The Issue Of Sustainability In The Aesthetics Industry

In recent years, the aesthetic industry has received a growing concern for the range of green issues that have continuously impacted the environment, particularly in skincare products due to the harmful chemicals they contain. These ingredients create a range of concerns in regard to the food chain, the well-being of individuals and the ecosystem as a whole. Although, the aesthetic industry has started to take additional precautions in becoming increasingly sustainable, such as banning the use of micro-beads, this paper will discuss the further improvements that could still be made to assist in making the industry greener.

There is a wide range of disputes when discussing the harmful ingredients involved in skincare products and their influence on the environment. For instance, Beta-hydroxy Acid (BHA), which is a popular chemical exfoliator that is suitable for individuals with oily, comodone and acne prone skin. Despite the likely benefits for the skin’s dermis, this chemical is a potential concern due to research by Jos et al (2005) expressing that it has an ability to bioaccumulate. Additionally, BHA’s are known to be toxic for aquatic organisms and causing genetic mutations in amphibians. This in result, develops a ripple effect on the entire food chain, which inevitably effects the environment as a whole. Although there are prominent concerns for the environment, various high-end and drugstore brands, such as Clinique still use Beta-hydroxy acid in their products. Further chemicals that cause damaging defects on the environment include Parabens, a contributing ingredient to lotions, make-up and pharmaceuticals since the 1950’s. Parabens contain qualities that prevent bacterial growth and can enhance a product’s shelf-life, however there are a series of negative aspects to them. As well as having deteriorating impacts on coral, these preservatives are constantly accumulating within the sewage system, which in consequence has a wide-reaching effect on other living organisms. Furthermore, research indicates that this component can interfere with the production of hormones, an effect that has a correlation to an increased danger of breast cancer. Due to this, there are officially an array of Paraben-free cosmetic companies, such as Burt’s Bees and Botanical Skin Works, which contributes to making the aesthetic industry more sustainable.

The adjustment in the aesthetic industry becoming increasingly eco-friendly, has been assisted with the termination of micro-beads, governed by ex-Prime Minister, Theresa May. Some of the world’s most famous skin-care brands, including Neutrogena, continuously used microbeads as an added exfoliant in face scrubs and shower gels since they were commercially introduced in the early 1990’s. Since being banned in 2018, it has been found that the miniscule, toxic pieces of plastic did little in aiding skin health, but plenty in harming the environment. In rinse-off cosmetic products, these pieces of non-dissolvable plastic were so small that waste-water facilities could not catch them, causing them to flow into our lakes, rivers and oceans. According to Environmental Secretary Michael Gove (2018), they are ‘lethal to sea creatures’ due to their composition and ability to absorb toxins, therefore creating a damaging and unhealthy cycle for thousands of living organisms. The carcinogenic chemicals used in the production of these microplastics have been transmitted up the food chain, leading to a potential decrease in the quality of human life. Although this ban may seem trivial for the aesthetic industry, it has been an important movement in combating plastic waste, completed by exchanging harmful chemicals for natural alternatives such as Jojoba beads or salt. While formulating alternative ingredients to more eco-friendly options can be challenging, the microbead ban is a prime example that changes can be made.

In the progressive society we live in, clear skin is considered a significant factor in the stereotypical ideology of beauty, consequently a growing desire for new and improved skin-care products, is at its peak, however; this is not always a main concern for today’s consumers. There is now a growing interest in deeper issues, including the sustainability of the products they are using. As previously indicated, parabens ‘have been frequently detected in surface water, fish and sediments’, whilst their effect on humans is still not entirely clear. This uncertainty has led to research studies finding that 60% of synthetic chemicals found in make-up and skincare have the ability to access and accumulate within the blood. The severity of the effects of Phthalates in the bloodstream of pregnant women, is correlated with birth defects, showing that there is no limit to the harm that synthetic chemicals can cause. Consequently, consumers have become much more cautious in recent years, aided by raising awareness across social media platforms where many skincare companies promote their products which contain mostly, or entirely, organic ingredients.

Overall, there is still an extensive range of changes that could be made within the aesthetic industry to contribute to improvements in global sustainability. Nevertheless, as awareness is spreading with regards to protecting the environment, more individuals have begun to follow the Go Green scheme, whereby people make more ecologically responsible decisions which can result in reducing pollution and sustaining natural resources. Specific to the aesthetic industry, using products which have been made from organic ingredients is a great way to make a change. It causes less harm to marine life, reduces water pollution, decreases the risk of personal exposure to harmful chemicals and even potentially protects future generations. This small adjustment to each person's day-to-day regime can collectively make an enormous difference in reducing ecological harm.

References

1. Anderson et al. (2016) ‘Microplastics in personal care products: Exploring perceptions of environmentalists, beauticians and students’, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 113(1-2), pp. 454-460
2. Crinnion, W. (2010) ‘Toxic effects of the easily avoidable phthalates and parabens’, Alternative Medicine Review, 15(3)
3. GOV. UK (2018) World leading microbeads ban comes into force. Available at https://www. gov. uk/government/news/world-leading-microbeads-ban-comes-into-force (Accessed: 18th November 2019)
4. Haman et al. (2015) ‘Occurrence, fate and behaviour of parabens in aquatic environments: A review’, Water Research, 68(January), pp. 1-11
5. Jos et al. (2005) ‘Ecotoxicological evaluation of the additive BHA using a battery with six model systems and eighteen endpoints’ Aquatic Toxicology, 71(2), pp. 183-192
6. Mellowship, D. (2009) Toxic Beauty: The hidden chemicals in cosmetics and how they can harm us. Great Britain: Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.
7. Thomas, P. (2008) Skin Deep: The essential guide to what's in the toiletries and cosmetics you use. London: Rodale an imprint of Pan Macmillan Ltd.