Is Waterless Beauty a New Trend Worldwide?
28.10.2021
For the past few years, waterless beauty or water-free beauty has been hailed as the next big sustainable beauty trend. It was actually the next big thing that we discovered in magazines from 2017 to 2021, as we were researching products for this post. Why hasn’t this trend stuck?
We already have tried many beauty products that are more sustainable. Some products work extremely well, such as natural deodorant. Others, however, are not so great.
Is waterless beauty our next big change? You can read more about the benefits of waterless beauty and what we have tried to make it happen.
WHAT IS WATERLESS BEAUTY?
Waterless beauty refers to all cosmetics made without water. Solid skincare, shampoo bars and face powders that you can mix at home are all good examples.
Waterless beauty products have grown in popularity since 2015, when they were made popular in South Korea. Waterless beauty is a bit like DIY beauty. There are some extra steps to use these products but so many benefits to going waterless.
IS THERE ANY PROBLEM WITH WATER IN COSMETICS?
On the surface, water in beauty products might not seem to be a problem. Cosmetics that contain water can cause skin irritations, simply because the product is diluted. They can also be a breeding ground of bacteria. Preservatives and antimicrobial ingredients are often added to cosmetics that contain water. These ingredients don’t actually help your skin, but simply prolong the product’s life. Even with these ingredients, water can often shorten a product’s lifespan.
Beauty pollution can affect water supplies and air quality. Beauty is a less scrutinized industry than fashion or food, and brands often conceal the impact of third-party producers. Waterless beauty products often contain fairer, more natural ingredients and are free from cruelty. They also come in plastic-free packaging. But it is worth checking the brands/products based on your values.
BENEFITS FROM WATERLESS BEAUTY
Waterless beauty has many benefits:
- Product life expectancy extended
- Makeup that is travel-friendly
- Higher formula potency
- Less packaging
- Use less preservatives.
- More ethically-sourced ingredients
It’s clear from the list that waterless beauty is much more eco-friendly than traditional products. Condensed products are often more eco-friendly because they have fewer ingredients. Although it seems like a win-win situation, these changes can have a significant impact on the product experience. That is why we decided that we would try them out.
7 WATERLESS BEAUTY PRODUCTS
- CLEANSER BAR
We guess this is our favorite waterless beauty product. This cleanser is so much better than my regular one!
This cleansing bar, despite its soapy appearance, is very gentle for the skin. It is best to lightly wet the bar before gently rubbing it across your forehead and cheeks. After that, wash your face with warm water by softly circling the suds around the face. It is so simple to use and leaves your skin soft and clean without feeling too dry.
The waterless beauty bar has less than 0.5% water and a long-lasting plant-based formula that can last up to 12 weeks. It is plastic-free and cruelty-free. It is a firm favorite.
- POWDER EXFOLIATOR
The cleanser is followed by Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant. This physical exfoliant is perfect as we don’t find acid exfoliators too harsh.
The rice-based powder can be applied with just a little water. It quickly turns into a creamy paste. Then, smooth it on your skin and scrub lightly to get rid of any flaky or dry patches.
This exfoliator is expensive, but it lasts for a very long time. It lasted us for about 12 months before we had to replace it.
- MOISTURISING BALM
Next one – moisturizer. The formula is plant-based, cruelty free, vegan, and palm oil-free. However, the application can be a bit tedious. You will need to massage the bar slightly before you can apply enough product. It’s a bit sticky and it won’t last as long as liquid moisturizers.
- POWDERED FACE MASK
Many of us love a clay-based facial mask. The ede Born Again Face Mask is perfect! It’s also waterless and easy to use. It is suitable for all skin types. We love how it tightens and hydrates the skin, without leaving any residue or redness.
The process of activating the mask is simple. Mix a teaspoon of powder with some water until you get a paste. Apply the mask – can use your finger tips to do this. Rinse off with water. This is especially helpful for dry skin this winter.
- BODY BUTTER
Next: Body butter. Solid body butter is our favorite, and Ethique beauty bars are another favorite of us since we discovered them. Their Butter Blocks are great products for travel or going to the pool.
You can apply solid body butter directly to your skin. It will melt with just a little heat. These are also cruelty-free and plastic-free. They have a coconut butter and cocoa butter base, rather than palm oil.
- SHAMPOO BAR
Let’s now move on to something a little more controversial: shampoo bars. Shampoo bars can be difficult to use if you have thick hair. You’ll need to lather the shampoo bars, which requires a lot more elbow grease. The suds then have to be applied to the scalp and washed off. This is a recipe to make your hair greasy, so we have given up on shampooing.
Note: This is not the case for everyone. May be for you this shampoo is a great option.
- SOAP
An honourable mention must go to soap! Although soap bars are fairly common, there are some better bars than others. V.O.H., Charcoal Soap for all-body use, as well as Dr Bronner’s castile soap bars are great options. They are also made in a more sustainable manner than standard soap bars. You can reduce the amount of palm oil in your soap by checking the ingredients.
Our rule of thumb is to avoid palm oil by looking for ‘palm,’ ‘laur’, and ‘stear’.
TO SUM UP
All of these products have been tried and we can tell you that waterless beauty is a good but not perfect choice. Certain cosmetics have water elements that improve the application and feel of the product. Some people find the water causes more problems than it solves. It’s all about you finding the right solution, as with many sustainable options in beauty and other areas.
Sometimes it is better to find a compromise between efficacy & eco than to make a complete sacrifice. But if you want to go waterless, we recommend soaps, cleansers and body butters as a starting point.
A final note: even though these products are water-free, it is difficult to know how much waste and water is generated behind closed doors. It is clear that the supply chain for beauty products needs to be scrutinized more closely.
