Style July 21, 2022
Clean makeup has a lot to offer for the modern woman conscious about her health and the environment.
We live in a world now where women want to make better choices for themselves and the planet. When it comes to makeup, it’s no different! Clean makeup products offer promises of better-for-you ingredients and eco-friendly practices. But do they really deliver? Keep reading if you’re unfamiliar with the different aspects of clean beauty. We’ve also provided several options for you to add to your next makeup run.
A clean beauty product is generally considered anything that is sourced from natural resources and contains no potentially harmful ingredients. It turns out the makeup industry is chock-full of thousands of dangerous and shocking additives. These ingredients can cause undesirable health effects like irritation, hormone disruption, and even cancer. To combat this, clean beauty products are more likely to be transparent about the items on their ingredients list. And even more so, they have a greater desire to use ingredients powered by nature, like superfoods, fruits, and natural oils, that emphasize healthy skin.
In addition to their skin-first approach, they value sustainability and reducing their environmental impact. Saie founder Laney Crowell tells InStyle, “One of our top priorities is to think about whether or not the ingredients are biodegradable, how things wash into the water supply, the way ingredients are grown or processed, and whether they are organic or non-GMO.”
While these are all positive qualities, the downside to clean beauty is that there is no government regulation, industry standard, or widespread certification for a clean beauty designation. So makeup brands can easily take advantage of the label without any real oversight or due diligence.
Dermatologist Dr. Anne Chapas tells CNN, “The US Food and Drug Administration has failed to define ‘clean’ and ‘natural’ beauty, leaving these labels open to interpretation by non-dermatologists and retailers who have set out to define clean beauty for themselves.”
It’s also worth noting that just because a product says it’s “natural,” “green,” or “non-toxic” doesn’t mean that it can’t potentially cause an adverse reaction on different skin types.
Clean makeup used to be hard to find and even harder to like or choose compared to mainstream choices. Chief artistic officer at Beautycounter Christy Coleman shares with Women’s Health Magazine, “When I transitioned to a clean makeup kit over 10 years ago, it was relatively unheard of.”
Fortunately, there are a lot more options these days that are just as high-performing, long-lasting, skin-tone inclusive, and pack a powerful color punch! You might have already come across some clean beauty brands without realizing it. But just in case you haven’t and you’re looking for more out of your beauty buys, take a good look at the clean makeup section at your store. They can definitely be found at Target, Ulta, or Sephora.
Using clean makeup would be a good choice for you if you’re concerned about both the products you’re putting on your skin and a brand’s sustainability. And it would definitely be of interest to you if you want a more natural, radiant look and feel.
If you’re looking for a makeup brand that is all about recycling and sustainability, then this is the one for you. Milk actually has two partners, How2Recycle and g2 revolution, to help you reduce your environmental impact with your purchases.
If you’re looking for a makeup brand that without a doubt will have your shade, then browse the wide selection at LYS Beauty. Founder and trained makeup artist Tisha Thompson is on a personal mission to diversify the clean beauty industry. LYS is the first Black-owned Sephora Clean Color Cosmetics brand.
If you’re looking for a makeup brand that’s backed by a former model, then head on over to Rose Inc. This company is founded by former Victoria’s Secret Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and created in partnership with biotech company Amyris. Rose delivers industry expertise and sustainability innovation without compromising being clean.
If you’re looking for a makeup brand that’s not just going to sell you their product, but educate you more on why clean ingredients are important, check out Lawless. Their website contains tons more reading on the dangers of common toxic makeup ingredients.
If you’re looking for a makeup brand that’s really trying to make a transformative impact on the industry, then take a look at au Naturale Cosmetics. Calling themselves both a brand and a cause, their goal is to change makeup industry practices on a legislative level. One such example is the company’s input and advocacy for the Personal Care Products Safety Act which would, “bring safety to the personal care products industry for every single American,” according to their site.
It may be hard to do a complete dump of your current makeup collection. But consider how clean makeup reduces your exposure to harmful toxins. Plus, it even helps you become a more conscious consumer when it comes to a brand’s environmental impact. If these things matter to you, it would make adding just a few items to your everyday lifestyle worth it. We’ve included a list to help you get started with plenty of diverse and affordable options. We hope that you’ve discovered a few reasons to not skip the clean makeup aisle!
