Clean beauty has quickly become the latest craze. Words such as natural, green, toxin-free and organic may have been floating around your feeds – but what exactly does this mean for skincare products?
Clean beauty goes beyond mere trends; it is an approach to skincare that prioritises natural, non-toxic ingredients sourced sustainably and with ethical business practices in mind for healthier and radiant skin. Clean beauty also encourages brand transparency and ethical business practices as a part of its foundational principles.
1. Read Labels and Ingredients
When looking for clean beauty products, it’s crucial that you understand how to read labels. Chemicals used in conventional beauty products may pose health risks such as hormonal disruption, skin irritation, reproductive issues or cancer – hence it’s vital that shoppers know how to decode ingredient lists as well as look out for symbols and certifications that indicate ethical standards of each product.
Make the most of your clean beauty routine by becoming familiar with a list of harmful chemicals to avoid, such as parabens (used to extend shelf life) and synthetic fragrances; ingredients which could disrupt your natural endocrine system or cause contact allergies are also to be avoided. Look out for certifications such as COSMOS or Ecocert that demonstrate ethical sourcing and manufacturing practices of products you consider purchasing.
2. Know Your Skin
Your skin type is an integral component of skincare. Knowing it will enable you to find appropriate clean beauty products to address concerns like dryness, acne or aging.
Normal skin typically features balanced complexion that may occasionally feel parched or oily; these issues tend to come and go over time. You may also have small wrinkles and dark circles under your eyes.
If you see an unsightly shine when looking in the mirror, that indicates oily skin. Additionally, there may be fine lines and blackheads present as well. Luckily, managing this condition usually doesn’t take more than simple steps – try using a cleanser designed to target excess sebum while simultaneously shrinking pores; or consider serums containing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid that promote skin elasticity for example.
3. Start Small
Clean Beauty Movement has revolutionized the beauty industry. You won’t find many stores – not even Sephora, Ulta or Target! – without whole sections dedicated to “green” brands and products.
Start small to make the switch easier! Reviewing all of your daily products, mark any that should be swapped out for cleaner options, and prioritize swapping those first! Additionally, download my Lifestyle Overhaul guide which features reliable yet budget-friendly clean beauty brands to ease financial stress from switching over.
4. Look for Certifications
As consumers become more interested in clean beauty products, retailers like Ulta and Sephora are beginning to define what it means for products to fall under their programs. They classify items according to ingredients used as well as whether or not they are vegan-friendly, non-toxic or organic.
Though these initiatives can be helpful, they don’t always provide clarity around what constitutes clean beauty products. As no official definition exists for clean beauty, brands can claim they use “natural” or “organic” ingredients without needing legal backing for these claims.
Finding and supporting genuine clean beauty trends and brands is essential. When you shop ethically, you can help inspire other brands to invest in sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprint; creating a cleaner and safer cosmetics industry overall.
5. Support Brands
As consumers, it is imperative that we support green beauty products which prioritize transparency and ethical practices. Not only will this benefit the environment but it can also help brands innovate with their offerings.
Supporting clean beauty brands also gives back to your community and shows your support for this movement. Doing so encourages industry transformation for the greater good, making a more significant impactful statement about society as a whole.
As the clean beauty movement gains in popularity, it is vital to recognize it is more than a trend. By becoming educated about it and reading labels carefully as well as researching ingredients and looking for certifications that validate products as part of this movement, you can help ensure you’re selecting products which provide maximum benefits to both skin health and the environment. Be on the lookout for any of the clean beauty logos listed below when buying something which meets these standards.