Clean beauty concepts: How to do natural skincare

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Have you ever heard of clean beauty? I’m sure you have. This trend is becoming more popular and strong since last year. Just as “clean eating” (well, you know I’m all about a balanced and healthy approach with food), clean beauty is gaining more strength. Especially since the pandemic started in 2020. To be honest, I’m all in with clean beauty concepts. It’s a more natural approach to skincare. So, I’ve been thinking about sharing some facts about natural skincare and why this should be a new norm in your holistic life. Today, I finally want us to take a closer look at what clean beauty concepts mean and why I am such an advocate for “natural and non-toxic” skincare.

Where did the clean beauty concepts come from?

As you may have noticed, these recent years, consumers have been shifting to a healthier lifestyle. Thank goodness! After all the damage to the physical and mental wellbeing that over processed products have made, people are finally becoming more conscious of healthier, non-toxic choices. This ranges from healthier food alternatives (name it organic, GMO-free, more local, plant-based, etc). Also, more people are into the “fitfam” movement, which is basically getting more active. Apart from that, choosing to drink less, stop smoking and being in healthier environments is part of the Big change.

Did you know that this trend is also moving into the beauty industry? Well, this is an all win situation. Now, more than ever, people are very careful of what types of products they put on their skin, cause you know, your skin is also your body’s major organ. I do, and I guess you’ve also considered it. I don’t blame you if you do some research or are willing to spend a little more just to find skincare brands that will not harm your skin. You know what? I see you and I support you with that mentality.

Some facts about the skincare industry…

Here’s the reality, my friend… The skincare industry is not regulated like the food is. You see, we have the FDA and other big regulation companies that ensure that what we eat is safe. They monitor that the ingredients in food and we see in labels are not harmful for our bodies. Unfortunately, for many years, the beauty industry was not regulated like that. And, still to this day, you can find many cosmetic brands that have heavy ingredients and toxic substances for our skin. This is part of the reasons why people started to struggle with severe acne, dehydrated and aged skin, premature wrinkles and even skin cancer.

Besides that, brands would appeal to consumers by “boosting” their product’s amazing benefits on the skin. What you didn’t know is that some of their labels were unclear or had toxic “hidden” ingredients. Have you ever seen a product labeled as “totally organic”, but still wondered if this was true or if it was just a lame sales strategy? I know right, nodding my head!!

So, thanks to the new consciousness about taking care of our skin, just as we do with the rest of our bodies, the clean beauty concepts boomed. It is no longer a secret, as well, that the cosmetic ingredients and packaging were causing serious damage to the environment. So, now, it’s not just about your skin health overall, but it’s also related to taking a more eco-friendly approach.

Clean beauty movement is part of the new holistic life

So, the clean beauty concepts are more than just a trend, it’s now a movement. Which honestly I’m truly thankful for. As a naturalista, I’ve always believed that you can find health benefits from nature. I’m not a vegan, but I support plant-based products. There’s no need to give into animal cruelty (which I’ll talk about further), to get healthy benefits for your skin. So, as you notice, living a holistic life is not just about eating healthier and exercising. It also involves the types of products we put on our skins and our natural approach to skincare. Below, I’m pointing out some of the clean beauty concepts, my personal experience and more on this healthy movement.

Getting rid of the toxic ingredients:

So, we are saying bye bye to toxic ingredients in labels and welcoming more natural, safe products. Now, as far as I know, I can’t say that the clean beauty products are 100% “clean”. But, at least, I’ve seen more brands creating products that are free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and hydroquinones, for example. I started using these types of products for my natural afro hair and then transitioned to skincare products.

I’ve seen a huge difference, all for the better. Synthetic products that have these types of ingredients were extremely drying for my hair. It wasn’t growing, it was constantly breaking and I had severe dandruff problems. Now that I’m using more toxic-free products on my hair, I’ve noticed how soft, hydrated and stronger it’s become. Same thing with my skin. I saw changes in my skin appearance, it’s smoother and healthier. Check out this post for a list of toxic ingredients you should avoid.

Safety is key when it comes to clean beauty concepts

Clean beauty also advocates safety for the body. You need to make sure that what you’re using is not going to cause any health problems. Safer products are the definition of clean beauty. And when I say safe, I mean products backed by scientific evidence. The way you’ll know a product is safe is by checking that the label is free of those “toxic ingredients” or that they are natural.

Embracing your skin’s natural beauty

One of the clean beauty concepts I love that not many talk about is embracing your skin’s natural beauty. There’s nothing better than to take good care of your skin and reveal its own beauty. I’ve never been a fan of wearing heavy makeup anyway. Using more natural products on your skin gives a better glow and appearance. Apart from that, makeup brands are formulating lighter foundations, and using nude colors.

