The planet doesn’t love every skin care product you use. Marine life definitely has a vendetta towards a few hazardous ingredients that are incredibly common in beauty products.
Microbeads and squalane are two skin care ingredients that you should avoid if you’re looking to make a positive impact on ocean life, according to a CNN report. You should also check your chemical sunscreen for oxybenzone and octinoxate, too. These two chemicals are harmful to ocean life.
“The negative impacts of these ingredients can include habitat destruction, pollution of water bodies, disruption of ecosystems, harm to marine life, and contribution to climate change,” general practitioner Blen Tesfu MD told 21Ninety.
Why are certain skin care ingredients bad for the planet?
Microbeads, squalane, oxybenzone, and octinoxateare are harmful to the planet because of how they damage ocean life.
Microbeads are tiny plastic orbs that are a physical exfoliant in many wash-off beauty products. The beads end up in the water supply of local human communities as well as the ocean.
According to Dr. Tesfu, animals that live under water often mistake the plastic beads for food. Eating microbeads is deadly for marine life.
And, it’s a chain reaction. When the animals eat lots of plastic the other animals up the food chain end up eating the bits of plastic, too.
As for squalane, cosmetic chemist Autumn Blum explained where the popular ingredient comes from in the CNN report.
“Squalane is frequently obtained from shark livers,” Blum explained.
Sharks are killed to harvest squalane, according to Dr. Tesfu. So, it causes frequent hunting sprees for sharks which diminishes their population.
As if the ocean hasn’t taken enough hits, many chemical sunscreens are harmful to ocean life, too.
“Oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been found to be harmful to coral reefs and marine life,” Dr. Tesfu said.
What planet-friendly skin care alternatives are available?
Fortunately, there are alternative ingredients on the market that deliver effective results without the extensive oceanic damage.
Instead of microbeads, look for exfoliants with biodegradable ingredients. Salt and sugar are recognizable alternatives that easily break down under warm running water.
To save the sharks, opt for vegan squalane.
“Plant-based alternatives derived from olives or sugarcane, have become more widely used to mitigate the negative environmental impact associated with shark liver harvesting,” Dr. Tesfu mentioned.
Lastly, when shopping for a sunscreen, look for one that is labeled as “reef safe.” Just because a sunscreen isn’t chemical doesn’t automatically make it safe for the environment.
All in all, making these few swaps has a more positive impact on the planet.
Keep scrolling to shop products that feature these alternative, and biodegradable ingredients.
The Ordinary Plant-Derived Squalane Serum
The Ordinary’s Plant-Derived Squalane Serum is a single-ingredient hydrating skin care essential. Made of 100 percent vegan squalane, this serum has a texture similar to a face oil.
HUMANRACE Humidifying Cream
Created by Pharrell Williams, the entire HUMANRACE skin care line is vegan. That includes the brand’s Humidifying Cream. This nourishing face cream includes some serious moisturizing ingredients – including squalane, vitamin E, and coconut water.
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
Biossance’s Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream is completely vegan. Its squalane comes from sugarcane. Along with the cruelty-free nature of this eye cream, it’s also effective at reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, with regular use.
Innisfree Pore Clearing Calming Clay Mask
Innisfree’s Pore Clearing Calming Clay Mask uses volcanic clusters to power the physical exfoliation in its mask. The plastic-free formula of the clay mask also has AHA in it as a chemical exfoliator.
Shea Moisture Virgin Coconut Oil + Sugar Daily Scrub
Shea Moisture’s Virgin Coconut Oil + Sugar Daily Scrub is doesn’t have plastic orbs. Instead of little plastic balls, the sugar in this scrub delivers an efficient exfoliation. Sugar quickly breaks down under warm water.
Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator
The Gentle Rose Exfoliator by Elemis rids the skin of impurities without a single microbead. Instead, the exfoliator’s formula uses jojoba esters to get rid of gunk. Jojoba esters are a biodegradable alternative to tiny pieces of plastic.
Solara Suncare Mineral Defense Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30
Solara Suncare’s Mineral Defense Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 is a reef-safe sensitive skin-friendly mineral sunscreen. The spray-on sunscreen is also BPA-free and unscented.
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