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How Clean is Your Beauty Routine?
If you are concerned about what you are putting on your skin every day, you are not alone! You will hear the term “clean beauty” a lot, but what exactly does it mean? The truth is, maybe not much. There’s no clear definition, and what constitutes “clean” may vary from one company to another.
Most people think of clean beauty products as natural, environmentally friendly, and without toxic ingredients. If you are wondering how your skin care and makeup products stack up, here are 5 things to look for, and 5 things to avoid when you are trying to make the switch to a more natural, healthy routine.
5 Things to Look For
There are some indications that the product is the clean beauty product that you are actually looking for. Pay attention to these 5 signs.
- Transparency. If the brand hides its full ingredient list or says “fragrance” without explaining what that entails, avoid it. Truly clean beauty brands will list everything clearly and may explain what each ingredient is for and why it is included. It’s great if the company will provide information on where and how their ingredients are sourced.
- Short ingredient lists are better, and less likely to include things you neither want nor need in your beauty products. Fewer ingredients, and naturally-derived ingredients, mean less chance of exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Third party certifications such as EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny (cruelty free), USDA Organic, and Made Safe show that clean beauty products have been vetted.
- Plant-Based, Non-Toxic Ingredients can nourish your skin and provide beautiful results, naturally. Look for jojoba oil, aloe vera, shea butter, zinc oxide for SPF (read my post on natural sunscreen here and my post on natural beauty here) and mineral pigments for color, among others.
- Packaging should be designed to reduce waste. Look for recyclable, biodegradable, or refillable packaging. Look for products with minimal packaging.
5 Things to Avoid
Even if your so-called clean beauty product claims to be “natural” or “nontoxic” or some other buzzword, read the label carefully! Generally, if the ingredient list is a mile long and full of words you can’t pronounce, run the other way! Here are 5 very common things to watch out for.
- Parabens and phthalates are linked to hormone disruption, and are banned in a lot of places, but not in the US.
- Synthetic fragrance can mean a lot of chemicals which could be harmful. Look for products that are fragrance-free or that use natural essential oils. (As always, even natural ingredients may cause allergic reactions, so test any new product in a small area before using it.)
- Talc is controversial due to asbestos contamination concerns. If talc is listed as an ingredient, it should say asbestos-free, but better to avoid it altogether.
- Greenwashing refers to terms that sound impressive, healthy, and natural (non-toxic, eco, etc.) that aren’t regulated. Some companies may use these phrases to make a product sound healthier or more natural than it really is, so do your research to see what’s really in the product and look for certifications on the labels. Which is a whole ‘nother issue…
Demystifying Clean Beauty Labels
When looking for clean beauty products that have safer ingredients, gentler formulas, and are more environmentally friendly, there are a ton of labels to wade through. Some of them mean more than others. There is little regulation as to what goes into your personal care products, so a number of organizations have stepped up to help us identify the best options.
There are many certifications issued by independent organizations to ensure that a product is what it says it is. These Certifications relate to sourcing, manufacturing process, and environmental impact, to name a few areas.
Here is a rundown of several of the more common labels and certifications related to the natural skin care and cosmetic industry.
- EcoCert: one of the oldest certifications for natural and organic cosmetic products. The requirements for this certification include that at least 95% of the total ingredients in the product are of natural origin, and there are no GMOs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, or synthetic coloring/fragrances.
- Leaping Bunny: the well-known leaping bunny on many cosmetics is issued by Cruelty Free International and is one of the strictest cruelty-free certifications. Products with this label have no animal testing in any stage of development.
- Beauty Without Bunnies, issued by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has two levels. Cruelty Free means no animal testing, while Cruelty Free and Vegan means no animal testing and no animal-derived ingredients.
- Fair Trade: the three most common certifications in fair trade are Fair Trade: Fair Trade International, Fair for Life, Fair Trade USA. These ensure that workers receive fair wages and safe working conditions, and that producers follow sustainable practices.
- USDA Organic: The US Department of Agriculture certification is mostly used for food, but also may apply to cosmetics if they meet food-grade standards. They are very strict about synthetic additives and processing. The USDA labels can be somewhat confusing, so here is what they mean:
- The lowest level, “Made with Organic Ingredients,” means that 70% or more ingredients are organic
- The next level, “Organic,” means that 95% or more of the ingredients are organic.
- The best level is “100% Organic.” This is the one I look for!
- EWG Verified: Since 1993, The Environmental Working Group has advocated for safe, healthy, and natural foods, personal care products, and household products – and that’s just a start! This organization has a number of consumer guides to help you make safe, smart decisions in your shopping. Their label, EWG-Verified, means that the products meet strict criteria for transparency and health.
- For Life focuses on corporate social responsibility.
Labels like clean beauty, natural, non-toxic, sustainable, organic, green, or eco don’t mean anything without at least one independent certification to back them up.
Conclusion
A lot of people believe that natural or clean beauty products are lower quality than their more conventional counterparts, but that just isn’t the case. There are many great brands that combine the performance you need with the desire to be more health-conscious and environmentally conscious. A few I’ve tried and liked are The Honest Company, Dr. Teal’s, and 100% Pure.
In the end, your journey to a more natural lifestyle is just that: yours. Do your due diligence and make up your own mind!
What do you think? Did anything here surprise you? Leave a comment below!
Bonus Tip: Download your free Clean Beauty Shopping Checklist here!