We know that our skin and our bodies absorb anything we apply topically or consume. This means that by constantly exposing your skin to known irritants, your skin can develop sensitivity in the long term as its barrier gets weakened, leading to skin conditions such as dermatitis, flakiness, and inflammation. Fortunately, this can all be prevented by simply incorporating a range of skin-friendly, unharmful skincare, body care and makeup products that are safe, and free from harmful ingredients. If you want to be more conscious about what you put on your skin, follow our guide to help you choose beauty products that are clean and safe.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS
At its core, clean beauty means that a product is safe to people and the planet and has transparent labelling of ingredients. Since clean beauty is not regulated, it can be difficult to determine which boxes the products tick, but there are some things you can look out for in a clean beauty product to decide whether you can trust it. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the brand have any information available that backs up their clean beauty claims?
- What are the ingredients in the products? Beauty products list the ingredients from highest to lowest concentration. Take into consideration what the first ingredients are and how many ingredients there are in total.
- How transparent is the brand? Do they provide information on how they manufacture their products, and where?
- Do they include enough information to back up each green claim? Or are they only using vague statements?
- If they use clean ingredients, are they also a sustainable brand? Is their manufacturing process eco-friendly? Do they use sustainable packaging? Do they give back?
KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS
Knowing which ingredients in your skincare products are harmful or beneficial to your health is essential.
Decide Which Ingredients You Want To Avoid:
The first step to creating a safe and clean beauty routine is to start by checking the labels on your beauty products to ensure that they do not contain any harmful ingredients. Some ingredients are labelled as ‘harmful’ because they can pose adverse effects to our overall health and well-being when used in the long term. Parabens, phthalates, preservatives, alcohols, sulphates, artificial fragrances, and artificial colourants are some of the harsh ingredients you won’t find in clean beauty products.
How To Choose The Safest Ingredients For Your Clean Routine:
- Get familiar with ingredients lists.
- Look for honest brands that promote transparency of ingredients.
- Choose natural and organic formulas that are results orientated.
- Look out for certifications or logos.
- Look out for ingredients that may be potential allergens.
Top Tips:
Make sure to understand what cosmetic labels and symbols reveal on the packaging of a product. For example, the open jar symbol represents the length of time that a product can be used safely after the period of opening it.
