The Importance of Ethical & Sustainable Skincare
In honor of Earth Week, we wanted to touch on something near and dear to Dahlia’s brand values, the importance of ethically and sustainably sourced skincare. Ethical and sustainable skincare is important because it considers the impact of skincare on the environment and society. It promotes responsible sourcing, manufacturing, and packaging of skincare products, and supports animal welfare by avoiding animal testing and using cruelty-free products. Choosing ethical and sustainable skincare is a conscious effort to support a healthier planet and a more responsible beauty industry, where brands are transparent about where their ingredients come from, manufacturing processes, and prioritize the health and safety of their consumers.
Common Unethical Practices in the Skincare and Cosmetic Industry
Recognizing unethical skincare practices as a consumer is important because it helps you protect yourself and the environment from harmful, ineffective, or even dangerous products. It also encourages companies to prioritize transparency, safety, and sustainability. Common unethical practices in the skincare and cosmetic industry include:
False advertising - With skincare, it is important to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Claims of immediate or miraculous results, using misleading or exaggerated language, or using manipulated or doctored images are all common example of false advertising.
Using harmful ingredients - Harmful skincare ingredients include parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. These ingredients are very common and can irritate the skin, cause allergies, disrupt hormones, and even potentially lead to cancer. It is best to avoid products containing these ingredients and opt for natural and non-toxic alternatives. Always check ingredients list and be sure to avoid the following: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben (parabens), sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate (sulfates), dbp (di-n-butyl phthalate) and dep (diethyl phthalate), and lastly, always seek out products that do not contain fragrance, as synthetic fragrances are completely unregulated and can contain many toxic, carcinogenic, and hormone disrupting ingredients.
Animal testing - Some companies still choose to test product safety on dogs, rabbits, rats, mice, etc. causing suffering and death. Always look for labels that state “cruelty-free” or “vegan friendly.” It is important to note that many skincare and cosmetic companies are owned by other, larger companies that may test their products on animals (Example: popular “cruelty-free” brands, like Drunk Elephant (owned by Shiseido) and Urban Decay (owned by Loreal) are owned by a parent company that test their products on animals, therefore by purchasing these products, the consumer is still contributing to animal cruelty). We love supporting independent, small businesses for this reason.
Greenwashing (making false or misleading claims about a product's environmental friendliness) - This is a big one. In recent years, this marketing ploy has taken a storm over common consumer goods. Watch out for some of these terms as they are completely unregulated: Botanical, Clean, Cruelty-Free, Chemical-Free, Environmentally Friendly, All Natural, Natural Fragrance, Organic, Plant-Based (never assume this automatically equals vegan), etc. If a brand uses these terms, but tests on animals, has a list of harmful ingredients, and uses mostly plastic packaging, they are probably green washing.
Engaging in exploitative labor practices or lack transparency about their sourcing and manufacturing processes - Unethical labor practices in skincare can include the use of child labor, low wages, unsafe working conditions, and lack of worker rights and protections. It is important to research and choose skincare brands that prioritize ethical labor practices and support fair treatment of workers in their supply chains.
Our Commitment to Ethics and Sustainability
Dahlia Skincare was developed with the earth, animals, and simplicity in mind. We intentionally use recyclable glass bottles and minimal plastic in our packaging to reduce waste. We encourage our customers to thoroughly wash and rinse bottles after use to properly recycle or reuse, and are working on product refill options. As for what is in our products, Dahlia Skincare believes in using naturally derived and organic (when possible) ingredients that nourish, hydrate, and repair the skin’s natural barrier function. Our formulations use a variety of sustainably sourced plant compounds, fruits, vegetables, fungi, and natural preservatives that are sourced from local gardeners, sustainable farms, ethically from the wild, and from our FDA-compliant lab partners. The natural crystals that we feature in our skincare tool kits are sourced from abundant mines where workers are paid fair wages and work in safe conditions. At Dahlia, we are committed to using animal-free alternatives in our skincare, because we value and appreciate all beings and believe that skincare should only be tested on those who are using it… never animals. Products like our Plant-Based Squalane Facial Oil feature squalane that is extracted from olives, rather than shark liver, which contributes to the slaughtering of over 100 million sharks per year. Our Wild Plum + Blueberry Toner features botanically derived hyaluronic acid, rather than hyaluronic acid that is extracted from cows, chicken, and sheep. We are proud that our customers will easily recognize the ingredients listed on our labels, that our products are made in small batches, and that we offer a true plant-based skincare experience and will always be 100% cruelty-free.
Ultimately, the best way to save the planet is to consume less. We created simple skincare, with formulations that work with almost all skin types by combining nature and science. Not only is a skincare routine that consists of several steps overwhelming, but it is not always necessary. Always do research and ask questions when choosing products to introduce to your daily rituals ☺
