Clean beauty is taking the cosmetic world by storm, but what does it actually mean? We’re moving into a new frontier when it comes to clean beauty standards. Not too long ago, the elimination of testing on animals was groundbreaking enough.

Today, consumers demand more than a simple cruelty-free element to their beauty products. Clean beauty takes cosmetics to the next level by promoting sustainability. From sustainably sourced organic ingredients to offsetting the carbon footprint of cosmetics, clean beauty is propelling the beauty industry into the future.

What are clean beauty products?

Clean beauty products use natural ingredients that are much safer for skin than the harsh chemicals used typically in cosmetics. Without synthetic ingredients, we eliminate a lot of the harmful and toxic elements that irritate skin.

Many clean cosmetic products remove all harmful substances such as parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, SLS and silicones. These toxins can cause redness, inflammation and dry skin as well as leading to allergic reactions and congestion.

One of the issues with clean cosmetics is that sometimes natural ingredients can lead to poorly performing products. Makeup made without synthetics can wear off easily or isn’t particularly pigmented. Certain designer and high-end beauty brands such as US-based and Scandinavian-inspired Kjaer Weis are making moves in the clean beauty industry by merging high-performing products with certified-organic, natural ingredients. This means you get products that are long-lasting and impactful but are also good for your skin.

Why is it important?

Our skin is the biggest organ on our body. It absorbs all of the chemicals we put on it, and many of these end up in our blood stream. With a lot of the toxic ingredients used in makeup, this can lead to long-term health problems. Clean beauty makes it easy for us to avoid harmful substances, just as we would when being more conscious of what foods we’re putting into our bodies.

How does it relate to sustainability?

Most of the cosmetics companies producing clean beauty products have a heightened awareness of many issues, including sustainability. They aim to create products that aren’t only good for your skin, but are also good for the planet.

Using mostly natural ingredients, clean cosmetics eliminate a lot of the pollution issues that come from cosmetics factories using chemicals. In addition to this, organic ingredients tend to be preferred, meaning these are farmed sustainably without pesticides or insecticides.

In addition to clean ingredients, a lot of companies attempt to minimize environmental impact through finding ways to offset carbon emissions or by using recyclable packaging.

How can your business align with the clean beauty movement?

By supporting brands that are more conscious of using clean product ingredients, you can keep up with consumer demand and be more eco-friendly at the same time. Take your brand to the next level by expanding your consciousness across your business. Stock up on recycled, reusable grocery bags to sell your clean cosmetic products in. You could even use customized totes made from organic cotton to align with the organic ingredients in clean beauty cosmetics. Another option is to label these products with seed paper tags, to cut down even further on synthetic materials.

Regardless of which options you choose to promote sustainability within your company - clean beauty is taking off and your business will benefit by hopping on trend.