What exactly does "clean beauty" mean?
These days, many of our everyday beauty products contain synthetic and chemical ingredients, but the question is: why, exactly? After all, nature offers natural alternatives that work just as well but are better for your skin and the environment. When we talk about clean beauty, we mean products that are free of synthetic and chemical ingredients that can be harmful.
How can I tell if a product is “clean beauty”?
Just like with food, beauty products always list their ingredients. When reading the ingredients, always look out for these terms:sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), lauryl sodium sulfate,orsodiumdodecyl sulfate. If the beauty product doesn’t indicate that it’s paraben-free with a “paraben-free” sticker, carefully read the ingredient list for words ending in “paraben”:butylparaben, methylparaben, andethylparaben.
What is the difference between synthetic/chemical ingredients and natural ingredients?
The biggest difference between synthetic and natural ingredients is where they come from. Synthetic ingredients are substances created by humans, and natural ingredients come from nature.
What are the benefits of clean beauty?
You might have come across the term “clean beauty,” but what exactly are its benefits, and why should you make the switch? The literal translation of “clean beauty” is “clean beauty,” and this refers to all beauty-related products—think clean makeup, clean skincare, and clean hair care. But what exactly are the benefits of going fully “clean beauty”?
Clean beauty reduces the risk of skin irritation
Substances that can irritate the skin often include ingredients such as SLS and SLES. What exactly do these terms mean?
SLS:Sodiumlauryl sulfate, or SLS, can quickly cause irritation in sensitive skin, such as itching and a burning sensation. SLS is a surfactant, which stands for “surface-active agent.” To put it simply, they’re basically just detergents that remove dirt and grease. It also helps your shower gel and shampoo, for example, lather up nicely. But because it’s so harsh, it can really irritate your skin. There are alternatives to this ingredient that can still make your soap or shampoo lather. These are glucosides, which lather just as well but are gentler on the skin.
SLES:Thenthere’s also sodium laureth sulfate, or SLES for short. This is often confused with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which isn’t entirely surprising, of course, given how similar the names are. Like SLS, SLES is a surfactant, but it can be significantly less irritating. It’s added to products for the same reason as SLS—to make your soap or shampoo lather. Whether your skin actually reacts to it with irritation depends on the concentration of SLES in the product.
No microplastics with clean beauty
What are microplastics? Microplastics refer to various small plastic particles that end up in the natural environment. This is mainly because large pieces of plastic break down into small plastic particles. Microplastics can also be small, machine-produced plastic beads. These beads are sometimes used in cosmetic products, for example, to create a scrubbing effect.
Why do brands use microplastics in their products? Well, there are two reasons for this: they’re cheap and easy to produce, but they also help ensure the stability of the products.
How can you tell if a product contains microplastics? Check the list of ingredients again. If microplastics are used in the product, you’ll find names such aspolyethylene, polypropylene,andnylon-12listed.
Paraben-free with clean beauty
Skincare products often contain parabens. Parabens help extend the shelf life of products such as shampoo, deodorant, moisturizers, etc., and kill the bacteria that try to grow inside such beauty products.
Clean, conscious and vegan: VoCe
New to the JohnBeerens.com lineup is the wonderful brandVoce. Why have we added this brand to our lineup? This brand offers only clean and sustainable products that are safe for everyday use. The products contain no harmful ingredients. Voce products are always free of:
- parabens
- sulfates
- phthalates
- harsh, drying alcohols
- nanomaterials
- microplastics
- silicone
- formaldehyde
- 100% vegan and not tested on animals
- Certified by the Leaping Bunny label
We’re already big fans of these products. They actually do what they promise, and they smell amazing, too. Our favorite for everyday use:Voce Leave-in Miracle. This is a product you can use every day to moisturize your hair and give it a gorgeous shine.
View all VOCE products here
Clean Beauty at JohnBeerens.com
Looking for clean beauty hair products?VoCe’s productsarefree of harmful ingredients that can damage your hair or body. The VoCe line is simple and perfectly meets your daily hair care needs. “Clean” and lightweight formulas ensure your hair looks its best every day. And of course, they’re sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and vegan-friendly!
