What you Need to Know About CLEAN BEAUTY
Truth is, I’ve always wrinkled my nose at the term “Trend.” You see, I have sort of a love-hate relationship with the word. On one hand, I love staying fresh and on top of emerging best-practices, cutting edge services and best product finds. I mean – bringing you all “the best of” is a huge part of my job and that’s serious business people!
On the other hand, the word can also connote blindly following the crowd at the expense of calmly deciding if a “trend” is something that really works for you and your lifestyle. Or, hey – maybe that’s just my own personal baggage and I’m being all-extra about a 5-letter word. Did you just count that out on your fingers? Lol. Me too.
Here is how we define a “Trend”:
Something that women love and are doing or wearing,
that bears consideration. Assess, try it only if you
feel compelled to do so, then either adopt or reject.
As I always say – “You’re the boss of you!”
The CLEAN BEAUTY Movement in 2020
What it is + Why it’s about beauty and health
To me, Clean Beauty isn’t just a silly trend that’s cool right now – it is a movement pushed forward mainly by women, as we are becoming more and more enlightened and aware of what companies are selling us, questioning it and in many cases, demanding better in the form of products that are free of parabens, fragrances, dyes, drying alcohols and are certified cruelty-free. i.e., not tested on animals.
Today, we are so much more cognizant of what we’re putting on our skin, in our bodies – as well as the genesis of products. That is, where do they come from, what’s in them, how are they tested, are they harmful to the environment, our planet or to our own long-term health and well-being.
As a result, the beauty industry is responding. Big time. There has been a huge ubiquitous movement across the entire beauty industry, towards what is being called CLEAN BEAUTY.
Generally speaking, Clean Beauty refers to products that
don’t contain certain ingredients that the brand itself
considers unsafe. Ingredients such as refined petroleum,
talc, hydroquinone, fragrances, parabins and the like.
The Beauty Industry is Self-Regulated…..
If you’ve already had your morning coffee…. You’ve undoubtedly identified the issue….. The brand calls the shots on what products they label “Clean.” Sound like the fox is guarding the hen house? Yup. And therein lies the problem-o.
The beauty industry is self-regulated.
Yes. They are self-regulated, meaning manufacturers can make a Clean Beauty claim on their own products, with no oversight nor regulatory minimum standards to abide by. Further, the FDA doesn’t even have the authority to recall toxic beauty products unless the brand volunteers to do so. That’s crazy?
In the U.S, we are a little late to the regulation party when compared to other countries. The entire European Union, all 28-member states, have banned over 1,000 chemicals common in personal care and beauty products. One-thousand. The United States has banned….. only 11.
So What Can We Do….
Here’s the deal. Instead of driving ourselves crazy with every possible pro and con of an ingredient label, there are 11 specific ingredients that are commonly agreed should be avoided all together. Here they are:
11 Ingredients to Avoid:
Talc
Parabens
Fragrances
Hydroquinone
Silica
Oxybenzone
Ethoxylated Agents
Aluminum Compounds
Refined Petroleum
Triclosan
Formaldehyde
Fortunately There Are Lots of Good Options!
This isn’t meant to freak you out, or to say that (all) beauty companies are big evil empires and we should just curl into a fetal position and hide in the corner. As with any industry, there’s ethical, non-ethical and everything in between.
It’s simply important information through which to view products and purchasing decisions. Read the ingredient labels – not just the marketing hype on the package, then make your purchasing decision.
Fortunately because of the demand for safe, environmentally friendly, cruelty-free products, a lot of amazing brands both new and old are hopping on the bandwagon to meet consumer expectations and standards. We win!
My Top Picks – Clean Beauty Products
All Paraben, Sulfate and Cruelty-Free
Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative Serum, HERBIVORE
Free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc. Vegan. Cruelty-Free. Pregnancy safe.
One of the hottest natural skincare ingredients right now is Bakuchiol, a plant-derived natural alternative to retinol. You know, retinol….. the skin care ingredient that smoothes wrinkles, helps fade dark spots, and restores skin to baby-softness.
Bakuchiol has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Like retinol, it works to turn over skin cells thus paving the way for fresher, prettier cells to surface. It also pushes collagen to the surface for more elastic, fresher looking skin.
This alternative retinol serum by HERBIVORE is a natural, non-irritating retinol alternative that smooths fine lines and wrinkles while sealing in hydration.
How to use it:
Apply four to six drops to clean, toned skin. Massage in as a leave-on treatment. Follow up with moisturizer and facial oil. Use daily or as often as needed.
Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer, DRUNK ELEPHANT
Free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc. Cruelty-Free.
One of the fastest growing Clean Beauty brands on the market, Drunk Elephant’s protein moisturizer combines signal peptides, growth factors, supportive amino acids and pygmy waterlily to provide visible improvement in the appearance of skin’s tone, texture and firmness.
What it does:
Protini’s proprietary formula delivers younger, revived-looking skin, almost from the first application. Lines, wrinkles and signs of sun-damage appear reduced; depleted skin feels strengthened and moisturized.
Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Treatment, HERBIVORE
Free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc; also free of artificial ingredients, fillers, artificial colors and gluten. Cruelty-free.
Moon Fruit Night Cream by HERBIVORE, contains the superfruits prickly pear, goji berry and red raspberry seed, along with natural humectants kokum and shea butter, to lock in moisture. Papaya, lemon, sugar cane, orange, bilberry, cranberry and maple enzymes gently resurface the skin and support natural cellular turnover, leaving skin exfoliated, smooth and glowing.
How to use it:
Before bed, apply a small amount to clean skin. Massage in well so that the natural butters absorb into your skin! Finally, layer one of your beauty oils on top for superior hydration and glowing results!
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, ELEMIS
Free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc; also free of artificial colors and DEA. Cruelty-free.
This stuff looks so good, I don’t know if I want to cleanse my face with it or smear it all over a piece of toast. I digress. ELEMIS’ Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is a deep-cleansing balm that dissolves makeup, daily grime and pollutants – while intensely cleansing, nourishing and renewing skin.
It contains a luxurious mix of rose and mimosa (hello!!) waxes infused with elderberry, starflower and optime oils to nourish. Finally, it’s supercharged with the anti-aging algae padina pavonica. Skin is left glowing.
Bonus
This doubles as a weekly mask! Simply apply a teaspoon-sized amount to your face, neck and décolletage. Massage gently in with your fingertips. Chill out for 10 minutes, then hold a warm, damp cloth over your skin & gently wipe away. Gently wipe away. Gorgeousness!
Biotec Skin Energizing Cleanser, ELEMIS
Energizing cleanser free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc; also free of artificial colors and DEA. Cruelty-free.
CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS YOU MAY LOVE:
“LOVE” this article & COMMENT below! SHARE this article with a friend you care about. She’ll thank you 😉
Comment on “2020 CLEAN BEAUTY – What You Need to Know!”