FRESH PERSPECTIVE

SUSTAINABLE

SKIN CARE?

We often hear about the detrimental effects  synthetic chemicals in our skin care have on the environment. But the flip side could be just as damaging. The cosmetics and skin care industry is a massive business that require vast amounts of ingredients.  And the demand for “all-natural” ingredients may have adverse environmental consequences (link to Dec. Supplement).

Consider the following, QUICK FACTS:

• To formulate safe and effective skin care we need to isolate specific chemicals from plants for their particular properties and/or to remove their toxicity. 

• There are two ways of doing this:  plant extraction or synthetic reproduction.

From a safety and efficacy point of view, there is no difference between the chemicals generated from either process – their properties are identical in every way.

From an ecological and sustainability standpoint, however, there is a big difference. Natural extraction requires huge amounts of plant material.  This translates to mass cultivation which requires massive amounts of water, land, fertilizer, and produces high levels of carbon emission. Most commercial plant extraction methods also use synthetic and petrochemicals in the process.

In the case of rare plants or mature trees which are difficult to cultivate, natural extraction poses a high risk of depleting their populations in the wild. The Indian Sandalwood, for example, is in danger of extinction due to overharvesting.

Synthetic reproduction, on the other hand, is extremely efficient and highly regulated.

And in some cases, it produces better quality and more stable ingredients.  The natural form of Vitamin C, for example, is too volatile to use in cosmetic formulations.  But, its synthetic counterpart, L-ascorbic acid is one of the most promising, safe and effective anti-oxidants.   Retinoids, another synthetic ingredient derived from  vit. A, are extremely effective in improving skin texture and elasticity.

We urge spas to keep an open mind and to make thoughtful and intelligent choices that are based on science, not sound bites or unsubstantiated claims.

Science and nature are not at odds. On the contrary. Science seeks to understand nature.  And through this  understanding we have a better chance at protecting and preserving the planet’s natural resources. For more information click here:

http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/pdf/MakingSenseofChemicalStories.pdf

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