Waterless Beauty – The Future of Cosmetics?

The boom of the personal care and cosmetics industry is one of the factors that has recently increased water usage, making the production of cosmetics not sustainable at all.

According to some market-research firms, in the next few years, the usage of water will be considered a luxury. This prediction makes us think of the importance of the global crisis around this natural resource, and it urges cosmetic brands to reconsider the usage and dependency on this element.

Waterless beauty means reducing the quantity of water in the final product formulations. This concept has been creating awareness in leading beauty companies that are willing to reduce their water consumption.

However, this represents a big challenge, as water is used as a base for the majority of skincare and cosmetic products, making the production cheaper and more profitable for cosmetic companies.

There are a few companies that have started to be aware of this problem, and had already taken decisions to reduce water abstraction related to manufacturing, which is the case of Unilever and L’Oréal.

Just as these brands have started to take action on this matter, so too should we. At this point, it is more important than ever to start following a water-conscious beauty routine, and adapt our habits to the responsible use of this resource.

A few benefits of waterless beauty:

Other than huge environmental benefits, waterless products are usually stronger and last longer than regular products. Their formulas tend to be more potent, allowing us to use less product and get the same results.

Water can easily grow bacteria, so there is a need to add chemical preservatives, which are harmful to our body. Other chemicals are also added to impart a texture or scent to the product, making water products polluted products. Anhydrous cosmetics do not have water; therefore, it is more difficult for bacteria to grow in them.

Finally, anhydrous products absorb easier into the skin because of oil lipid content to get actives to where they need to go, whereas water products aren’t as effective.