What exactly does clean beauty mean?
Today, many of our everyday beauty products contain synthetic and chemical ingredients, but why is that? Natural alternatives can be derived from nature 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 from synthetic and chemical ingredients that may be harmful.
How do I know if a product is “clean beauty”?
Just like food, beauty products always list their ingredients. When reading the ingredients, always look out for these terms: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), lauryl sodium sulphate or sodium dodecyl sulphate. If the beauty product does not indicate that it is paraben-free with a “paraben-free” sticker, read the ingredient list carefully and look for words ending in paraben: butylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben.
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 made by humans, while natural ingredients come from nature.
What are the benefits of clean beauty?
You may have seen the term clean beauty, but what are its benefits and why should you make the switch? The literal translation of clean beauty is “clean beauty,” and it refers to all products related to beauty. Think clean makeup, clean skincare, clean haircare. But what exactly are the benefits of going fully clean beauty?
Less chance of skin irritation with clean beauty
Substances that can irritate the skin are often ingredients such as SLS and SLES. What exactly do these terms mean?
SLS: Sodium lauryl sulphate, or SLS, can quickly cause irritation, such as itching and a burning sensation, especially on sensitive skin. SLS is a surfactant, which stands for surface-active agent. Simply put, these are detergents that remove dirt and oil. They also make products such as shower gel and shampoo lather nicely. However, because it is harsh, it can significantly irritate the skin. There are alternatives that can still make your soap/shampoo foam. These are glucosides, which lather just as well but are gentler on the skin.
SLES: Then there is sodium laureth sulphate, or SLES for short. It is often confused with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which is understandable given how similar the names are. Like SLS, SLES is a surfactant, but it can be much less irritating. It is added to products for the same reason as SLS: to make your soap or shampoo lather. Whether it actually irritates your skin depends on the concentration of SLES in the product.
No microplastics with clean beauty
What are microplastics? Microplastics are various tiny plastic particles that end up in nature. This mainly happens when large pieces of plastic break down into small plastic particles. Microplastics can also be small, mechanically produced plastic beads. These beads can be used in cosmetic products, for example, to create an exfoliating effect.
Why do brands use microplastics in their products? Well, there are two reasons: they are cheap and easy to produce, while also helping to stabilize products.
How can you tell if a product contains microplastics? Check the ingredients list again. If a product contains microplastics, you may find names such as polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon-12 on the list.
No parabens with clean beauty
Skincare products often contain parabens. Parabens extend the shelf life of products such as shampoo, deodorant, moisturizers, etc., and kill bacteria that might otherwise grow in these beauty products.
Clean, conscious and vegan: VoCe
A wonderful new brand in the range at JohnBeerens.com is Voce. Why is it part of our range? This brand offers only clean and sustainable products that can be used safely every day. The products contain no harmful ingredients. Voce products are always free from:
- parabens
- sulfates
- phthalates
- harsh, drying alcohols
- nanomaterials
- microplastics
- silicones
- formaldehyde
- 100% vegan and cruelty-free
- certified by the Leaping Bunny label
We are already big fans of these products. They 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 hydrate your hair and give it a wonderful shine.
View all VOCE products here
Clean Beauty at JohnBeerens.com
Looking for clean beauty hair products? VoCe products are free from bad ingredients that may be harmful to your hair/body. The VoCe range is easy to use and fully meets your daily haircare needs. “Clean” and weightless formulas keep your hair looking great every day. And of course, they are free from sulfates and parabens, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly!
