Protecting the environment is an absolute priority these days, and everyone wants to do their bit. In the field of cosmetics, this ecological approach is more evident with a host of companies that seem to be moving towards more environmentally-friendly production. However, despite their impressive numbers, they are still not as widespread as other brands which have not yet made the switch. For consumers, this makes it really difficult to distinguish between eco-responsible and non-eco-responsible brands. Here are 5 tips to help you do just that.

1- Check the organic label

Organic certification labels are logos that attest to the natural and organic composition of a product. They therefore guarantee that a cosmetic product is eco-responsible and safe for the consumer's health. Products bearing this mark are free from synthetic chemical compounds and have no harmful effects on health or the environment. They are generally sold in biodegradable or recyclable packaging to avoid pollution after use.

If you have a product that claims to be natural without an organic label, make sure you get information about the ingredients it contains. You'll probably find these details on the label if the manufacturer is a serious brand. If not, consider checking their website or reading customer reviews of the cosmetic.

2- Opt for cosmetics committed to fair trade

Fair trade is an approach based on organising trade in such a way as to balance the producer/consumer relationship between the countries of the North and the South. Any brand supporting this approach undertakes to pay its producers a fair wage for their work, with a guaranteed minimum amount. But that's not all: the approach also promotes respect for the conventions of the International Labour Organisation and the protection of biodiversity and the environment.

By opting for companies committed to Fair Trade, consumers can be sure that the cosmetics they use are not produced under unfavourable working conditions and that the ingredients used in their composition are environmentally friendly.

3- Choose cosmetics that promote a local approach

To choose eco-responsible cosmetics , you can't ignore the carbon footprint generated by their transport. Even if they are 100% organic, products that have travelled a long way from their place of production to their place of consumption are no longer strictly speaking eco-responsible. So give preference to cosmetics produced in your own country or, failing that, those manufactured in the same region.

4- Choose cosmetics that are committed to animal protection

Even though the ingredients in most cosmetics are derived from plants, once the products had been designed, they were mostly tested on animals to guarantee their safety on human skin. Cruel practices that were unfavourable to animal protection. Today, there are several testing alternatives, including the use of human cells or computer models. These new solutions are just as effective as animal testing, without producing the same consequences.

5- Choosing eco-designed cosmetics

Eco-designed cosmetics are products whose manufacturing process takes into account the effects on the natural environment. You can't ignore the fact that a so-called natural or even organic product cannot systematically be considered ecological. In concrete terms, the origin of the ingredients is just as important as their carbon footprint. Eco-designed cosmetics are therefore subject to strict standards that guarantee they are 100% ecological.