Nature has the answer… and the answer is Organic

With the worrying state of the climate, after a summer of record-breaking heat waves, floods and fires it is urgent that we start to prioritise protecting nature and the planet.

This month marks Organic September, a month-long campaign founded by The Soil Association to raise awareness of the benefits of Organic, and amplify the voices of Organic businesses and their incredible efforts to support nature, wildlife and protect the planet.

There are so many products available, and it’s sometimes hard to trust how ‘Organic’ or ‘Natural’ brands truly are, which is why we have created this guide to Organic Beauty, and the certifications to look out for.

By now we all know Organic is good, but why is it so important? 

With wildlife under threat due to habitat loss and pesticide use, Certified Organic beauty is key for a better future for wildlife and biodiversity. Organic farms are havens for wildlife, providing food and homes for many different species and working with natural systems to protect the land and minimise disruption to the natural environment. Certified Organic beauty is not only important for the planet, but also great for nourishing your body and giving it the fresh, organic ingredients we thrive on. Avoid harsh chemical ingredients and synthetics and replace them with the goodness and nutrients sourced from nature.

Certification low-down - How to find out if a product is truly organic:  

So, now you know to focus on purchasing Organic Beauty products, but how do you know how Organic it really is? This is exactly why The Soil Association joined with four international partners to create COSMOS: a worldwide standard for Beauty certification, providing complete clarity in the industry for consumers.

For a product to be granted with the COSMOS Organic Certification it undergoes rigorous checking, and at least 95% of all ingredients must be Organic. When shopping, look out for the SA Organic symbol, and purchase with confidence knowing the product really is Organic.

Organic and Natural Beauty all Year-Round:

Choosing Organic Beauty goes beyond September; it is the way forward to a better future for people, plants, the planet and wildlife, which is why BLOMMA Beauty created their Organic Beauty online store, with a carefully curated collection of Organic and Natural brands only! Independent brands and products are chosen based on their ingredients, efficacy, and environmental impact to bring customers the best in Organic and Natural beauty, with a sustainable and ethical ethos. 

Natural and Organic ingredients are the best way to give our hair (as well as our skin) the nutrition it truly needs. Built upon this ethos, Vicktesha Cunningham, founder of VTESSIA Cosmetics has created 4 powerful blends made up of 24 Organic cold-pressed oils to formulate their range of hair care solutions. 100% Natural and Cruelty-free, the Hair Growth Oil steers away from ‘the nasty stuff’, with no synthetic fragrances, silicones, parabens or sulphates.

Battling the packaging and plastic issues in the Beauty industry is a whole other story, but Object Beauty are a brand working hard to tackle both in one, by creating Organic, Natural and plastic free beauty essentials, which are kind to people and the planet. Object’s Natural Beauty Bars use ingredients such as Moringa and Jojoba Oil as well as Coconut Milk, to nourish the body with the power of nature.

So next time you’re looking to add a new product into your beauty routine, just remember that nature has your answer, and the answer is Organic.

To learn more about our services, or to get an insight into our clients, head over to our Instagram page.

We believe in shining a light on achievements. There’s one right here! Written by our lovely PR & Social Media Intern Libby Howard.

Plastic: It's Not Fantastic – Why We Need to Ditch Plastic From Our Beauty & Wellness Routines

This Plastic-Free July We’re Confronted with the Reality of Plastic Pollution.

Plastic-free July is a global awareness month.

Every day we are confronted with the reality of plastic pollution. Step outside and the high street will inevitably, be littered with discarded plastic bottles. Go on your weekly shop and you’ll undoubtedly find individually wrapped oranges, still in their skin. Scroll through social media and won’t be long until you see images of humanity’s damaging effect on the environment. Plastic is simply unavoidable and an issue we can no longer ignore.

Start small

When confronted with the reality of plastic pollution, there can be an overwhelming desire to find every plastic item in your home and launch them into the nearest recycling bin. Sadly though, this isn’t sustainable either. Without replacing these products with eco-friendly alternatives, we will inevitably set ourselves up for failure and easily fall back into old habits.

Instead, start with one small change. Choose a single area of your life to focus on where you’d like to reduce your plastic consumption. It could be as simple as switching from a regular toothbrush to a bamboo one. Small changes like this may seem insignificant but considering that over 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are consumed each year, it’s easy to see how our choices have a lasting impact.

Do your research

Change is never easy, especially when you are trying to go plastic-free. That’s why it’s essential to do your research beforehand.

Admittedly though, this is easier said than done. Beauty brands have been eager to capitalise on the sustainability trend, often marketing products as “eco-friendly” despite them containing plastic in their packaging or ingredients. This practise of greenwashing makes it nearly impossible for the average consumer to know whether their product is truly sustainable. Even more alarmingly, many of us have encountered this problem whilst shopping for supposedly plastic free goods.

Now, more than ever, it’s vital that we educate ourselves and become aware of greenwashing – especially as the beauty industry is still responsible for producing over 120 billion units of packaging annually. As a consumer, try to familiarise yourself with eco-friendly brands, materials and products whenever possible. If you are unsure whether a brand is sustainable or not, it’s good to consider a range of aspects including: the materials, the general quality and the packaging. A good rule of thumb is that the poorer the product quality is, the less sustainable it is.

