Are you concerned with clean beauty? It seems like everyone is talking about clean beauty now. Suddenly retail stores are carving out beauty sections in their aisles. More beauty brands are developing or highlighting new products with natural ingredients; the list of clean beauty products is growing every day. But do you really need to be concerned with clean beauty, especially if it’s more expensive or difficult to find?
Perhaps your skin is totally fine with regular drugstore products. Certain ingredients are okay when used in small amounts or when used for specific purposes. As the FDA states, “some ingredients may be safe in products such as cleansers that we wash off the skin immediately, but not in products that we leave on the skin for hours.” But the FDA list of banned chemicals is also pretty small. In contrast, the EU bans more than 1,400 chemicals! While some chemicals may only lead to dryness, nervous system irritation, and others are under scrutiny for potentially causing cancer in the long term. So better safe than sorry right? After all we’re absorbing these on a daily basis! So I’m on a journey to incorporate more Clean Beauty and wanted to share how to get started with clean beauty.
How to get started with clean beauty
Start where you already shop
Clean beauty products are everywhere! Beauty/Skincare superstore Sephora now has the Clean at Sephora seal; look for this seal have less than 1% fragrance and don’t contain these ingredients either: sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban. This list will grow over time. Popular companies like Honest and Goop (by Juice Beauty) only carry products they deem to be safe and effective. Good ‘ol Target actually carries a lot of clean beauty lines from Love Beauty and Planet (the coconut water and mimosa flower shampoo are on my list to try!) to the Seaweed Bath Co. I just discovered speciality stores CAP Beauty and Follain which also has a pretty fabulous blog.
Jessica Alba is just plain gorgeous in these Honest Beauty products!
Look over those ingredient lists
When you look over an ingredient list, you’re looking not only for what the product contains, but what it DOESN’T contain as well. I wrote about how to choose the best skincare products here. A few big ingredients you want to avoid are sulfates (SLS or SLES), parabens, formaldehyde, mineral oil, phthalates, and oxybenzone. A friend recently started selling BeautyCounter products and they ban more than 1,500 ingredients (more than the EU’s 1,400 ingredients)! You want to look for ingredients that are helpful for your skin type. Do you need vitamin C for brightness? How do you react to ferulic acid or retinoids?
I’m intrigued in the BeautyCounter mineral sunscreen mist – it’s supposed to be easy and effective!
Start small
Take it one step at a time when it comes to clean beauty. I’m just starting to really read labels and be conscious about what I’m using in my skincare and eventually makeup. I am certainly not able to make a switch to clean beauty immediately. I’m checking out EWG when I don’t recognize long ingredient names or to research products. But I at least got started and am ready to start using my Drunk Elephant Nightbright duo (virgin marula oil and night serum). Side note: this sample size set can be a better deal than the full size if you’re going to use both products! This is one brand that is supposed to be worth the hype. I’m also going to venture into Clean Cosmetics and will try out the RMS Beauty Un Cover-up Concealer/Foundation. A lightweight foundation that provides even coverage – yes please!
I’m so ready to try these clean beauty superstars!
So I’d love to hear your favorite Clear Beauty products – what else is worth it?
I’m so happy that Sephora has Clean Beauty section, I am not switching to clean beauty but it’s definitely a great option.
With so mnay choices out there these days, clean beauty is such a no brainer. I have tried the Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil and while I love it I find the Acure Marula Oil to be just as good and it’s a fraction of the price.