One major issue within the beauty industry is a lack of awareness. In my opinion, a lot of people do not know what ingredients are in their products or what’s considered harmful. With a lack of awareness, some may not realize the toxins they are putting on their skin. So, that’s why I’m here to inform you on what to avoid in these products, what you should be using more of, and how to make it easier to find clean beauty products!
Before I get into things, I want to say that I am in no way an expert, but I do have a good understanding of certain chemicals to avoid in products. After doing some research and trying out some beneficial ingredients myself, I have seen what good ingredients can do for your skin.
The products I use on my skin are not perfectly clean. It takes time, money, and effort to go fully clean. This blog is not to persuade you to throw away all your beauty products and switch to clean only, it’s to inform you about what I’ve learned! After all, I care not only about what goes onto my skin but also what goes onto yours.
False Advertising
Despite a lack of awareness, it has never been so common to pay attention to the ingredients in skincare and beauty products. As the demand for clean beauty continues to grow, more and more companies are starting to brand themselves as “clean.” This is a step in the right direction, but even though these brands are calling themselves clean, it’s important to realize that not every brand labeled as clean checks all the boxes.
“Clean beauty” is not a regulated term. Based on a brand’s definition of clean, it may claim to be something that doesn’t fully align with what it truly is.
In fact, there happens to be a ton of misinformation on how safe these products are. Similarly, it’s easy to be fooled by certain marketing, labels, or false information spread on the media.
Whether it’s skincare or beauty, companies all over are being exposed because of harmful and toxic chemicals contained in their products. These harmful ingredients can even lead to long-term effects and illnesses.
What is “Clean Beauty?”
How often do you read the ingredients list on your skincare or beauty products? If someone would’ve asked me that a year ago, my answer would be very rare. But, I believe I am much more educated now on what’s inside the products I use daily.
Clean beauty is products that do not contain harmful ingredients for your skin. These products are safe for your skin and promote wellness and preserve your natural beauty. Clean beauty is not meant to destroy and strip the barrier of your skin, which is what toxic chemicals do.
Harmful Skincare Ingredients
First, let’s go over what ingredients you should be avoiding in your skincare or beauty products. These ingredients are scientifically proven to diminish the quality of the product and the result it will have on your skin and body.
There are loads of bad ingredients, but I’ve included the ones I know the most about! The following ingredients are toxic chemicals that should not be going onto your skin daily due to their negative effects and toxic chemicals.
- Parabens- Known endocrine disruptors, causing hormone imbalance & some cancers.
- DEA (Diethanolamine)- Known carcinogen and respiratory toxin.
- Phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP)- Disrupts endocrine system & causes hormonal and reproductive problems.
- Synthetic fragrance- Many are petroleum-based and contain parabens and phthalates.
- Oxybenzone- A lot of times found in chemical sunscreens and disrupts hormones, sometimes leading to cancer.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate- Skin irritant.
- Formaldehyde- A known human carcinogen.
Beneficial Skincare Ingredients
After looking at what ingredients are bad for your skin, let’s move on to what products benefit your skin. I will go over my favorite beneficial ingredients that are proven to improve skin and their specific benefits.
- Vitamin C- This brightens up the appearance of your skin and helps your skin produce collagen. Who doesn’t need a little boost of Vitamin C?
- Hyaluronic acid- Holds onto water and creates an instant plumping effect.
- retinol- Increases cell turnover and helps promote collagen production for more youthful skin.
- Glycolic Acid- Helps lighten hyperpigmentation while exfoliating the skin.
- Niacinamide- Great for improving the appearance of pores and oil. Helps with acne and brightens the skin.
- Salicylic acid- Helps with acne and acne scarring.
- Sunscreen- If you are not putting sunscreen on your face every morning, it’s never too late to start! Sunscreen protects your skin from sun exposure.
Clean Beauty Brands
Here are a few of my favorite clean beauty brands that are worth checking out!
- Youth To The People
- Herbivore
- Sunday Riley
- Ilia
- Fur
- Tula
- Nécessaire
- Juice Beauty
- Tata Harper
- Josie Maran
Easy Ways To Find Clean Beauty
If it seems like an overwhelming task to find clean beauty products, I have good news for you! There are a ton of apps that make it easy for you to see what products are clean or not.
My favorite apps:
- Think Dirty
- SkinSafe
- CodeCheck
- CosmEthics
I understand that finding clean beauty may not be everyone’s priority, but transitioning it out of your daily use may not be the worst idea. If you want to clean up your products, check the ingredients list on your products, download an app, and do some research!
Thank you for reading!
<3 LA
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