Another thing to look out for is certification. Brands like Iceland and Teapigs have begun to include the plastic free certification mark, which will make it far easier for shoppers to find plastic free options. Whilst  it isn’t as well known as the Vegan sunflower or anti-cruelty Leaping Bunny logo, you can expect to see it more and more in the coming years. You can also look out for the B Corporation mark and Positive Luxury Butterfly mark, which are certifications awarded to a company based on their social and environmental impact.

If you are still unsure about a product, get in contact with the company who manufactures it. Nowadays, most businesses are more transparent about their sustainability, provide further information on their website or by request. This research may seem excessive but as a consumer you have every right to know more about the products you buy.

Recycling is unreliable

Whilst recycling should always be encouraged, it’s no secret that the system in the UK is a little broken. Recent controversies about how much plastic is actually being recycled and the amount of waste being exported poorer nations have made this clear. So if we can’t rely on recycling, how do we solve our plastic problem?

The easiest way to do this is by reducing our plastic consumption wherever possible. Ideally, you should seek out companies that use post-consumer recycled materials (PCR) or other sustainable forms of packaging, such as glass jars. Thankfully more and more brands, such as RMS Beauty and Milk Makeup, are choosing to do this and will often state what materials have been used on their packaging.

Alternatively, use “solid” beauty products like shampoo bars from object beauty, skincare or shower gels. These items usually with minimal paper packaging and are widely available, which makes them an even easier plastic free swap.

Fill your boots 

Another way to easily cut your plastic consumption is by using refillable make up or beauty products. Not only are they a great to reduce plastic waste, but you only pay for the products you love.

The concept is hardly new, with refillable lipsticks and compact once the norm in the 40s and 50s. Over the years however, these were replaced plastic packaging which was cheaper for manufactures and offered endless design possibilities. As a result, refills were all but phased out and the cost of new cases skyrocketed.

Nowadays, more and more companies are offering refillable products at a range of price points. Even, major beauty brands like Mac are getting involved, as they strive to become more sustainable. Their signature Pro Palette base starts costs under £5 with the average cost of £10 per pan depending on whether you buy eyeshadow, blusher or concealer. Good for the environment and your purse, what’s not to love?

Go Guilt Free

Too often we have an all or nothing mentality when it comes to sustainability. We push ourselves to make lasting changes, such as no longer using face wipes, only to feel defeated when we fail – sometimes through no fault of our own. Not only is this mindset harmful our self-esteem, but it’s harmful to the environment too as we struggling to reinstate the good habits we’ve built.  

Instead of feeling guilt, we need to recognise that we all have budget, lifestyle and time constraints which will impact our choices. We should all be commended for the small decision we make that positively impact the environment, even if it’s just choosing the product with less plastic packaging than other brands. Remember sustainability is about being perfection, it’s about making the best choices with the options available to us. Anne Marie Bonneau said it best “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”

To learn more about our services, or to get an insight into our clients, head over to our Instagram page.

We believe in shining a light on achievements. There’s one right here! Written by the brilliant Katherine Sidnell, for The Brand Whisperer.

World Water Day 2021

Waterless Beauty: one of the latest trends to storm the beauty industry, is helping us make small changes to save the planet.

So what is Waterless Beauty? You might have seen Garnier's latest Hair Care product on your TV screens, advertising a new range of Shampoo Bars? Admirably, other companies such as Lush have also gone ‘naked’ and plastic-less with some of their products, creating solid Shampoo that looks like a bar of soap, which requires no packaging whatsoever.

The idea of Waterless Beauty is ultimately to reduce the amount of water being used in the formulation or our Beauty products, as overwhelming excess-use of water is becoming an industry-wide problem. According to Vogue Online, many products are composed of 70 - 80% water, however this is both unnecessary and unsustainable. 

This is why Indie Beauty brands like Object are born, and have created innovative Hair and Body formulas that are natural, ethical and zero-waste. They prove that you don’t need water to create a luxury Beauty product - and you’re not sacrificing quality by opting for waterless, either! As well as addressing the water issue, the use of waterless Beauty products may also solve the issue of plastic waste, with brands like Object using a recycled cotton and bamboo blend to package their Shampoo Bars, showing another way we can shop more sustainably. 

Ok, so you’re helping the environment when buying Waterless Beauty, but your skin may thank you, too! According to Fashionista Magazine, Waterless Skincare is more concentrated, and in most cases, more powerful. Leaving water out of the INCI list also means a product doesn’t have to use harsh chemical preservatives, so you’re not exposing your skin to as many chemicals additives. Water is, of course, often associated with hydration, but it can actually do the opposite when applied to your skin; as it can promote the growth of bacteria which can cause the skin to become more dry. 

So the next time you're going out to buy your go-to beauty product, ask yourself could I opt for something more sustainable, without water? 

We believe in shining a light on achievements. There’s one right here! Written by The Brand Whisperer’s Social Media intern: Kate Thomas 🎉