Born in South Korea, the waterless beauty trend, also known as anhydrous beauty, intended to bring new formulations that wouldn’t include the most abundant ingredient in all products – water. What a challenge! The advantages, however, would make up for the effort; without an aqueous base, products would be more concentrated and require fewer preservatives. The result is a straightforward formula, that allows for direct delivery of the powerful actives without the classic filler.
Today, we’re watching an exponential increase in customers’ interest in waterless products, not only because they’re great for your skin and hair but also because they’re usually more sustainable. You may now expect to find lots of beauty products in a waterless presentation, without compromising on performance or experience!
What is anhydrous or waterless beauty?
If waterless products were born to deliver a high concentration of actives without as much water and preservatives, now they’re known to offer many more benefits. Waterless products replace water for other bases such as oils and butters, usually allowing for solid textures and more compact presentations. Shipping water around the globe is actually a great waste of resources, and that’s a problem that waterless beauty solves! Without water, the product becomes significantly lighter, which in turn reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Equally important, the product becomes as compact as it can be, requiring less space to get to your door!
Water-reduced products do also deserve to step into this category. These concentrated formulations keep water use to the essential minimum, allowing an experience and performance that is very close to classic liquid textures. At the same time, they generally offer the same benefits of waterless products: a small water footprint, smaller packaging and, of course, a great concentration of skin or hair improving actives!
Which products fit under the waterless beauty category?
You may find virtually any type of product converted to an anhydrous or water-reduced presentation. By now, you’ve probably heard about the shampoo bar! This is a great example of a product that is accessible and easy to use, allowing an effortless transition to waterless beauty. More unique formulas would be the case of a stick face mask or a hair conditioner bar. Learn all about our favorites below!
Waterless hair care
Waterless hair care product may be the beggining of a love story between you and waterless beauty. Your basic daily hair care products are all here.
Shampoo bar
Garnier Ultra Doux Smoothing Delicate Oat Solid Shampoo
This shampoo bar is just as fragrant as every Garnier liquid shampoos! Enriched with the powerful moisturizing properties of oat milk and rice cream, this shampoo creates a rich foam that cleanses and replenishes softness at the same time. All you have to do is to wet your hair, foam the bar and lather from roots to tips. Then, massage the scalp as much as you like and rinse it off thoroughly. Could that be any easier?
Hair conditioner bar
Foamie Conditioner Bar Shake Your Coconuts
Now that the hair is properly clean, it is time to apply the conditioner. This formula helps to reduce frizz all the while granting natural volume and shine thanks to wheat bran and germ together with coconut oil. Suitable for normal hair, this vegan conditioner bar contributes to supple, strong and fragrant hair! As with any other product in a bar presentation, you should keep it dry between uses. That is when the string comes in handy!
Dry shampoo
Schwarzkopf got2b Extra Fresh Dry Shampoo
It’s the official hair-washing day but there’s no time or water to fulfill the assignment. There’s when this savior steps in–dry shampoo! Practical, easy to use and a true help in saving water, you just need to spray it on the hair roots to keep the hair clean and fresh. Thanks to rice starch, the hair will feel just as clean as it’ll look!
Waterless skincare for face
You may find this to be the most surprising section of this post. Did you know that there’s stick masks for face? And also facial cleansing sticks? Keep on reading to find why they’re a great fit in your routine.
Stick mask
Klorane Stick Mask with Organic Aquatic Mint & Clay
Featuring 100% ingredients of natural origin, this cleansing mask stands for a new approach to control sebum. With organic aquatic mint and white clay, it helps not only to eliminate excess oil but also help to improve skin texture and radiance. Apply it once or twice a week to get rid of excess oil with this refreshing and mattifying stick face mask.
Face cleansing stick
G9 Skin It Clean Blackhead Cleansing Stick
Intuitive enough, this cleansing stick is just as easy to use as your regular gel cleanser. This formula gently eliminates impurities and leaves the skin clean and soft without feeling tight. Containing rice powder, panthenol and Centella Asiatica, it also contributes to smoothing and soothing the skin as it leads pollution particles to find their way out!
Waterless body bars
Unlike the previous options, waterless beauty for body is not new—but that doesn’t mean that everyone is using it. Take this time to take a new look at soap bars, and make a swap from body wash to its waterless counterpart.
Soap bar
It doesn’t get simpler than using a soap bar! Here you can find our favorite formulas to suit the needs of your skin. Whatever your skin type may be, we have a fine solution for you!
Gallinée Prebiotic Cleansing Bar is the one to go to preserve natural skin moisture while rinsing the day off. This soap-free body bar is suitable for the skin of the face and body, leaving the skin soft and supple after each use. Featuring a complex of prebiotics and lactic acid, this bar works to nourish and protect the skin’s “good bacteria” all the while removing the bad.
If you’re in need of a purifying soap, then grab APIVITA Natural Soap with Rose & Black Pepper. This formulation not only effectively cleanses but also deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin. Containing both natural ingredients such as coconut oil, glycerin and black pepper essential oil, this bar soap finds the sweet spot between a purifying and hydrating formula!
You don’t need to run away from waterless beauty just because your skin is sensitive. The Cetaphil Cleansing Bar For Sensitive Skin, one of Cetaphil‘s many cleansers, offers the best solution for sensitive skin of the face and body, and is suitable for all skin types! Thanks to glycerin, it manages to cleanse and keep the skin soft and hydrated.
Exfoliating soap
Meet the ultimate skin renewing soap bar! Featuring exfoliating particles, it not only works to cleanse the skin but also eliminate dead skin cells. Containing palm and coconut oil coupled with glycerin, it nourishes and invigorates the skin at the same time. After each use, the skin looks more radiant, fresh and fragrant.
Keep in mind that a product being waterless is no synonym for sustainability. There are many other variables to consider, such as ingredient sourcing and companies’ social concerns. Learn more about the sustainable practices of your favorite brands and be part of the change!
