"Vegan," "cruelty-free," "allergen-free," "Ecocert certified"—new eco-friendly labels and certifications are popping up in our bathrooms. The reason? Women are increasingly demanding transparency when it comes to their beauty products.
Clean beauty is gaining ground in the evolving beauty landscape and is becoming a true lifestyle philosophy. Once a niche, it has now become a must-have. Here's how.
Where does the Clean Beauty movement come from?
Clean Beauty is the result of a groundswell of change. More and more consumers are becoming aware of the irritating effects of certain components found in perfumes and preservatives in beauty products. This awareness has been accelerated by several health scandals, particularly concerning endocrine disruptors.
We're also seeing a significant increase in skin sensitivity to pollution, stress, and certain cosmetics. Allergic reactions, irritation, and redness—skin sensitivity is becoming a real concern for shoppers who now want to invest in products that are gentle, safe, and secure for their skin and health.
In this context, women are demanding more transparency and cleaner compositions from brands. This is when Clean Beauty emerged and developed.
What is “Clean Beauty”?
There's no precise definition to determine what Clean Beauty is. It's a philosophy of life, a way of consciously consuming. Above all, it's an approach: acting for the good of the skin. Since the contours of Clean Beauty are still unclear, it's up to brands to define their scope of action.
Some cosmetics companies are therefore going green and demonstrating their efforts to reassure their increasingly informed customers. For example, they are removing questionable ingredients from their formulas or seeking validation from independent organizations such as recognized labels or mobile apps.
In addition to humans, Clean Beauty strives to respect and protect the planet. Beyond product composition, it encourages rethinking their packaging. Biodegradable, made from recycled components, with a low carbon footprint, and ethically sourced, the options for this new, environmentally friendly packaging are numerous.
Recognizing an ingredient of natural origin
Naturally derived ingredients refer to any ingredient that is not derived from petroleum or synthetically. It is an ingredient that is physically transformed or an extract processed according to the principles of green chemistry. This can be a plant, a mineral, or even water.
Each ingredient has its own naturalness index. Depending on its proportion in the formula, a percentage of the product's natural origin index is obtained. This percentage is calculated according to the international standard ISO 16128, recognized worldwide.
Cosmetics to ban from your bathroom
The bans or restrictions that may apply to an ingredient are not the same in all regions of the world; an ingredient will not be valued the same way depending on where you live. However, Clean Beauty enthusiasts agree on certain ingredients that are best avoided. These include:
- parabens (benzylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, etc.): preservatives considered endocrine disruptors, many of which are now banned. A quick reminder: those beginning with P, I, or B are "Not Good"!
- mineral oils (paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, mineral oil): derived from petrochemicals and inexpensive, they create an occlusive film on the skin and block the pores;
- sodium lauryl sulfate (LSS or SLS): most often used as a surfactant to allow the fatty substances in a composition to dissolve in water, it is known to be very irritating and dehydrate the skin.
As a reminder, all substances must be indicated on the product label. Ingredients are then listed from highest to lowest percentage. Below 1%, brands are no longer required to follow this order.
