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Chances are you’ve heard the terms clean skincare and clean beauty at least once if not more over the last decade as consumers, especially women in their 30’s and 40’s become more mindful of what they are putting into their bodies and onto their skin. Perhaps you are even asking yourself what is clean skincare? You’ve probably wondered this more often than not and believe me you are not alone in questioning what is clean skincare.
Afterall there’s really no official industry definition and there is A LOT of noise out there regarding what is clean skincare and what isn’t. Let’s talk about it!
I started delving into this part of the beauty industry about 5 years ago after watching many women around me experience health issues ranging from hormonal and reproductive issues to cancer. I had never once thought there could potentially be toxic chemicals in my skincare and beauty products. Who would?
The truth is that chemicals and contaminants linked to cancer can be found in food, water and many other everyday products including skincare, makeup, and other personal care products.
You would assume that “someone” is looking out for this but in reality the regulations around personal care products are severely lacking in the US. Yes, it is alarming when you first realize this but don’t worry, it is not all gloom and doom! The good news is that many clean brands and other organizations are working to change the industry and make it safer for consumers.
Perhaps one day we won’t even have to wonder what is clean skincare because it will just be the standard for all skincare! Wouldn’t that be nice?!
You also have more safer options than ever before and people like me who are doing the research and vetting brands to help so you don’t have to! I have made it part of my personal mission to empower women like you who want to better understand their options.
New here? Welcome! 🙂 I would love to connect with you! Check out these additional resources to help you crush your safer skincare and makeup game and get glowing!
Learn a little more about me and how I can help you!
Grab your free guide to clean beauty including the 5 most common ingredients to avoid!
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OR Join my free skincare community for insider exclusives, tips, and bestie real talk!
What is Clean Skincare?
So, what is clean skincare anyway? Consumers like you and I want to use products that are not shown or suspected to compromise our health. Shouldn’t we have that choice? Absolutely! In comes the concept of clean skincare, clean makeup, and overall clean beauty which is allowing industry leaders to give us consumers what we want – safe and effective products!
The simplest way to answer what is clean skincare is to think of it as skincare that is safe, non-toxic, and has transparent labeling of ingredients.
Clean skincare is like the superhero version of skincare and beauty products. It’s all about using safer, sustainable ingredients that won’t make you cringe, make you sick or harm the environment.
It is time for beauty brands to take responsibility and for consumers like you and I to say goodbye to sketchy ingredients that could seriously mess up our health.
One of the biggest positives of the clean beauty movement is the transparent labeling of ingredients that many brands are now adopting. You’ll know exactly what you are getting in every bottle of moisturizer! The clean beauty movement allows you to enjoy safer ingredients on your skin while feeling empowered through transparency.
Why Clean Skincare Matters
As I mentioned earlier, the personal care industry is lacking in regulation. There are also loopholes that allow companies to get away with adding synthetic fragrance for example to products without disclosing what is actually IN the fragrance.
When it comes to skincare, what we put on our skin can be just as important as what we eat. Our skin is our largest organ, and it absorbs a significant portion of what we apply to it, meaning harmful ingredients can make their way into our bodies.
Health Implications:
Conventional skincare products often contain harmful substances like parabens, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, and formaldehyde releasers, which have been linked to serious health concerns such as hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and even cancer.
These ingredients can accumulate in our bodies over time, contributing to long-term health risks. Clean skincare eliminates these toxins, providing peace of mind that you’re nurturing your skin, not harming your health.
Sensitive Skin and Allergies:
For those with sensitive skin or allergies, clean skincare can be a game changer. Clean skincare focuses on gentle, non-irritating ingredients, clean products often reduce the chances of triggering breakouts, redness, or other adverse reactions. Many clean skincare products are formulated with nourishing, plant-based ingredients designed to soothe and heal, making them ideal for people with sensitive skin concerns.
Longevity of Skin Health
While clean skincare is about avoiding harmful chemicals in the short term, it’s also about preserving the health and appearance of your skin in the long run. Harmful ingredients may provide short-term benefits but often damage the skin’s protective barrier, leading to premature aging, dryness, and irritation.
Clean skincare focuses on nourishing the skin with non-toxic ingredients that support hydration, elasticity, and overall vitality, helping your skin age gracefully while protecting your health.
If you are anything like me, at this point, you might be feeling your heart racing a bit learning about all of this but don’t worry, this is a no stress zone. It is not about being perfect.
It is about being mindful of what goes into your body! If you were to switch one product to a safer swap today, you’d be in a better position than you were previously.
Wondering what you can do or how to find clean skincare? I am so glad you asked! 😉
How to Choose Clean Skincare Products
The best thing to do when looking for clean skincare and other clean beauty products is to check the labels and ingredient lists. You will soon become a master label reader. Flip that bottle right over and have a look at what’s inside.
Ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde and fragrance should immediately raise a red flag for you. Fragrance is one of those loopholes where there could be all kinds of different chemicals simply labeled as fragrance.
I’ve created an entire guide to clean beauty with resources and trusted, vetted brands that you can download to help you feel less overwhelmed and more empowered by knowing what to look for.
Here’s a fun rule of thumb: the fewer the ingredients, the better. If you need a PhD to understand the first five ingredients listed, it’s probably not the clean skincare you’re looking for. Clean products often have fewer, more recognizable ingredients.
Pro tip: If you can’t pronounce it, your skin probably doesn’t want it. This isn’t always the case but it’s a good starting point!
Third party certifications are also your bestie when it comes to learning what is clean skincare and what is not. Be sure to look for seals like EWG Verified, USDA Organic, or Leaping Bunny for cruelty-free assurance. These stamps mean the product has already been vetted (they’re hard to get!) by people who take this stuff seriously and have high safety standards, so you don’t have to do a deep dive into every single ingredient.
You can also simply pull up the brand’s website as well. A quick Google search can save you tons of time. Many clean skincare brands will tell you right on their website exactly what ingredients they are using and often times they even have lists of banned or restricted ingredients that you will never find in their products.
You can look for how they test for safety as well. It is often part of their mission on their website. These brands have nothing to hide!
If you don’t see any ingredients listed for a product or the brand doesn’t even mention anything about safety standards then you might want to look for something else.
If you’re ready to do some swapping of already vetted clean skincare, check out a few of my trusted clean skincare brands!
The bottom line is that clean, safer beauty products matter because YOUR health matters. You should not have to sacrifice your health for products that work and provide great results. Whether it’s reducing exposure to toxins or preventing chronic skin conditions, clean skincare offers a safer, more mindful approach to beauty.
If you are ready to take action by starting your own clean beauty journey, my best advice is to start small. You don’t need to do an entire skincare overhaul overnight. Remember it is about making progress, not being perfect.
What other questions do you have? Drop a comment and be sure to grab your guide to clean beauty!
