We often hear that Make-up and Skincare brands label themselves as “Clean” We might be a little confused or wondering about what it means!

Since clean does not have an official or legal definition, many brands define “Clean” as per their motives. It’s a problem without regulation, anything can be called clean. Many believe clean means Natural, Organic, Chemical-Free, and Green beauty, and laboratory-made elements are labeled as Dirty.

In this blog, we will clarify where we stand on clean beauty.

What Does “Clean Beauty” Mean?

Brands use Clean beauty to show cosmetic and skin care products are free from harmful/toxic chemicals irrespective of the source. The list includes harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, and refined petroleum. Many of these ingredients are linked to health issues.

To us, clean means, it should create a positive impact on humans and the environment, being transparent.

The Clean products must include safe ingredients and honest ingredient display.

Safe Ingredient

The formulations must contain ingredients that are safe for humans. The ingredient list should not include harmful chemicals that can create a potential danger to humans and the environment.

Honest Ingredient Display

We believe that being transparent is the right way to address the issue of misleading or false labels. Many brands avoid honest ingredient display on the Label for selfish reasons. They can easily mislead the consumers based on a non-transparent ingredient list and called themselves Toxin Free, Clean, etc. Another example of lack of transparency is that artificial fragrance is used in the products to give aroma. Many brands write “fragrance” as an ingredient, but “fragrance” is not the ingredient. It is an easy way to hide harmful ingredients under the name of an ingredient that does not even exist.

At GoodSkn, we prioritize the health of skin and the environment on top. We select each ingredient carefully that is safe for humans and the environment. Ingredients are being selected based on proven positive effects on the skin irrespective of naturally derived, or synthetic sources. We display 100% of the ingredients on the Label.

There are many misconceptions linked to Clean Beauty that we will try to clear up.

Clean has to be All Natural/ Organic/Green – 

The answer is no. Natural, organic, and Green can be called Clean, but clean does not mean all-natural, organic, or Green. Brands can still follow natural, organic, and green criteria but contain toxin ingredients then they can not be called Clean. At present time, man has made a plethora of synthetic ingredients that are safe to use, and it’s far better than unsafe natural ingredients.

Many believe that natural is better, safer, and more effective than synthetic man-made ingredients. Nature is superior and pure but not all products that come from nature are shown effective, and safe for example venom.

The consensus is that Natural means chemical-free or 100% natural – the truth is every element is composed of a chemical. Any ingredient before being incorporated into Skincare products gets processed and purified so it’s no more 100% natural, it is called naturally derived.

Lab-made synthetic ingredients are Toxic but the fact is that many ingredients are not inherently toxic if used in recommended dosages, their dosages are what make them Toxic. Some natural products like water, iron, and oxygen are necessary to live but an overdose is dangerous. Some questionable ingredients like the preservative Phenoxyethanol are not considered toxic with the recommended dosage.

The misconception of preservative-free products is that they are natural, safe, and toxin-free, but the truth is that without preservatives, none of the products is safe to use. All cosmetics and skin care products should use some form of safe preservatives to maintain the stability of the formulas.

Another common consense is that Naturally derived ingredients create less carbon footprint than Lab made ingredients. It can be true in some cases but lab-made ingredients are far more sustainable than harvest in a natural ecosystem. For example, we use Cactus plant stem cells for hydrating, soothing effects in our products. It is an extract taken from a cactus stem. It’s far more sustainable to mimic it through man-made technology than reap massive quantities of a cactus stem from their natural ecosystem. It’s as effective as naturally derived.

What is Greenwashing? 

We must have experienced greenwashing used by brands. Rather than taking an effort to make safe products, brands use marketing tools to convey the false message that the products are toxin free or safe to capture the attention of consumers who are conscious about their health, without delivering the promises.

Why is the Clean Beauty Movement important?

There are a few reasons why clean beauty matters. The clean beauty movement is all about being transparent and making safe products.

It’s important to be aware of the ingredients used in the products, which helps customers to make an informed decision. 

The clean beauty movement is the right move towards eliminating as many potentially dangerous and toxic ingredients in our daily life and making brands accountable to use safe, sustainable, high-quality ingredients.

It supports brands that are shaping the world by creating non-harmful products. We can help make a difference in the beauty industry.

The customers can interpret between toxins and clean by the power of knowledge, and customers are becoming mindful of the potential dangers of the ingredients, as a result switching to clean products.  

How to switch to clean beauty products?

A) We should avoid it!

1. Parabens
2. Fragrance
3. Diethanolamine (DEA)
4. Phthalates
5. Mineral Oils
6. Artificial Colors
7. Sulfate
8. Detergents
9. Petrolatum

B) Take a look at the ingredient list of the particular product and make a list of the ingredients that are in them. Research them if they are linked to health issues, and consider a switch to products that don’t have them.

C) Support brands that have committed to clean beauty and use safe ingredients in their products.

If someone is looking for clean products, then definitely explore www.thegoodskn.com. Products are made from safe ingredients and leave a positive impact on the environment.