GUEST POST: Sarah Feldman is a recent graduate of McGill University and is Canadian Living ’s newest style and beauty intern. She loves chevron stripes, blueberry Greek yogurt and hilarious words, like collywobble and palpebrate. As a proud member of Generation Y, Sarah Instagrams, tweets and blogs about student life in her spare time. By Sarah Feldman

Living in Canada, it’s easy to forget that the seemingly infinite stream of water that flows from our taps is, in fact, a limited resource that is growing scarcer by the day. French skin-care company  Biotherm recognizes the disastrous impact of freshwater depletion on the environment and has hatched a plan of action to raise awareness about water scarcity. Rather than stand idly by and accept – or deny – its role in water consumption, Biotherm acknowledges that water is essential to the production of its skin-care products at every single stage, from the production of the ingredients through to the product’s end life. From the moment you place a Biotherm cleanser in your cart to the instant your suds (and yesterday’s mascara) disappear down the drain, water, whether directly or indirectly, is part of the face-washing process. For the past two years, Biotherm has worked toward developing and implementing a responsible water management plan dedicated to evaluating its environmental impact, giving back and raising awareness of water scarcity, and reducing its overall water footprint. In 2012, Biotherm established  Water Lovers, an organization that promotes awareness of freshwater scarcity, raises funds for water conservation and honours Biotherm’s commitments to protecting and preserving water supplies. Its kickoff charity drive raised $250,000 Euros (roughly CAD$336,000) toward creating a large-scale marine protection area for Antarctica’s Ross Sea, the last pristine ocean left on Earth.

  Biotherm’s plan to reduce its water footprint is four-fold. First, the company aims to source its ingredients responsibly and with respect to biodiversity. Second, Biotherm aims to increase the biodegradability of its rinse-off body and facial care formulae from 87 per cent to 90 per cent by 2014. Third, in terms of packaging, Biotherm hopes to increase its reliance on recycled materials, from cardboard to paper, plastic and glass. Finally, Biotherm plans to reduce water use in the manufacturing process by 50 per cent by 2015. The bottom line? Every face wash and shower gel contributes to freshwater depletion, but Biotherm is aware of its environmental impact and has transformed itself into a champion of the water conservation cause. In other words, Biotherm is working to save your skin  and the Earth. With your support, both will shine a little brighter. Calculate your bathroom water footprint on Biotherm's Facebook page today, and learn how you can offset your personal water consumption.