sustainable, such as Nordic Ecolabel, Ecocert, or COSMOS. They provide guidance to consumers and show that companies are taking responsibility for people, the environment, and quality.
Clariant’s Ecotain® label also stands for conscious beauty. Products with this label have been systematically tested and have proven their sustainability in all three dimensions – ecological, social, and economic. They are safe, well tolerated, and manufactured under socially controlled conditions. They also conserve resources through traceable raw material extraction, for example via RSPO certification.
Biodegradability: a key criterion
One active ingredient that meets the criteria for conscious beauty is Glucotain® (trade name, Clariant). It is characterized by rapid biological, aerobic, and anaerobic degradability and is classified as non-hazardous to water according to GHS classification. In addition to its sustainability, it impresses with its pleasant sensory properties, mild characteristics, and high performance.
There are various GlucoTain® compounds that are used as foam boosters, co-surfactants, or to improve sensory properties—for example, in hair conditioners or cleansing foams. They are based on RSPO-certified palm oil as well as coconut oil, sunflower oil, or corn.
Plant-based silicone alternatives
Olive, macadamia, crambe, babussa, argan, shea, and cocoa butter are excellent natural alternatives to silicone in skin and hair care products. They are available under the trade name Plantasens® from Clariant, for example.
These plant-based alternatives offer similar positive properties to silicones: improved skin feel, increased hair shine, and better combability. At the same time, they are transparent in the formulation and odorless.
Formulations with olive oil, for example, showed an equally good improvement in hair shine in both damaged and undamaged hair.
The camelina plant can also be grown as a second crop in dry seasons or areas, enabling better use of marginal land. It is suitable for rotational cultivation and improves soil fertility. Camelina oil adds shine to the hair without weighing it down and has been shown in tests to be superior to argan, coconut, and meadowfoam oils.
Natural conditioner for conscious beauty
A natural conditioner without mineral oil and with 100% renewable carbon is another option for conscious beauty. Its ingredients are RSPO palm kernel oil, castor oil, and rapeseed oil.
It is biodegradable within ten days, shows no toxicity to algae or daphnia, and is a more sustainable alternative to conventional cationic agents. It makes it easier to detangle wet, damaged hair and improves the performance of conditioning shampoos.
Conscious beauty avoids aggressive sulfates
Sugar- or amino acid-based surfactants are a suitable alternative to sulfate-based surfactants such as SLS. They are gentle on the skin and produce good lather even in hard water. Examples include glutamates, taurides, isethionates, and sarcosinates.
They are often based on fatty acids from coconut or sunflower oil and meet the ISO 16128 standard, making them ideal for conscious beauty concepts.
Natural emulsifiers and fewer preservatives
Conscious beauty prefers 100% plant-based, PEG-free emulsifiers. One example is a natural emulsifier based on olive oil unsaponifiables, which is suitable for O/W emulsions, absorbs quickly, and leaves a pleasant feeling of freshness—without a greasy film.
Conscious beauty also focuses on reduction when it comes to preservation. Modern, certified raw materials can serve as preservation boosters and make it possible to significantly reduce the use of classic preservatives.
Conscious beauty at Cosmacon
This attitude is also in line with Cosmacon’s philosophy. We are constantly searching for ingredients that replace potentially problematic substances, are sustainable and innovative, promote the well-being of users, and at the same time take social standards and the protection of our planet into account.
Our goal is to combine sustainable cosmetics with excellent performance – responsibly, transparently, and with an eye to the future. Contact us!
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