Earth Day was yesterday, and while adopting eco-conscious habits and business practices should be on your agenda all year long, it’s especially at top of mind this month. Plus, more beauty companies are dedicated to creating sustainable and effective products, a few of which we rounded up in our April issue. Check out more companies making waves in the eco space.
MATRIX BIOLAGE R.A.W.
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Biolage R.A.W. (which stands for real, authentic, wholesome) offers products that contain up to 100 percent natural-origin ingredients, and no silicones, sulfates, parabens or artificial colors. The company backs initiatives like reducing waste and water consumption up to 58 percent, using up to 95 percent post-consumer recycled plastics and choosing 100-percent recycled bottles.
AVEDA EARTH MONTH CANDLE
Back again with its Earth Month Light the Way Candle, this year Aveda is donating 100 percent of the purchase price to Global Greengrant Fund, which gives grants to environmental grassroots groups. The candle is made from naturally derived soy and plant waxes and features a new aroma with organic vetiver from Haiti, patchouli, oregano, marjoram and cedarwood.
KÉRASTASE AURA BOTANICA
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Aura Botanica sources ingredients from small family-owned farms for formulas that are 96 to 99 percent natural. “To put the icing on the cake, they built new, all green, solar powered factories for production,” celebrity stylist Matt Fugate says. “They valued the client in every way when creating this product, not only considering the products’ performance for the hair, but also the protection of the environment and the peace of mind when using it. I’m truly hoping that this sets the new standard in product development and execution.”
TEASANE FACIAL TEA
Teasane’s Facial Tea uses calendula, primrose oil, rosemary and chamomile to hydrate and nourish skin. The brand is dedicated to developing products that harness nature’s power to promote full body wellness.
L’OCCITANE
In addition to its phthalate- and silicone-free formulas, L’Occitane uses plant oils over mineral oils and opts for recycled materials for its packaging. Plus, it offers more eco-refills for certain products, using 80 percent less plastic than a bottle.
CHI OLIVE ORGANICS
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CHI upgraded its formula with a mix of extra virgin olive oil and botanical ingredients including chamomile, passion fruit and calendula flowers. The new line includes Shampoo Body Wash, Conditioner, Treatment Masque, Styling Glaze and Hair & Body Oil.
LASHFOOD FOOD PHYTO-MEDIC LASH ENHANCER
This eco-certified lash enhancing serum is designed to thicken and lengthen lashes using a Phyto-Medi Complex that delivers nutrients to lashes via herbal extracts. It’s formulated without prostaglandin, silicone, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, mineral oils, phenoxyethanol, PEG, petrochemicals, GMOs, and formaldehyde donors.
S.OIL
This hybrid, multipurpose hair treatment is a serum and oil that can be applied to wet or dry hair and features formulas made from all-natural, organic and eco-certified ingredients like jojoba seed oil, safflower seed oil, Australian sandalwood seed oil, broccoli seed oil, coconut oil, and tea tree leaf oil, to name a few.
PLUS! CELEBRITY STYLIST MATT FUGATE’S ECO-FRIENDLY BEAUTY TIPS TO SHARE WITH CLIENTS:
1. Focus on towel-drying your hair.
2. Unless you have unruly hair, apply your product once your hair is 50 percent dry, so that water won’t dilute product and sabotage styling effort.
3. Refresh blowouts with rollers, or rags, instead of curling irons. Use a light mist of water on your dry hair, and then wrap the mid-lengths around a roller like you would your iron to create movement without heat.
4. Silk/hair-centric pillow cases will drastically reduce styling time in the morning. My favorite is NIGHT pillows.
5. Invest in products that care. Some "trendy" products are made in factories that produce harmful waste or get their use inferior, mass-produced ingredients.