Skincare products and trends come and go. Some fizzle because they are mere marketing gimmicks without real value to consumers. However, one movement is catching on, thanks to its proven benefits for consumers and the environment – clean beauty.
Clean beauty is more than a trend. It's a movement away from using harmful ingredients in skincare products. Clean beauty was born out of a quest for mindfulness in the beauty space by both manufacturers and consumers of skincare products.
Clean beauty isn't just about rejecting harmful skincare ingredients. It's also about not compromising the environment in the pursuit of beauty. As such, clean beauty skin care manufacturers prioritize ethically sourced, conflict-free, biodegradable, and cruelty-free ingredients. Skin and Senses, for example, strives for sustainability by reducing its dependence on water through waterless formulations.
Because skin types vary, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to skin care. Some people with sensitive skin can't stand the perfumes, dyes, or preservatives in most skincare products. It irritates their skin, making them itchy and often leaving them with red patches. Clean beauty skincare products do not contain these ingredients, making them ideal for people with sensitive skin.
Some people are more prone to acne than others. So while sulfates - an ingredient used mainly in shampoos to strip oils and dirt from hair - aren't particularly harmful, their accumulation in the skin can cause acne in acne-prone skin. Sulfates can also dry out the skin and cause skin and eye irritation.
Other harmful ingredients to avoid include parabens, a preservative found in many personal care products, from moisturizers to shampoos to makeup, and has been linked to cancers. The silicone in serums and moisturizers isn't just harmful to the environment. It also locks in bacteria, increasing the risk of acne.
Natural ingredients are chemical-based, meaning they can be just as toxic as synthetic ones. Then there's talc, a naturally occurring mineral found in certain types of rocks and used eye shadows and baby powders. It has been linked with lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and a host of respiratory problems.
Mainstream cosmetic manufacturers argue that most potentially harmful ingredients in skincare products are harmless because they're used in negligible amounts. They use "the dose makes the poison" to rally unsuspecting consumers behind potentially harmful personal care ingredients. As for the consequence of repeated, long-term exposure, they argue that there's "insufficient evidence to assess long-term harm.
Clean beauty and natural beauty often get used interchangeably, but they mean different things. Some natural beauty products may use ingredients that aren't eco-friendly, while genuine clean beauty brands only use environment-friendly ingredients. Natural beauty brands do, however, prioritize naturally occurring, organic ingredients and avoid artificial substances.
Speaking of artificial ingredients, synthetic doesn't necessarily mean "bad," just as "natural" doesn't mean good. Several natural ingredients can be just as harmful or irritating as synthetic ingredients. For people with acne-prone skin, for example, any sulfates - even those sourced naturally - will put them at risk of acne.
Many beauty and cosmetics brands engage in "science-washing," "greenwashing, "and "cleanwashing." The use of terms like "eco," "natural," "clean," and "green" to market potentially harmful skincare products. These terms can mean different things for different brands.
Clean beauty empowers health and environment consumers to be mindful of their choices of personal care products. Not only do clean beauty products help prevent toxicity, but they also contain antioxidants that can help boost skin health. Clean beauty products are not a substitute for medication. If you have a severe skin condition, seek medical help.
