“Clean Beauty” calls for healthier beauty products, without ingredients that are toxic to health or the environment.
FROM WHERE COMES THIS MOVEMENT “ CLEAN BEAUTY » ?
Clean Beauty has its origins in the United States where cosmetic regulations prohibit 30 ingredients in the composition of products compared to more than 1,300 in Europe.
When the information was relayed by major influencers, like Gwyneth Paltrow, American women began to look closely at the composition of their creams. This phenomenon has spread rapidly in Europe and throughout the world.
In France, the revelation of the UFC magazine " Que Choisir " in March 2015 denouncing 13 toxic or dangerous products present in our cosmetic products acts as a detonator.
It’s a shock for the French who realize that they can no longer trust their favorite brands. An awakening of consciousness is underway.
While sales in the cosmetics sector have stagnated in recent years, natural and organic cosmetics grew 22.7% in France in 2017 .
This craze for cosmetics that are more respectful of health has not escaped the distributors, who now devote entire corners to it. New healthier cosmetic concepts appear every day and major brands are starting to offer cleaner compositions.
But what substances should you avoid? How can I be sure that my product only serves me well and matches my values?
HOW TO KNOW IF A PRODUCT IS “ CLEAN » ?
In theory, a so-called “ clean ” product should be free of any ingredient suspected of being dangerous to health or the planet.
Among the harmful ingredients, we find in particular: ingredients suspected of being carcinogenic ( BHA , PEG, Diethanolamine , certain dyes, etc.) , endocrine disruptors ( phenoxyethanol , parabens, phthalates, triclosan ) .
Then there are ingredients that are harmful to the environment and animals like palm oil, silicones and other mineral oils. These substances are comedogenic , irritating to the skin, but also very polluting, because they are non-biodegradable.
And yet they are present in many products!
The problem is that today there is no universal “ clean ” label attesting to the health of a product. Some brands having created “ clean ” labels, to help their consumers find their way around, still authorize phenoxyethanol , among other things.
Some brands, among the most recognized, continue to launch products containing this ingredient. Certainly at the % authorized by legislation, but neglecting the cocktail effect to which their consumers are exposed.
We can rely on apps mobile devices to help us detect these substances.
There are several today:
Clean beauty , INCI , Yuka that help consumers decipher ingredient lists.
ORGANIC LABEL = ZERO RISK?
Should we then turn to organic labels? We tell you about it in this article !
In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled, scan your barcodes, and watch out for greenwashing !
Credits : article written in collaboration with Fiona Bazzana
