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The term “clean beauty” has swelled in notoriety in recent years and with good reason. As we learn more about how our stuff is made and how it impacts our bodies, we as consumers have been empowered to make different choices.
But all these choices, especially when it comes to products we use every day, can be overwhelming. How do we know that a tube of lipstick or a compact of blush will truly harm us less than its traditional counterpart? And how do we even figure out which products to buy in the first place?
Well look no further than this mini guide of clean beauty swaps. I have used nearly everything on the list that follows. I am not a big makeup girl — some tinted moisturizer, a dab of blush and a swipe of mascara for me, thank you very much — so the options will (hopefully) not overwhelm you. If you’re wanting to completely overhaul your makeup bag, I recommend starting with one product (perhaps the one you’re about to run out of) and going from there.
In this article, we’ll cover what constitutes “clean beauty” products, why cleaner beauty products are important, where you can find clean beauty products and some of my personal favorites.
What Is Clean Beauty?
You’ve likely seen the term “clean beauty” on various products but don’t know what it means exactly. While the term is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, it’s a catch-all term that tells the consumer the product is made without harmful chemicals like synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. “Non-toxic” beauty is another term you may see, although terms like “organic” and “all natural” do not necessarily mean it’s “clean.”
Why It’s Important
So why is it important to use products that don’t contain harmful chemicals and other toxins? A few reasons. First, our skin is our largest organ and, it absorbs what is put on it which goes directly into the bloodstream. Harmful chemicals can interrupt our endocrine systems (i.e., our hormones and fertility), as well as skin irritation and even cancer. Many companies that produce clean beauty products also strive for better manufacturing processes and a more positive environmental impact.
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Where to Find It and Tell if It’s Clean
Lucky for us, clean beauty products are now available pretty much everywhere: Target, Walmart, Sephora, Ulta, CVS, Walgreens, and other big box retailers. Each retailer has a slightly different icon to denote a “clean” beauty product but they’re typically green (ask an employee if you’re confused!).
You also can check the ingredients of each product and if it has any of the “dirty dozen” — sodium laureth sulfates (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS), fragrances, parabens, BHA and BHT, DEA products, dibutyl pthlates, etc. — walk away.
There are a few helpful apps that will allow you to scan the barcode of a product to see it’s toxicity “rating.” I like the EWG HealthyLiving app by Environmental Working Group. There’s also the Think Dirty app and the Good Face Project app.
Some of My Favorite Products
Face
- I use the Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer – BB nearly every day.
- When I need more coverage, I use the BeautyCounter Skin Twin Featherweight Foundation.
- In the past, I’ve used the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC cream, which I’d place in between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation in terms of coverage, but found it a bit redundant for my beauty habits.
- I’ve used the Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Illuminating Primer in the past and really liked it; I’ve got e.l.f Putty Primer in my Target cart right now to try.
Eyes
For every day makeup, I’ve very minimal when it comes to eyes (okay, everything).
- I like to use a cream blush or cream bronzer as my eyeshadow and one swipe of Pacifica Beauty Dream Big Lash Extending 7 in 1 Black Mascara on my lashes.
- When I have an extra 30 seconds, I use the NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil because I once heard someone say the eyebrows are the drapes of the face. She wasn’t wrong.
- When I use eyeliner for a special event, I use the Mineral Fusion Eye Pencil in coal.
- If you are into eyeshadow, the WELL People Power Palette Eyeshadow looks like a good buy.
- And if you need an eyeliner you can pick up at Target, e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Eyeliner has great reviews.
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Cheeks
Last, cheeks.
- I use HAN Skincare Multistick in coral hibiscus on my cheeks which also works are a tinted lip balm and I’ve even used it for eyeshadow.
- In the past, I’ve used Every Day Minerals Tea Rose Blush.
- For bronzer, right now I’m using RMS Buriti Bronzer, which, as I mentioned above, I use as eyeshadow, but used WELL People Superpower Bronzing Powder for a long time.
And there you have it! Eleven clean beauty swaps for your makeup bag.
What are some of your favorite clean beauty products? Tell us in the comments!
