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Clean Beauty 101: a Comprehensive Guide
What Is ‘Clean’ Beauty, Anyway?
It all depends on whom you ask. “The definition of ‘clean beauty’ is pretty nebulous,†says Michele Farber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in Philadelphia. There are no strict guidelines on what can be called clean or natural, which makes it complicated for a skin-care consumer.
Because there’s no formal guidance, it’s up to you to decide what clean beauty means to you, and that will depend on what you’re looking for. Clean beauty could mean:
- You’re actively looking to minimize certain controversial chemicals in your skin care, including fragrance, preservatives like parabens and phthalates, and dyes, all of which can be irritating for skin. But this may mean that you are still using products that contain chemicals.
- You’re looking to minimize your exposure to all chemicals. You might then opt for truly natural products, like using coconut oil as a body moisturizer.
- You’re “cleaner†when it comes to certain products in your routine, like cleansers and soaps, but still use conventional acne products because you find these treat your skin problem better.
Is There Any Science Behind This Approach to Skin Care?
Concern is growing among consumers and professionals that many ingredients used in skin-care products may affect our health. As the Environmental Working Group (EWG) points out, people use about 10 personal-care products a day, amounting to 126 different ingredients.
EWG, an organization that funds research and advocates for more transparency for personal-care products, argues that most of the ingredients the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows in these items have not been proved safe. They also note that more than 500 products available in the United States “contain ingredients banned from cosmetics in Japan, Canada, or the European Union.†There’s the concern that some of these may be carcinogenic or endocrine- disrupting, meaning they cause cancer or dysregulate your hormonal system.
Whether those claims are true remains unclear, though. “We live an environment where there are tons of chemicals everywhere, and it’s impossible to live a chemical-free life. Though I think it’s good to try to limit the number of chemicals we’re exposed to, with certain skin conditions, it’s not always possible,†says Rebecca Baxt, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Paramus, New Jersey. For instance, if you like to moisturize with plain coconut oil, that’s fine — but if you’re acne-prone, you shouldn’t put this on your face.
Advantages of a Clean Skin-Care Routine
If you’re using products that are free of the most common ingredients that cause skin to react — think fragrances, dyes, parabens, and phthalates — it may help your skin remain calmer, and you may experience fewer symptoms of irritation, like redness, burning, and flaking.
Disadvantages of a Clean Skin-Care Routine
This is something that dermatologists everywhere will warn you about: “Just because something is organic or natural doesn’t mean it’s good. It doesn’t mean it’s bad, either,†says Dr. Baxt. “Organics still have a ton of ingredients, and I find they use a lot of scented oils, which people are often allergic to,†she says. In short, you’re not guaranteed happy, irritation-free skin just because you’re using something labeled as natural or clean.
Also, it’s entirely possible to take these efforts too far. Never make your own sunscreen, for example. The sunscreen you buy should be broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistant, says the American Academy of Dermatology.
Ingredients to Use (and Ones to Avoid) in a Clean Skin-Care Routine
In general, this approach to personal care is about finding products without certain ingredients. More on that below, but these unwanted contents generally include fragrance, dyes, preservatives, parabens, and phthalates.
Ingredients to Opt For
You may want to seek out the following, commonly present in “clean†beauty products:
- Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, ceramides (moisturizers)
- Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (found in mineral-based sunscreens)
- Vitamin C (a protective antioxidant)
- Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid for evening skin tone)
- Beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid for acne)
- Bakuchiol (a retinol alternative, used to address fine lines and wrinkles)
Clean Skin Care Product Staples and Recommendations
Cleanse with micellar water. Try Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Water, formulated to be exceptionally gentle on skin. Simple’s micellar water leaves out artificial fragrance, color, dye, alcohol, parabens, and phthalates.
Use a mineral-based SPF moisturizer and sunscreen. Minerals like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide reflect rays and are not absorbed in the skin. They are considered the “cleaner†choice, says Farber. Coola Mineral Face Matte Tint SPF 30 has both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for broad-spectrum protection.
Protect with an antioxidant serum. Farber recommends a vitamin C serum, which will offer antioxidants to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals — chemicals that cause skin aging, as research shows. Drunk Elephant is a beloved brand in the clean beauty space, and their C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains pure L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and is suitable for oily, normal, and dry skin.
Even tone with glycolic acid. You can find glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid made from sugarcane, in creams and serums, an ingredient that encourages the dead skin layer on top to slough off to reduce the look of discoloration, says Farber.
Treat acne with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid, which comes from the bark of the willow tree, is a gold standard ingredient for addressing acne issues, and it’s considered okay for clean beauty. It too works by exfoliating dead skin cells that plug up pores and can lead to blemishes, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Hydrate with a moisturizer. The main goal is to look for a simple moisturizer that contains as few ingredients as possible and is fragrance-free, says Farber. Common ingredients found in “clean†moisturizers include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, and ceramides.
Morning and Night Steps to Follow in a Clean Beauty Routine
The ideal routine for everyone will look different — skin care isn’t one-size- fits-all, says Farber. But one general principle, she says, is that less is more. One way to accomplish your goal of a clean beauty routine is to simply pare it down. By using fewer products, you’ll reduce your exposure to a variety of ingredients and chemicals, including those that may be irritating your skin. Here are the three steps you need in the morning and evening, according to Farber.
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