And
why should I use it?..
In the clean beauty community, there are a lot of buzz words used for on-trend new movements; one of which is water-free. What does it mean, and is it a good idea?
Water or ‘aqua’ as listed on the ingredients list of most products is just that; purified water. The only difference between the water added as an ingredient and the stuff that comes out of your tap at home is one has had all the ‘impurities’ removed from it, but don’t let the word impurity put you off; all the good things in branded spring water are also considered impurities!
So why is water as an ingredient being discussed in regards to clean beauty? Firstly water is heavy, bulky, and readily available, in developed countries, in the home. Its carbon footprint can be large due to the fact transporting it requires more space than its water-free counterpart and more fule because of its weight. Examples of this in action are shampoo bars vs traditional shampoo, which leads to the second reason to go water-free.
Products with substantial water contents have to come in a container that seals; the most common choice of material used to make containers is plastic because it’s cheap and easy, and plastic is a topic unto itself.
Thirdly water is an extremely cheap and bulky ingredient that can make up 80% or more of the volume or weight of the product. The more water that is added to a product the less effective it becomes; this benefits only the company producing it; as the consumer will use more, and therefore buy more (more products require more packaging).
The fourth reason is to go waterless is the addition of water requires additional ingredients. Firstly preservatives have to be added; “because where there’s water there is also bacteria.” Secondly, emulsifiers have to be added because simply oil and water don’t mix well. These ingredients can be problematic for some skin types and have been linked back to health problems so are not desirable in skincare products.
Ultimately if you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, want to go plastic-free, or simply want to avoid unnecessary ingredients on your skin waterless is a good option for youIf you are interested in any of the above issues lookout for companies that do well in Eve’s Air, Land & Sea, and Plants leaves.
