When Natural Isn’t Always Enough
Eco friendly skincare ingredients are everywhere — or at least, that’s what it feels like when you start exploring the world of DIY beauty.
From glossy jars of shea butter and coconut oil to Pinterest boards filled with essential oils and botanical blends, the idea of using ingredients derived from plants feels like a no-brainer. After all, if something is labeled as natural skincare ingredients, it must be good for your skin — and the planet. Right?
From essential oils to butters and hydrosols, we often assume that anything derived from plants is automatically sustainable. But as I explore in this guide to DIY skincare ingredients, it’s more nuanced than that.
That’s exactly what I used to believe.
But the deeper I went into formulating my own products, the more I realized that natural doesn’t always mean necessary. And that even ingredients that sound clean can have a hidden environmental cost — especially when we’re not asking the right questions before reaching for the mixing bowl.
So before I melt another block of shea or measure out that drop of lavender oil, I pause.
And I ask myself these five questions — not just to guide my skincare routine, but to honour a version of beauty that respects both skin and soil.
❓ Question 1: Do I Really Need This Product?
In a world overflowing with beauty launches and DIY recipes, it’s easy to feel like you constantly need something new. A balm for dry patches, a serum for glow, a mask for clarity.
But here’s what I’ve learned — just because I can make something doesn’t mean I should.
Sustainable skincare starts with restraint.
It starts with asking: Does my skin actually need this, or am I just enchanted by the idea of making it?
Every time I consider creating a new formula, I pause and look at my cosmetic ingredients shelf. Rows of raw materials — oils, butter, waxes, actives — all beautiful, all “natural.” But if I keep piling them into my routine just because I can, I’m contributing to the same cycle of overconsumption I once tried to escape.
Even natural skincare ingredients have a footprint. They use land, water, labor, packaging, and transport.
And when I think about the carbon footprint behind a single jar — say, coconut oil harvested across the globe, shipped in plastic, and stored for months — it becomes clear: not every DIY is harmless.
Just because an ingredient is labeled as natural or sounds botanical doesn’t mean it’s gentle on the skin. Or appropriate for mine. Sometimes, skipping the next product is the kindest thing I can do — for my face and the planet.
So the first question I ask is simple:
Am I making this because my skin genuinely needs support — or because I feel like I should be making something?
That one question often saves me time, waste, and more than a few half-used jars.
❓ Question 2: Does This Make Sense for My Skin?
Scrolling through DIY skincare inspiration can be pure joy — whipped textures, infusions, beautiful ingredients like olive oil, jojoba oil, or aloe vera. It all looks nourishing, natural, and safe.
But here’s the thing: even the gentlest-looking ingredient can be the wrong fit for your skin.
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned in formulating is that just because something works for “everyone” doesn’t mean it works for me.
I’ve had reactions to oils that were organic and cold-pressed. I’ve tried “soothing” ingredients that ended up causing irritation or allergic reactions. And I’ve seen many others chase trendy recipes that ended in breakouts, rashes, or barrier damage — all in the name of being natural.
Skin health isn’t about how beautiful an ingredient sounds.
It’s about compatibility, dosage, preparation, and — most of all — listening to your skin over the hype.
So before I mix, I always pause and ask:
Is this something my skin actually understands? Has it worked for me before — or am I guessing based on someone else’s glow?
Because sustainable beauty isn’t sustainable if your skin can’t tolerate it.
And for me, real eco-friendly skincare ingredients don’t just break down in soil — they have to make sense on my face, too.
❓ Question 3: Do I Have Ingredients That Are Truly Sustainable?
One of the trickiest parts of formulating is knowing whether an ingredient is truly clean — or just cleverly disguised.
Over the years, I’ve learned that even the most luxurious-feeling natural cosmetics can contain synthetic additives that don’t nourish the skin or support the planet.
Take dimethicone, for example. It’s often used in moisturizers to lock in hydration and create that silky-soft after-feel. But here’s the reality:
“Dimethicone gives a silky feel — but lingers in soil and water far longer than it does on your skin.”
— Plastic Soup Foundation, Microplastics in Cosmetics
And it’s not alone. According to SEPPIC, even many “green-sounding” ingredients — like acrylates copolymer or film-forming agents — are often synthetic polymers designed for spreadability and water resistance, but they lack proven biodegradability in real environmental conditions.
ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) confirms this grey zone in their 2023 microplastic restriction. Their definition targets solid, non-biodegradable particles — meaning that liquid, gel-like, or water-soluble polymers are still widely permitted, despite evidence of persistence in aquatic ecosystems.
So yes, ingredients like dimethicone, PEGs, and acrylates copolymer might improve barrier function on the surface — but they do so by forming a synthetic film.
This can leave skin feeling instantly smooth while quietly disrupting the natural skin barrier over time, especially in people prone to dry skin or sensitivity.
I broke this down more fully in my post on microplastic ingredients in cosmetics — including how to spot these hidden materials in the INCI list.
And here’s the part that still stops me in my tracks:
These ingredients rarely biodegrade.
They resist breakdown, flow through wastewater systems, and travel through ecosystems long after you rinse them off.
So while they may be found in products labeled as natural cosmetics, they’re often anything but.
If you’ve ever wondered whether “plant-based” always means safe or sustainable, this post on natural vs synthetic ingredients unpacks the whole story.
When I formulate, I don’t just ask how something performs on the skin.
I ask what it leaves behind — on my face and in the soil.
Because for me, sustainable means this:
If it doesn’t break down in nature, it doesn’t belong in my jar.
❓ Question 4: Does This Make Sense for My Skin?
There’s a difference between making skincare for fun and making skincare that works.
Trust me — I’ve tried more Pinterest-inspired recipes than I can count. And while some turned out lovely, others left me with clogged pores, breakouts, or skin that felt tight and confused.
Because even when a product leaves skin feeling soft at the moment, the real question is:
Is it doing anything that supports my long-term skin health?
It’s tempting to throw together ingredients labeled as the greatest natural solution for hydration, glow, or anti-aging.
You’ll see claims like:
- “Evens skin tone!”
- “Boosts skin elasticity!”
- “A perfect natural moisturizer!”
But here’s the thing: not all DIY recipes are built for performance, safety, or skin compatibility. Some work. Others are just texture experiments that don’t respect pH, absorption rates, or the delicate structure of the skin barrier.
So now, before I mix anything, I ask:
Does this formulation make sense for my skin — or am I just following a trend?
Because sustainability isn’t just about the environment.
It’s also about being consistent, gentle, and intentional with your skin.
❓ Question 5: Will Everything in This Formula Biodegrade?
This is the question most people skip — even in DIY.
We talk about glow, scent, and shelf life… but rarely ask what happens after the product goes down the drain.
When I make skincare, I think beyond application. I think about what’s left behind — in water, in soil, and eventually, in the bodies of living beings.
Many mainstream ingredients marketed as “safe” or “gentle” — even for sensitive skin — are actually long-lasting synthetic polymers that don’t biodegrade. They make your skin feel hydrated, but they also linger in ecosystems where they don’t belong.
Think of those formulas that promise to exfoliate dead skin cells, smooth rough patches, or balance dry or oily complexions. They may perform on the surface, but if the ingredients stay in the environment far longer than they stay on your face, is that really clean beauty?
Even some water-soluble substances still function like plastic in nature.
That’s why I cross-check ingredients in databases like ECHA or through studies like those from the Plastic Soup Foundation.
Because if I can’t confirm that something is biodegradable — I simply don’t use it.
For me, sustainability means more than low waste.
It means if nature can’t break it down, I won’t build it in.
🌿 Conclusion: Skincare That Leaves No Trace
The more I formulate, the more I realize:
Eco-friendly skincare ingredients aren’t just about what we add — they’re also about what we choose to leave out.
Yes, I love working with plants. Ingredients like sea buckthorn, argan oil, and witch hazel have been used for centuries to support healthy skin — gently, naturally, and with a deep respect for both biology and ecology.
But even the most beautiful oils or hydrosols mean little if I’m making a product I don’t really need.
Before I whip up another shampoo, blend a new face serum, or pour fresh body lotions into a jar, I take a breath.
I ask myself: Is this meaningful? Is this mindful? Will this formula leave my skin nourished — and the earth untouched?
For me, the most sustainable skincare begins before I measure a single gram.
I see this kind of intentionality as part of a wider practice—which I share more about in my sustainable beauty philosophy.
✨ Want to use this mindset in your own routine?
Soon, you’ll be able to download a free printable version of this checklist — a gentle reminder to pause, question, and create with intention.
Every balm, oil, or cream you make is a chance to choose better.
Not just for your skin — but for the world around it.
Thank you for being here — and for choosing skincare that honors both your skin and the world it lives in.
Kristina 🌱
