Some Problems With the Term "Clean Beauty"

The phrase “Clean Beauty” is often used as an alternative to the term “ Green Beauty” to describe products made with plant-derived or other natural materials or products made primarily with those ingredients However, the term “Clean Beauty” is one that can be confusing in many ways and misleading in others for consumers for a few reasons.

There Is No Definite Definition of "Clean Beauty": Whether it is an individual brand, a major retailer that carries a variety of brands, or an independent organization that simply evaluates products, they all seem to have slightly different definitions as to what constitutes as Clean Beauty. By some standards, certain ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, and even synthetic dyes are unequivocally banned, but by others some of those same ingredients might be allowed in certain percentages or even be totally permissible. Because of this, to truly know what you are getting—and in some cases what won’t be included in a formula—you have to read every brand or retailer’s statement as to what they consider to be Clean Beauty.

"Clean Beauty" Products Are Thought to Be Safe for Everyone: Many people with more sensitive skin, myself included, have found great and consistent success with using products that are more natural-based and/or would fall under the Clean Beauty label by many standards. This, however, does not mean that it will be the case for everyone. For example, if, you have a known sensitivity to all fragrance, your skin might react negatively to a lot so-called “clean” beauty products because many of them contain significant amounts of various essential oils, almost all of which have a strong fragrance component. If this is a particular issue that you face, you might be better off seeking products that are recommended by dermatologists that tend to be labeled as “hypoallergenic” instead, which mostly if not always contain no fragrance of any kind. Even if you are not especially sensitive to fragrances, however, you might still react to an individual ingredient in a “clean” beauty products as much as you also might from any other.

"Clean Beauty" Labeling Usually Offers No Indication of Brand Ethics: Many natural-based beauty companies also take measures in being ethical in their business practices such as being cruelty-free, being fair trade, or focusing on sustainable farming of their ingredients. But because the term “Clean Beauty” can mean so many different things to many companies and retailers, there is no way to ensure that a product you buy will include any one or more of these practices as a part of their business model or ensure that their products are “cleanly” or wholesomely manufactured in terms of ecological or social impact.

The label “Clean Beauty” is a marketing term that might cause more confusion than it brings clarity in the long-term. Truly, there is no substitute for educating yourself about each product individually and seeing from there what will be the best choices for you.