Why Waterless Skincare Products Are Better!
By: Amber Meadows
Beauty is more than what is externally seen, but these days, it doesn't always seem that way, especially when we look at the skincare industry as a whole. Waterless beauty has turned into a category of its own, and everyone is getting curious as to why. While we all strive to look and feel our best each day, there's one ingredient that has stripped away many of the authentic and internal understandings of what it means to care for our skins. In such heightened times of mainstream social media, it's time to re-frame and redefine our complicated relationship with water in skincare.
Waterless skincare products have crept into the mainstream beauty market since the rising popularity of Korean Skincare. If you think about it, water typically makes up 80% of the product if you look at the ingredient listings. So how do we get into waterless skincare? It's simple; there's no water added. Truly waterless skincare are items such as oils, serums, balms, and salves that are only made of natural butters, oils, and waxes. By using only oil-based ingredients, they are without a doubt waterless products. While some think about hydration as only consuming water, hydration truly occurs when you have the opposite ingredients. When it comes to your skin, using waterless products can be more beneficial than you may think.
Less Preservatives
Waterless formulas, or "anhydrous" beauty products, are completely free from water. This means there are more nourishing oils and ingredients that create more potent blends while using fewer preservatives. In these combinations, there is no need for filler ingredients like water to dilute the formula, making it less effective. By incorporating fewer preservatives, there is less of a chance for the product to breed bacteria or contain other synthetics that can create texture, color, and scents. After all, why would you want to put something on your skin that isn't benefitting your natural barrier?
Intentional Packaging
By ditching the H20 in skincare, products are able to be lighter and in turn, require smaller packaging. The environmental benefit of waterless beauty is reducing waste. While the industry has a long way to go in terms of fully eliminating plastic packaging, they are on the right path. With the world needing a major rebrand when it comes to recycling and reducing consumer waste, companies that use oil-based ingredients have the ability to change the trajectory for their carbon impact. So, for a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative, companies can begin to rethink their formulas which will benefit them in the long run.
Real Hydration
When we start to question waterless products, we can dig down into the curiosity of the ingredient in the first place. After all, we all wash our faces and take showers with water, so why would it need to be in skincare? In many combinations, water-based products are known to dry the skin because it is stripping the skin of protective cells. As water evaporates, it not only dries the area but takes the natural oils with it too. When the skin consistently uses more plant-based ingredients such as butters and serums, it's locking in the moisture, which is the true key factor for real hydration. This is also why waterless products tend to last longer on the skin than those that aren't.
Powerful Natural Ingredients
Taking care of skin requires a lot of different players. From cleansers, moisturizers, creams, and more, there must be a little bit of everything to get the magic happening for clear, beautiful skin. But when water is the main ingredient in the product, it's hard for everyone else on the list to penetrate adequately into the skin. As the water gets added, it means natural goods such as rich oils and vitamins are almost useless. The active ingredients aren't that active anymore, making the product capable of doing only half of what it claims. By eliminating water completely, there's a great chance that your skin will not only benefit from the properties inside the bottle, but it will last much longer because you are using less.
With a more concentrated product, skincare has the room to expand to full potency without being too strong or irritating. But it's important to know which type of waterless products can make an impact on your skin. Whether you're someone who enjoys a nine-step skin routine or someone who is just starting out, there are a few items that can easily be switched out for a chance to try waterless beauty.
Oil Cleansers
The thought of oiling up your face can be hard for people to think about at first. Unfortunately, society has wrapped our minds around oil being a bad ingredient for skin, but research has since debunked that and brought in the rise of oil cleansing. As a way to remove makeup, dirt, and excess oils, many cleansing oils deposit hydrating ingredients that help the skin feel smooth, clean, and soft. This waterless product can be used the same way as a regular cleanser and is an easy alternative, especially if your current face cleansing routine has failed you.
Face Oils
Keeping on the oil trend for waterless skincare, facial oils are designed to lock in moisture for ultimate skin hydration. With so many different oils to blend together, a carefully crafted facial oil is packed with benefits that can promote healthier-looking skin. Waterless products like these can even help shrink pores and are great for getting rid of stubborn zits.
Balms
It's not your grandmother's healing ointment, but she was certainly on to something. Balms are often used to soothe or heal the skin. For most waterless balms, they're considered a second layer of skin. As a great addition to your nighttime routine, a face balm can offer a full recovery of cells while you get your beauty sleep. It's also a great protectant from cold weather and sun damage.
Skincare certainly has unique challenges, and it can be incredibly hard to figure it out, and waterless beauty is no exception. It's imperative that you do what's right for your skin and make the decisions that are right for you. When you make the decision to switch to waterless products, be sure you are documenting how your skin reacts and weigh the pros and cons for what's best for the natural barrier.