The Rising Trend of Clean Beauty and Why is it Important for You?

Yes, it’s more than just buzzwords. The beauty industry is repenting for the years of damage it has done to our planet. We’re welcoming a more sustainable approach to skincare with open arms. This is more than just a passing trend, clean beauty is here to stay! As clean beauty seizes the limelight, it is only natural to be curious about it. Let’s delve into what is clean beauty and how you can embrace it!

 

What is Clean Beauty?

Clean beauty is about beauty and skincare products that refrain from using toxic ingredients and instead cherish the use of organic, natural, and non-toxic ingredients to promote the collective well-being of our skin and our environment. Clean beauty stands for transparency, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. It rejects the use of harsh chemicals such as sulfates, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, etc. It emphasizes cruelty-free practices and eco-friendly packaging. 

 

What Does Clean Beauty Entail?

Have you seen a product with labels such as ‘organic’, ‘cruelty-free’ etc? Let’s discuss what these mean:

1. Cruelty-free: This indicates that a product and its ingredients were not tested on animals. Often, people confuse cruelty-free with vegan and the difference between the two is important to understand. 
2. Vegan: It signifies that a product does not contain any animal-derived ingredients like beeswax, honey, etc.
3. Organic: It indicates that the product does not contain toxic ingredients like parabens, sulfates, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or artificial fragrances.
4. Natural: It implies that the ingredients used are derived from nature, devoid of any synthetic additives.
5. Green: This label signifies a commitment to environmentally friendly practices, valuing eco-friendly packaging and ethical sourcing.
6. Ethically sourced: It assures that the ingredients were procured through responsible and sustainable practices.

Which Toxic Ingredients to Avoid?

Some toxic ingredients to stay away from are: 

1. Parabens: Research suggests that parabens can lead to hormonal imbalance. This raises concerns about reproductive health, breast cancer, etc. 
2. Sulfates (SLS and SLES): Commonly used in cleansers, sulfates can cause dryness and irritation by stripping our skin of its natural oils. They cause environmental pollution as well.
3. Phthalates: Found in fragrances, phthalates are known endocrine disruptors that may pose risks to reproductive health.
4. Synthetic Fragrances: These are just irritants packaged nicely. Artificial fragrances can trigger allergies and respiratory issues.
5. Formaldehyde: Used as a preservative, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and can cause skin irritation.
6. Silicones: Silicones can form a barrier on the skin and trap dirt and impurities, leading to breakouts.
7. Oxybenzone: Common in sunscreens, oxybenzone is linked to potential hormone disruption and environmental harm.
8. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): PEGs can be contaminated with harmful impurities and may contribute to skin irritation.

 

Educating yourself about these toxic ingredients can empower you to make informed choices, fostering a clean beauty routine that prioritizes health, ethics, and sustainability. Opting for products free from these harmful substances is a crucial step towards embracing a cleaner and greener approach to skincare.

 

How to Transition to Clean Beauty?

Take baby steps towards clean beauty. It’s not an overnight process. 

 

1. Explore

Clean beauty is a fairly new concept and naturally, there’s a lot of trial and error involved. Look for homegrown sustainable skincare brands to support two causes at the same time. Have fun with it and find what works for you while shielding the environment. 

2. Demand transparency

 You deserve the very best and you should not hesitate to ask for it. Several brands hide their ingredient list to get away with harmful practices. Never trust a brand whose ingredient list isn’t readily available to support their claims.

3. Avoid greenwashing

 In simple terms, greenwashing refers to when brands are dishonest about their practices and falsely label their products as ‘sustainable’ when in reality, they use toxic ingredients. This is highly unethical but they get away with it since there’s nobody holding them accountable. This is why you need to step up your game.

4. Uncover the secrets

Two words: ingredient list. This is where you’ll get the dirt on these brands. With clean beauty trending, a lot of brands are deceiving their consumers by promising a green experience but it’s all a lie. You can uncover if a brand is true to what it says by looking at its ingredient list. Reading these skincare labels can be difficult if you’re new to the game, here’s our guide to reading complex skincare labels.

5. Make home remedies your BFF

Those skin-friendly ingredients sitting in your kitchen can always be trusted!

6. Explore the Internet

 There’s an overwhelming amount of information on the Internet but you can use it to your favor. Look for research in the skincare industry if you’re into discovering the various tricks and tactics that brands use. 

 

Conclusion

You can’t throw away all your skincare products overnight and replace them with sustainable ones. It’s a slow process. Educating yourself on clean beauty and making your family and friends aware of it is great too. Convince them to adopt eco-friendly practices as well. Let’s not treat clean beauty as just a trend!

Clean Beauty FAQs-