Clean Beauty
The whole point of our daily skincare routines is to clean our face, right? But we are getting confused because some companies are being classified as “Clean” skincare and beauty. Now, what are we to think of the products that are not in that category. Are they safe and actually cleaning our face?
What if the products that are supposed to be helping us are actually hurting us?
The truth is we are constantly using different chemicals, but how do we know which are bad and which are good?
Let’s Talk About “Clean Beauty”
Okay, let’s start from the beginning. So we want to clean, we want to use “clean beauty” products. But what does that really mean? There isn’t actually a universal definition for “clean beauty”. In turn, different companies have their own definitions, which means they can all say that they are clean. There hasn’t been a significant change to American cosmetic regulations since 1938. So it’s basically a free for all.
So, what is “clean”?
Generally, for a product to be clean it should be healthy for humans to use as well as have a positive effect on the environment. Different ~buzzwords~ to consider are: natural, organic, non-toxic, sustainable/green, and cruelty-free. A product doesn’t generally need to check all the boxes to be clean, but it should be pretty close.
Should products be chemical-free?
No. All products have chemicals -- water is a chemical! You can do your research online but you have to be careful about your sources. You should really purchase from companies that you trust and feel are transparent. Chemicals are necessary and are required to preserve skincare products. Think about cream in a jar. If you are sticking your fingers into that jar daily and it does not have the correct chemicals needed to keep bacteria and germs from spreading, then it would become contaminated.
What is the difference between Clean, Green, and Organic?
A product does not need to be both clean and green to be organic or be green to be organic, vice versa. Being green is when its manufacturing process and disposing effect have minimal impact on the environment. Organic means that the ingredients and formula are produced without harmful pesticides and the use of genetically modified organisms is prohibited.
What about animal testing?
Most companies do not test their skincare and beauty products on animals. This is another factor to consider when purchasing products. We consider testing on animals unnecessary and harmful to our environment. There are certifications for this such as Leaping Bunny and PETA. For example, Ellen Lange Retexturizing Peel is Leaping Bunny Certified, which means that no animal tests were used in the development of the peel and therefore it is cruelty-free!
Since there has been such consumer demand for “clean” beauty, most companies are doing their job to eliminate unnecessary chemicals and update preservatives.
While the mystery of “clean beauty” will consistently loom over us, by doing our research we can protect our skin and ensure that we are clean!