The results are highly toxic chemicals seeping into streams and rivers, causing a variety of disease and illnesses for people living in the surrounding area. Less packaging makes buying in bulk generally cheaper and less wasteful. Some cosmetic companies allow their customers to bring bottles back for refills and recycling. Also, some companies are now using less synthetic chemicals and opting for manufacturing processes that are less polluting. Instead of petroleum based chemicals, they are using more natural ingredients.
Many companies now offer 'natural cosmetics' which use flowers and herbs grown without pesticides.
Reading labels is important to becoming familiar with ingredients. However, there are not many products available which use only plant based preservatives. Parabens are currently the most common preservatives in cosmetics, and natual products without efficient preservatives are unsafe to use since there is little to prevent bacteria growth. One of the biggest environmental issues for cosmetics companies is animal cruelty. These animals are either maimed, painfully disfigured, or suffer excruciating deaths.