It’s clear we’re heading towards a water crisis – and some areas of the world are already there. According to 2019 research by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, one in three people globally don’t have access to safe drinking water. The climate crisis is making things worse, too. A 2020 report from the UN said: “Climate change will affect the availability, quality, and quantity of water for basic human needs, threatening the effective enjoyment of the human rights to water and sanitation for potentially billions of people.”

It’s clear we should be careful with how we use water – and that extends to our bathroom cabinets. Just take a look at any of your moisturizers, face washes, or liquid shampoos, and you’ll see ‘aqua’ is the number one ingredient. But it’s not like water is actually transforming your beauty or haircare routine – “water is used as a transporter of other active ingredients, or for product consistency”, explains Hamilton – and it can even bring its own issues. “Water easily breeds bacteria, requiring preservatives, some of which are known carcinogens, and may cause skin irritation.”

In a word: “Yes,” says Hamilton. “There are other options – botanicals, oils, or even other types of water.” She suggests marine algae is a possible replacement: “It is super hydrating for the skin and miraculously requires no water in its growth or production.”

And then there’s the potential to use other types of water, “made as a by-product when producing something else”. Hamilton says: “Fruit water extracted directly from the whole fruit can be awfully nourishing to the skin. Or flower water, also called hydrosols, is produced in the process of distilling essential oils and will most certainly offer a more dilute profile of effects” – a good thing, as essential oils in their purest form can be harsh on the skin.

“Benefits for skin include better results, healthier products, and better hydration,” says Hamilton. She also suggests these products contain “more active ingredients”, so can be “absorbed better, due to the lipid content of the skin”. Hamilton’s top piece of advice here is: “Be sure to opt for actives shown to improve skin at a cellular level through rigorous studies.”

Just take vitamin C – a buzzy ingredient said to protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals. It’s “unstable in water solutions”, says Hamilton, so is much better suited to a waterless product. Hamilton also suggests some oils “will seal and lock in moisture, where water can actually be drying to the skin”.

If the personal benefits didn’t convince you, think about how it could make your beauty routine more eco-friendly. Not only does it save on water, but Hamilton continues: “Waterless products are smaller and lighter, and have a longer shelf life. This facilitates transport, lowers carbon emission, and reduces packaging, preservatives, and waste.”

Hamilton admits switching your routine can be expensive (“new products using new methods means money”) and if it is something you’re going to do, she says: “Slow changes can allow your skin time to acclimatize, whilst you monitor the fruits of your labor.”

It’s also worth knowing oils can become rancid-smelling over time, says Hamilton, “but this is easily prevented by adding an antioxidant in the form of vitamin E oil, which happens to be one of the vital vitamins to apply daily”. If you do opt for an oil over a water-based product, make sure it’s non-comedogenic (non acne-causing) – “or else you might end up with blocked pores and an outbreak”.