The LAST Drop

Is waterless beauty the right step towards a sustainable future in the global cosmetics industry Sukriti Shahi explores

- Sukriti Shahi

According to UNICEF’s prediction in its report on water scarcity (under WASH and Climate Change), half of the world’s population could be living in areas facing extreme water scarcity by 2025. One of its reports also says that almost two-thirds of the world’s population struggles with water scarcity for at least one month each year. Still wondering why the global beauty industry needs to take charge of its ‘water footprint’?

A standard moisturiser or shampoo bottle contains at least 70-80 per cent water. This amount of water, often termed as ‘aqua’ on ingredient labels, can go up to 90 per cent in a few products such as conditioners, serums, face creams, and even make-up. While ‘water for inner and outer hydration’ has been a favoured concept for decades, it doesn’t make for a good case for the planet. Case in point: the global beauty industry is one of the largest users of water, perhaps in the first five on the list.

WHAT IS WATERLESS BEAUTY?

Water is used in beauty products as fillers, and also to achieve an ideal formulation. While the former means that adding water to the product helps create an ‘illusion’ of a fuller bottle, the latter is done to give the product a smooth, malleable and softer texture.