"Sustainability In Skincare Is Complex": Founder, SkinQ
In an interaction with Urvi Shrivastav, Editorial Lead, BW CFO, BW Businessworld; speaks to Dr Chytra V Anand, an internationally renowned Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist. She is the Founder and Chief Formulator at SkinQ - A D2C skincare line. She speaks about sustainability in skincare and the role SkinQ is playing in this field
What is Sustainable Skincare?
Skincare is sustainable when collective consciousness by skincare brands, aligns with practices within the wide-ranging spectrum of sustainable skincare. Sustainable skincare revolves around ideologies such as thoughtful packaging, recycling single-use plastic, a minimalist lifestyle, being conscious of animal welfare, and ethical sourcing of ingredients to name a few. Sustainability resonates with kindness- kindness to ourselves and those around us.
'Sustainability in Skincare: the key for innovation', your thoughts?
Sustainability in the skincare industry is a complex topic. There are various attributes that fall under the sustainability spectrum, however, at most times, it becomes challenging for a brand to live up to all of them. The idea of sustainability in skincare is definitely a key to a new, thoughtful and safer planet.
As a dermatologist and an entrepreneur, my approach with SkinQ was to ensure that we followed an ethical process of procuring our ingredients. All our products have been formulated with naturally derived active ingredients. We are 'Made Safe' certified which means that our products are free of harmful toxins and are made with safe ingredients. SkinQ products are all Paraben-free, Sulphate-free, GMO-free, and Phthalates-free. Our products are Cruelty-Free & Vegan which means that they are not tested on animals nor do they contain any animal derivatives.
For our packaging, keeping in tune with our sustainability efforts, we have used airless-pump bottles where the carbon footprint is minimal as compared to normal pumps. Getting accreditation is easy, but adhering to ethical practices and regulations can be challenging. We at SkinQ strive to constantly innovate and adhere to various sustainability efforts.
How to design your skincare regime to be both effective and sustainable?
When one builds their skincare from scratch it is often a hassle to find brands that can sustainably improve their skin health. To ensure that the brand is sustainable, checking for these accreditations is important:
● Toxin Free
● Cruelty-Free
● Vegan Friendly
● Fair Trade
● 1% for the planet
● Nature- Label
SkinQ was formulated keeping in mind that the best skin care products should be made available to consumers without any compromise. Our range of products are Made Safe Certified, Toxin Free, Cruelty Free, and Vegan and are currently undergoing clinical tests and trials. To ensure high ethical standards, as an OTC brand we have elected to conduct clinical trials and not just consumer trials.
While we keep our focus on adopting sustainable skincare regimens, we do not want them to be less efficacious. Having a range of products that are dermatologist formulated or dermatologically tested, goes a long way in ensuring the formulations are not only effective but also free from harmful toxins and deemed safe and gentle on the skin. All SkinQ products are formulated with active ingredients that are naturally derived which makes them sustainable. We have used formulations with potent & high-quality active ingredients which penetrate deep into the dermis to give the best possible results. All our formulations contain multi-actives that provide multiple benefits to the skin which in turn reduces the number of products one would purchase to treat their skin concerns. This helps in reducing the carbon footprint as it reduces the number of products one would purchase to treat their skin. Additional steps that consumers can take to ensure contribution to sustainable efforts are making wise choices when it comes to choosing brands that offer sustainable packaging or refillable options. One can also look at recycling or reusing their product containers, be conscious about the amount of water being used during showers or their daily skincare routine, or avoid wastage of products by making sure one uses it completely and judiciously.
How the Skincare Industry Is Promoting Sustainability in the future?
The beauty and skincare industry and those associated with it are making progress towards a sustainable future. The majority of consumers indicate that sustainability in their purchasing choices is important. The industry is pushing towards eco-friendly and plastic-free packaging. Brands using plastics in their packaging are aiming to offer recyclable plastics or refillable options while repurchasing. According to FDA’s guidelines, a lot of the ingredients used in the industry today might prove harmful to our skin, hormones, or even reproductive systems. The consumer demand for transparency is pushing brands to publish complete ingredient lists on their websites and incorporate the same in product labels. Not only this, but the skincare industry is also attempting to step up by upgrading its policies and supply chain management. Manufacturing products only by the market demand instead of stocking shelves with surplus only result in expired products and wastage. Thus as an industry, skincare is setting a benchmark and fulfilling its part for others to acknowledge and ponder to take action.
