Beauty
All the benefits of powdered products
Photography, Shutterstock
Beauty
All the benefits of powdered products
An innovative way to deliver concentrated active ingredients, health and beauty products in powder form are having a much-deserved moment in the spotlight.
Shampoos and shower gels are, on average, made up of 80 percent water. Their large, heavy plastic bottles need to be transported and stored, using precious space and resources for something we already have flowing out of our faucets. One way to combat this waste is by using water-free powder formulations. These products fall into two categories: powders that you mix with water before each use, and those that are rehydrated at home and stored just like more traditional formulas.
For facial cleansers and powder exfoliators, for example, it’s as simple as putting a bit of product in your hand and mixing in a small amount of water before applying to the face. For products that require rehydration, the powder is emptied into a container, mixed with water and sometimes left to thicken, cre-ating the final liquid or gel form. Shower gels, shampoos and even household cleaners lend themselves particularly well to this approach.
Photography, Shutterstock
PRO TIP
“Keep powdered products stored in a dry environment, ideally somewhere other than the bathroom. Otherwise, there’s a risk the product will be exposed to moisture that can lead to clumping, shortening its shelf life.”
—Marie-Hélène David, founder and president of MYNI, a company that offers fully powdered home and body products.
Benefits
Anhydrous, or waterless, products tend to be more environmentally friendly than traditional products because producing them requires significantly less water. They’re also lighter and more compact, making them easier to store and transport, which generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Powdered products are generally more concentrated in active ingredients and don’t require preservatives. Without water, the risk of bacterial growth is greatly reduced, meaning these formulations don’t need potentially skin-irritating chemicals to maintain a long shelf life.
For those who love to travel, powdered products are an especially wise choice because of their convenience. No need to worry about face or body wash explosions in your luggage, and they can be brought with you onto the plane unlike bottles of their liquid counterparts. Plus, a small sachet of powder takes up virtually no space in your suitcase, leaving more room for that pair of shoes you don’t want to leave behind.
…and a drawback
As anhydrous products are usually rich in active ingredients, a smaller amount is needed than when using a traditional product. When you don’t have a measuring tool, it’s easy to use more than necessary or dilute it too much, compromising efficacy and wasting product.
HOW TO USE POWDER PRODUCTS
It’s important to follow the directions for each powder, especially ones that need to be rehydrated. Ensuring the proper ratio of powder to water, as well as allowing the formula to thicken for the full amount of time indicated, will ensure that you reap the full benefit of the product.
Our product picks
BOSCIA Probiotic Exfoliating Powder Face + Scalp, $54, thebay.com.
MYNI Shower Gel, $9, myni.ca.
KLORANE 3 in 1 Purifying Powder with Organic Mint and Clay, $30, well.ca.
DERMALOGICA Daily Milkfoliant Calming Oat-Based Powder Exfoliant, $87, dermalogica.ca.
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