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What is clean beauty and do natural products actually work?
Natural. Organic. Clean, Non-toxic. Chemical-free. Healthy. These terms are all thrown around quite a bit in the beauty and personal care industry, but what do they actually mean?
Natural beauty does not have one set definition, and can mean different things to different people.
Clean beauty products should be made with sustainably produced ingredients that enhance our health and have not been synthetically altered.
Everything we put on our body should have the intention of helping, not harming us, right? The best way to ensure that is by using products with intentional and thoughtful ingredients that come from nature, not a lab.
However, it can be tough to decipher what is truly a ‘natural’ product.
The beauty industry is VERY loosely regulated and lots of terms are thrown around that confuse consumers and give the impression of a clean product.
So while a product may say on the label it is natural, healthy, or pure, these terms can be used freely without any proof of these claims.
SO HOW DO YOU FIND HEALTHY PRODUCTS?
The very best way to make sure your products are actually clean and non-toxic is to understand and read the product labels and ingredient list.
First, become familiar with the most toxic ingredients to avoid in your products.
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN YOUR BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Many of these ingredients are known carcinogens (cause cancer), can induce allergies and skin reactions, disrupt hormones and interfere with reproductive health.
Here are 10 of the most offensive ingredients to avoid in your beauty products:
- Parabens
- Phtalates
- Fragrance
- Synthetic Colors
- Heavy Metals
- Sodium laryel sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sunscreen Chemicals
- Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasing Preservatives (FRP)
- Petroleum Based Ingredients
- Triclosan
Read lots more about why each of these ingredients are toxic here and find out which products are most likely to contain each toxin.
HOW TO READ BEAUTY PRODUCT LABELS (AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR)
The first thing you will notice when you look at a beauty or personal care product is the front label. You might see any number of seals and emblems stating things like ‘organic, cruelty-free, vegan or fair-trade’.
You will also notice symbols meant to show life of the product and expiration date.
The rest of these certifications and seals do carry meaning, but they are issued by various organizations who provide the certification to use the emblem themselves.
HOW TO READ AN INGREDIENT LABEL (AND WHY YOU SHOULD)
The absolute best way to determine if a product is truly made from natural ingredients and free of toxic chemicals is to the read the ingredient list.
Since terms like ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ are for the most part not regulated, you can skip all of the fluff on the front of the package and go straight to the ingredient list.
This is the area many marketers hope you will skip over, and it is often small and difficult to read.
1. Take a look at the overall size of the ingredient list.
- Is it huge? The first basic rule is to look for a small ingredient list with ingredients. A few of my favorite products are loaded with herbal extracts and infusions and have a very long list of clean, non-toxic ingredients
- You do not need a huge ingredient list to make a wonderful and effective product! Shea butter, essential oils, aloe vera, herbs and plant extracts are all wonderful, skin-healthy ingredients that I look for when purchasing products.
- NOTE: Many ingredient lists will include the latin name for an ingredient as well as the standard word. This can make an ingredient list look much longer than it actually is, and can seem scary when you first start reading them!
2. Next, skip to the end and look at the last few ingredients
- The bottom of the ingredient list is typically where some of the most offensive additives are. Ingredients are listed in descending order of total amount in the product.
- Ingredients listed first are the primary ingredients and those at the end are typically additives, preservatives, fragrances, and only a small amount is used.
3. Lastly, go back to the top of the ingredient list and read every item to make sure you know what it is.
- If you’re unsure, reference this list of the top 10 toxic ingredients to avoid. If it’s not on here, you’re in the clear.
HOW TO SHOP FOR NATURAL PRODUCTS
If reading ingredient lists seems like too much just to figure out if your products are healthy, there are other ways to shop for clean beauty products.
HOW TO TRANSITION TO NATURAL SKINCARE
Just like any transition to a healthier lifestyle, think of switching to natural, clean beauty products as a journey.
You Might Like: How to Eat Organic on Any Budget
You probably won’t be able to make the switch all at once, that would be pretty darn overwhelming (and expensive!).
Products that you use in large quantities on your body OR that you consume small amounts of (like lip products) are a great place to start.
Try a naturally made lip balm or lipstick – there are some amazing choices available. This is a great place to start because you actually consume the lip products you apply. Make it as healthy and clean as possible!
Body lotion is another easy clean swap to start with. You won’t miss your conventional lotion because there are TONS of amazing clean lotion options available.
MAKE HOMEMADE BEAUTY PRODUCTS
One of my favorite ways to go green and clean is to make my own products. When you make your own beauty products, you know exactly what is in it AND you can save a ton of money!
Fantastic; you are spot on educating us.
I adore your information and common sense approach.
Thank you,
Jennifer