Before we get into the thick of it, what is clean beauty?
To sum it up best, non-toxic ingredients and transparent labels lay the foundation for “clean beauty.”
The goal of non-toxic ingredients is to ensure that the products you’re using are free of harsh, toxic chemicals. This new movement is working to spread awareness regarding the health risks of toxic cosmetics and other products. Luckily for everyone, non-toxic products are popping up all over the world as more light is shed upon the negative effects of toxic ingredients.
Sure, there are a lot of “clean” beauty products out there, but are there actually? A lot of products that claim to be clean have products like parabens, fragrances, and other undesirable chemicals, and not to make a blanket statement, but we’re pretty sure that no one who’s looking for clean beauty products wants nasty chemicals in their cosmetics. So make sure to keep an eye out for brands that are 110% transparent about what’s actually in their formulas.
Okay, we know what “clean beauty” is, but why is it important?
The supplement and beauty industry is unregulated. We know. Pretty scary, right? If the food industry had the same boundless “regulations,” food companies get away with tossing labels like “organic,” “non-GMO,” “vegan,” and whatever else they please without anyone batting an eye, regardless of whether or not their foods actually are.
If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) didn’t have the restrictions that it does, we’d have no way of telling which companies are legit and which are phonies, which is pretty horrifying when it comes to food.
So why should supplements or cosmetics be any different? Most of these products are being ingested or making direct contact with your body, so shouldn’t these companies be expected to abide by strict regulations as well?
Sadly they’re not. Supplement and beauty brands are free to use popular labels as they please. Cruelty-free, paraben-free, all-natural, non-toxic and the works. Any tagline the customers are willing to pay more for, companies are willing to slap on their products. As a result, a lot of us who are trying our best to go cruelty and toxin free are getting undeniably and absolutely duped.
And that’s not to say that all brands who claim to be clean are trying to pull one over on you, there are plenty of companies who are honest and genuine when it comes to their labels and claims. But obviously it’s important to keep this on your radar.
The ultimate goal
First and foremost, the goal of clean beauty is to keep you healthy and safe. Chances are your current beauty products aren’t going to kill you, but some of the toxic ingredients that can be found in beauty products have been linked to various health complications. (No seriously, look it up!) We don’t have all the answers for you here, but we want to make you aware of the risks you take every time you ingest a different supplement or put on a new shade of lipstick.
Notable brands & trends
Like we said, we don’t have all the answers, but what we do know, is that if you’re looking to make the switch to clean beauty, you’ll want to do some research every once in a while. And until clean beauty becomes a norm, it’s good to know which companies provide clean, trustworthy and transparent products and trends. Here, we’ll help get you started:
Some companies leading the clean beauty revolution include: Goop, Drunk Elephant, and Beautycounter.
Some clean trends include: Plant-based and sustainable ingredients, zero-packaging or green packaging products, and non-toxic deodorant.
Some retailers that have clean icons include: Target and Sephora
The takeaway
If there’s anything that you’re going to take away from this article, it should be awareness. Awareness of the toxins in cosmetics, awareness of the unregulated beauty industry, and awareness of how to find safe and healthy products. Oh, and just as a friendly remember: if you aren’t able to make a complete switch to clean beauty that’s O.K. And if others are choosing not to, that’s okay too. Just try your best to do what’s best for you.
