Have you ever wondered whether clean beauty products are really that clean?
Or if you are paying more for a so-called “clean beauty” product from a new green brand.
Is it really any different from conventional cosmetics?
Is clean beauty really clean?
Clean beauty uses natural, plant-sourced ingredients, making it as clean as possible while still effective. The quality ingredients that clean beauty uses set it apart from conventional beauty products.
At its core, clean beauty is about a shift in perspective.
It’s about moving away from the idea that chemicals are inherently bad and toward the idea that natural ingredients — even chemicals, but in smaller doses — are better for your skin.
The clean beauty movement is also about transparency: knowing what you’re putting on your body and why.
If a product contains more than 20 ingredients (or 10 percent fragrance), it’s not clean. But if it’s 95 percent natural, it will be labeled as such.
Clean ingredients can come from nature or science — there isn’t a hard-and-fast rule dictating which sources are acceptable.
The FDA defines “natural” as coming from plants or animals, with minimal processing.
The agency doesn’t have a definition for “organic,” so look for this seal to signify that skincare products are at least 95 percent certified organic ingredients.
Can you really tell what’s in your beauty products?
No. And that is a big problem. Yet beauty companies are not required to disclose ingredients on their labels, and they often don’t.
The big picture
Science has shown us that ingredients in personal care products can have serious health consequences—even hormone disruption.
The FDA has responded with new labeling requirements for “chemicals of concern” in cosmetics, but there’s a loophole: the warning label only applies to ingredients the FDA already knows are problematic.
This means some ingredients may be causing health issues but will remain hidden from consumers.
It also means that the FDA doesn’t have to take any action against companies using these ingredients, so long as they accurately disclosed them on their labels.
What you can do
Read labels to avoid dangerous chemicals and make sure you’re getting something safe for your body.
Can you trust conventional beauty companies to make clean beauty products?
Yes. Even if it were the case that conventional beauty companies always put profit over people, there are plenty of other companies out there making natural and clean beauty products that I do trust.
The only problem is that they’re not as big, so they don’t get as much attention.
And because they’re small, they can focus their resources on making truly high-quality products but only have shelf space for a select few SKUs.
Clean beauty brands you can trust
Full Disclosure: I am in no way affiliated with any of these brands.
The following is simply a list of the products that I use and love, along with links to their available products/websites so you can check them out yourself.
And trust me when I say: they’re worth it!
Pacifica
A great company with quality products at an affordable price, Pacifica offers everything from makeup to body care to household cleaners; but my favorite has got to be their Flower Color Cheek Blush & Brush.
Not only do I love the color, but I also love that it comes with an applicator brush already attached!
Z Palette
I’ve always loved Z Palettes for storing my makeup, but now there’s a new one on the market called the Z Palette Air, which is literally like nothing else out there right now!
It’s made of a super-thin, lightweight material that keeps your makeup almost completely dry and protected.
Tata Harper
This brand is luxurious, high quality, and very expensive. But it is 100% worth the price.
The Cleansing Oil is my holy grail cleanser hands down.
It removes all traces of makeup (even waterproof mascara) while feeling light on the skin.
The Resurfacing Mask is my other favorite product from this line as it exfoliates and hydrates the skin.
They also have amazing cleansers, serums, and oils if you don’t like the cleansing oil!
Osmia Organics
This brand has very affordable prices considering its high-quality ingredients.
My favorite product from Osmia Organics is the Rose Oil Blend that has helped heal my acne-prone skin without drying it out or irritating it further.
Why aren’t all beauty companies jumping on the clean beauty bandwagon?
Not all beauty companies are jumping on the clean beauty bandwagon. There are several reasons why they are not doing it:
1. Clean Beauty is expensive
Yes, clean beauty products are expensive than traditional beauty products but you also get what you pay for.
There is a lot of research that goes into creating a clean beauty product and companies will have to spend more on marketing to get their message out there because they don’t have the big budget of their counterparts.
2. They don’t have all of the ingredients
Some beauty companies don’t have all of the natural ingredients included in their products but still claim to be clean brands because they say one ingredient is enough to make the product “clean”.
3. Less research and development
More research and development are needed to formulate plant-based, botanical products that can replace synthetic ones.
Until this research is completed, there won’t be any kind of replacement for many products in cosmetics like sunscreens, hair care, and other common products that contain harsh chemicals.
4 Tricky regulation
The US does not have any laws about what ingredients can or cannot be used in cosmetics – only what their concentration levels can be.
In other words, if an ingredient has been tested on animals, but is at a concentration level of 1%, it’s still considered cruelty-free.
Final Thoughts
It may be a bit more expensive in some cases, but it is certainly worth the added cost.
The products are so much better for you and for the environment.
While it may take a little extra effort on your part to find natural brands, once you find brands that fit your budget and lifestyle, there are plenty of them out there.
