I just stepped out of the shower and I was scared…. all the toxic ingredients in my shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I probably am housing the dirty dozen right now in my bathroom. Were the parabens, phthalates (fragrance) and sodium lauryl sulfate which make my body wash and shampoo frothy and sweet smelling going to eventually do me in?
Let me backtrack…. My niece Emily, who had a beautiful baby girl Elodie four months ago, asked me to research eye creams for her. She is worried about her “crows feet”, and because she is breastfeeding is concerned about the ingredients in the product. Which led me to the concept of clean beauty.
I am familiar with the term clean eating and do try to eat whole, unprocessed foods. Clean beauty is different in that it is more focused on third party testing to ensure the safety of the ingredients along with an interest in being eco-friendly and sustainable. I was a clean beauty novice and needed to do some research.
What is the definition of clean beauty? It depends on who you ask because it is not regulated by the FDA. For a product to be clean, it must be formulated with ingredients that are ethically sourced, non-toxic to your health and the environment, and without any of the ingredients that comprise “the dirty dozen” (See list below). These are clean beauty’s banned ingredients. You can also look for products stamped with clean beauty seals (EWG Certified or Ecocert). Clean beauty products can include safe synthetic ingredients, e.g. lab made, that do not pose health problems.
Natural beauty, by contrast, describes the purity of the ingredients. They are comprised of plants, botanical extracts, butters and minerals; they do not include any synthetic or lab-made materials. Counterintuitively, natural beauty ingredients are not always clean. Think of poison ivy, a plant that is natural, but not safe or effective for topical use. (mineral oil, lead, petroleum as well)!
Am I behind the times? I think so. Nearly 50% of women are already using clean beauty products according to a Harper’s Bazaar poll of more than 1,000 women across all ages, races and ethnicities, and more than 60% of women would be willing to splurge on one.
Why are clean beauty products so expensive? People who sell them say it is because natural ingredients are much more expensive; sustainable packaging and formulas drive up prices. If you have a product certified by Ecocert or USDA Organics, the lengthy, expensive processes also add to the cost. A study by Allure magazine demonstrated that the mark-up of such products can be as high as 500% of the product cost.
Some brands are lowering the cost of “clean” with these products: Sephora Ultra-Glow Serum at $20.00; Burt’s Bees All Aglow Lip and Cheek Stain at $13.00. Whole Foods is expanding its collection of clean personal care products often priced as low as $10.00.
What advice did I give my niece Emily. I went straight to the expert. My friend Carol works at Sephora on the weekends as the in-house skincare expert. During the week, she is an esthetician at the Red Door Spa in Garden City, NY. My daughter Jamie was interested in switching to clean beauty and accompanied me. Carol suggested Farmacy clean beauty products, specifically Green Clean beauty balm for cleansing and makeup removal and Dew it All eye cream for my niece Emily. Their website boasts Clean Commandments as follows: Paraben Free Formaldehyde Donor Free Phtalate Free Mineral Oil Free Synthetic Fragrance Free Cruelty Free Carol is also a fan of Josie Maran’s products like Argan Oil and Argan Milk and Drunk Elephant products..
My daughter is loving the Green Clean Cleansing balm, much preferring it to the Philosophy Purity cleanser which she had used for years. I am awaiting results from my niece Emily. She was planning to take before and after pics.
What about me? I will finish up my current products and switch over slowly to clean beauty. Remember my “no spending January pledge”!
Please comment and let me know how you feel about clean beauty. Are you currently “clean” or would you consider switching? I welcome your feedback. In addition, if there is a subject you would like me to address, I’m all ears! XO Penny
Resources
Dirty Dozen: Toxic ingredients to avoid in skin care products:
Aluminum (DEA, MEA, TEA); formaldehyde (look for DMDM Hydantoin and Urea); parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl); PEG (Polyethylene glycol); phthalates (fragrance); Propylene Glycol and Butylene Glycol; Siloxanes; Sodium Lauryl Sulfate SLS and SLES; Synthetic Fragrances and Triclosan.
How More Affordable Beauty Products Mean a More Just Society by Jessica Chia
Shape.com, Benefits of Choosing Clean Beauty
Harper’s Bazaar, Ultimate Guide to Clean Beauty by Olivia Fleming and Jenna Rosenstein
I understand your concern about using “clean” beauty products. I don’t understand why these products have to come with a hefty price tag. I love Burt’s Bee products and I actually found some face cleanser at Walmart that is called Simple, it wasn’t expensive and seemed to be free of the dirty dozen. Unfortunately the next time I went to buy it they didn’t carry it anymore. I do try to read the labels of the products I buy but I also look at the price. I guess if I have survived these 70 years using products that aren’t 100% pure I think it might be a little too late to really be concerned that it will kill me. I love your blog and really appreciate all the research you put into it. I will pay more attention to labels now for sure (promise). xox
Hi Debby. Thanks for your positive feedback. I agree that we have survived this long without worrying about chemicals, but I need to be more aware. XO Penny
Another interesting and important column Penny!
At around 55 I started spending a ridiculous amount on a department store skin care regimen. The products felt good and I thought I was spending the $ to keep my skin young & healthy. I was disturbed about the elaborate packaging but at that time did not really think about the “clean” aspect. After reading your “dirty dozen” list I guess i should not be surprised that my products contain many of the chemicals. I can see that expensive certainly doesn’t mean healthy. But old habits are so hard to change. I would love to switch to clean, but am not sure where to start. Suggestions?
Hi Karen. Jamie started using Farmacy products at Sephora. She loves the Green Clean cleansing balm. Her skin is looking less dry and healthier. I just ordered a set from an organic line from Tuscany called Sole Toscana, which I found advertised on Facebook. It comes with a cleanser, serum, moisturizer and eye cream. So far I like it. It’s easy and smells great. I think it was $135.00 for the set and you can return it for a refund. The owner Nu Sebastiani is very nice and actually responds to your questions by email. Or go visit my friend Carol at Sephora, lake grove on Friday or Saturday. She is a doll and super knowledgeable! Keep me posted. XO Penny
Thanks Penny. I wanted to use up what I have and slowly switch over to cleaner products but was overwhelmed with how to judge quality. I am so grateful to you for sharing your research and will try some of the products you noted. I will also pay Carol a visit when I get back from Florida. Thanks again!