With World Water Day on March 22nd, we periodically review the trending concept of waterless beauty, which is set to take the mainstream beauty industry by storm in 1999.
Customers want to accept durability. Water scarcity is a major global crisis: currently one in nine people do not have access to safe drinking water. Experts estimate that by 2022, one in two people will live under water pressure (i). Therefore it should come as no surprise that the beauty industry has turned its attention to water.
Waterless Beauty: The Key
Shameless beauty first originated in South Korea. Skincare brands initially drew their unpretentious formulas as more concentrated than conventional beauty products tou had their thought that more powerful formulations have more beneficial effects on the skin. However, the word ‘waterless beauty’ has changed since then. Most beauty buyers will now equate this term with a more sustainable lifestyle.
What is the structure of aquatic beauty?
Have you ever read labels on your beauty products? You’ve definitely seen the word ‘aqua’ sitting at the top. That first ingredient on the label usually makes up most of the size. Shampoos can contain about 90% water. Even your expensive anti-aging serums can contain up to 70% water.
On the other hand, you can also see the beauty of waterless labeled or “water-free” formulations; Common anhydrous formulations such as balm and oil. You can rub the list of their ingredients and you will not see the listed ‘Aqua’.
However, it is not important to consider whether beauty products contain water. They all have water footprints. So it is impossible for them to be truly waterless or to avoid water footprints.
Waterless beauty is trending. But what is it and can you really create seamless formulas?
Waterless Beauty has a water footprint
Let’s look at an example of a watermark of a product and apply it to the beauty industry. For anhydrous facial balm (a formula that usually does not contain water) to make it with your hands, it will go to the following stages that involve all water:
Agriculture is a water-intensive industry. Crops use 70% of the world’s water (i). The biggest part of your beauty balm water footprint will come from the ingredients in it. It is not actually after any of these watery ingredients.
Cosmetic material shipping
Shipping also has a large water footprint. For example, even after using bio-ethanol, a Shia butter transport plane from Ghana to the UK can still use about 166 liters of water per passenger kilometer (ii).
Produces formulas for your beauty
The manufacturing process will also require water. It will be in the form of operating equipment, cleaning equipment, and running general facilities. The environmental impact of research labs and factories is now under increasing scrutiny.
Packaging and shipping your beauty formula for retail
Your beauty balm packaging will also have a water footprint. It will fully expand through its supply chain. Worldwide, we produce 400 million tons of packaging every year across all industries. It uses 650 to 800 billion cubic meters of water (iii). Once packaged, your balm will hit the road again (further increasing its water footprint) and will be transferred to its retail destination or final customer.
Use your beauty balm
There can be no water in your beauty balm. But once you use it, you will still use water in your beauty system. Facial balms usually include cleansing, toning, and moisturizing when ready to use. Even you, as a consumer of beauty products, have a watery impression.
Disposing of your beauty balm
So you have used all your balms. You will still be left with a container that needs to be composed, recycled, or disposed of. Your packaging recyclable must have less water footprint than packaging products in the first place. However, to be ready for reuse, your packaging still needs to be washed and processed.