Avoiding animal cruelty when it comes to product testing

One thing that is a major win with the clean beauty movement is reducing animal cruelty. Most of the cosmetic companies used to test their products on animals like rats and rabbits.This caused them to sacrifice a lot of animals for the sake of the industry. So, all of that is changing with clean beauty brands. The goal is to use more nature-friendly products and avoid animal testing. Brands like The Detox Market are coming strong in the game with this concept.

Being more minimalistic is another part of clean beauty concepts

If you were the “product junkie” type like I was in the past, now is the time to shift to the mindset that less is more. Seriously, specialists are designing more products that cover many benefits in one packaging. The less you spend on a bunch of artificial products,the better it is for your skin’s health. This concept is also giving a spin on our budget for cosmetics. In other words, you don’t have to break the bank to have healthy, glowing skin!

Using products that are environment-friendly

So, this is more than just a trendy topic, but taking care of our nature and environment is a goal in holistic living. Because most of the ingredients used in clean beauty products are natural, they cause less impact to the environment. How else are clean beauty cosmetics friendly with the environment? Well, most brands work hard to reduce their carbon footprint, use cleaner manufacturing processes and use recycled materials. All these efforts help to reduce carbon emissions.

Clean beauty concepts involve products that revitalize the skin and the senses (therapy)

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but more recent products are including ingredients that stimulate the senses. So, it’s not just about having natural stuff, but also substances that work in other areas of your wellbeing. Have you heard about “functional products”? Ok, just as with foods, these types of ingredients have therapeutic benefits: some provide relaxation, others help to relieve anxiety, and even help you sleep better. This is part of what essential oils do. One of those oils that brands are using a lot is CBD oils. It has many therapeutic properties and also helps with skin health. If you want to read more about CBD oil, check out this post.

More clean beauty concepts brands are adding this new feature to their cosmetics. One of the clean beauty brands I’m loving The Detox Market, which is all about clean skincare and wellness rituals. You’ll have access to 10% discount all products here. Sounds and feels like heaven!

More transparency in the making

That’s part of what makes a clean beauty product sustainable. So, it’s far more than just caring about the ingredients. It’s also about what was involved in the making, the sources, the testing and stating everything in the packaging. It’s not that easy to find products that comply with all these aspects, but basically, more clean beauty brands are adopting this practice. In other words, becoming “clean” about how you make something is not having an ingredient that is questionable. Well, you get the point. With the clean beauty movement, the goal is to say bye to those confusing labels.

This is my current skincare routine… Let's talk about clean beauty! What I love about @TheDetoxMarket is that their products are organic, skin nourishing, animal-cruelty free and environment-friendly. I'm obsessed with this brand and the results on my skin! pic.twitter.com/Khg92kTC3V
— Zola Johnson (@zolajohnsonrd) August 11, 2021

Clean beauty concepts involve more organic, plant-based ingredients

You probably already knew about this, but I just wanted to emphasize the difference between a brand that claims is “organic” and one that has plant-based ingredients. When a product is organic, it means that it has minimally processed ingredients. Said in other terms, those substances are 100% pure and are not mixed with “heavy” chemicals. In the case of a plant-based line, all ingredients are vegan, and nothing was tested on animals. Which brands are better? To be honest, most companies are a combination of both, so I wouldn’t consider any type to be superior to the other. Both types are part of the clean beauty concepts, so your skin will be healthier with whichever you choose.

Clean packaging is a must!

Another thing I love about the clean beauty movement is the type of packaging they use. As I explained above, companies are making more effort to save the environment. And, that includes avoiding waste. When you use clean packaging, you save more trees, waste less paper and thus pollution. This is a clear idea of why shifting towards a clean beauty product is a win for both you and the environment. And, let me tell you, it’s not hard to see if the packaging is fake. Usually, the label would show that the materials used are safe and recycled. Besides that, the packaging usually seems and feels different to touch. Look for the “green product” label when you purchase a clean beauty product.

Waterless skincare

Really? Well, what is waterless? What does that suppose to mean? Is that even a thing now in skincare?

If you’re shocked about this new concept, let me explain what it actually means. This is relatively new, but if you understand why it works, it makes sense. See, the beauty industry takes a toll on water consumption because this is the most commonly used ingredient. See, thanks to asian technology, this is no longer an issue. Korean skincare companies use botanical ingredients, instead of water, to hydrate the skin. This results in more benefits without overusing water.

Some final words,

As you can see, the tendency to use more natural, non-toxic skin care products is no longer a trend. The clean beauty concepts are part of a holistic movement, and I’m hoping this is for the long run. Engaging in more natural things to take care of your skin will benefit its health as well as the environment. Heavy chemicals are just too harsh for the skin and in the end, you’ll be better off without them. The goal is to reduce premature aging, health problems like skin cancer and living a healthier, sustainable life! What are your thoughts on this? Are you engaging in more clean beauty skincare? Let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust. There is no additional cost to you.