Clean beauty, a temporary trend or a keeper?

One of the hottest topics in skincare in recent years has been the rise of clean beauty. Consumers are increasingly looking for products that are free of potentially harmful chemicals, free of microplastics and formulated with natural, plant-based ingredients. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the origins of clean beauty, the shift to clean beauty products, and some tips for incorporating them into your skincare routine.

The origin of clean beauty

The clean beauty movement can be traced back to the early 2000s when environmentalists began raising concerns about the impact of synthetic chemicals on the environment and human health. At the time, there was a lack of regulation in the cosmetics industry, and many popular products contained potentially harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.

As consumers became more aware of these issues, they began to demand safer, more natural alternatives. This led to the development of clean beauty, which emphasizes the use of non-toxic, plant-based ingredients and avoids synthetic chemicals when possible. It is important to note that the term “clean beauty” is not legally defined.

What are the considerations

There is much talk about the benefits of using clean beauty products, but it is important to critically examine these claims from a medical specialist point of view. One of the benefits often mentioned is that these products are generally gentler on the skin than their synthetic counterparts.

Many people with sensitive skin cannot tolerate certain chemicals, such as harsh alcohols, synthetic fragrances, or preservatives such as parabens. Clean beauty products are often composed of fewer ingredients and the selected ingredients are less irritating. However, it is important to emphasize that not all natural ingredients are necessarily safe for the skin and that synthetic ingredients can also be effective and safe.

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In addition, it is often said that clean beauty products are more environmentally friendly than traditional cosmetics. While most natural ingredients are sustainably sourced, some synthetic ingredients require less energy-intensive processing. In addition, the environmental friendliness of the packaging depends on the specific product and brand.

Finally, clean beauty products can be effective due to the rich composition of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For example, rose hip oil can brighten dull, tired skin thanks to its rich amount of vitamin C and chamomile extract can soothe redness and irritation due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is important to emphasize that the concentration of these ingredients in the product and the way the product is formulated affect its effectiveness.

Incorporate Clean Beauty into your skin care routine

Natural ingredients in clean beauty products can react differently to your skin than the synthetic ingredients in traditional cosmeticsca. That’s why it’s important to slowly start using new clean beauty products. If you abruptly switch to a whole new line of clean beauty products, it can cause a severe reaction to your skin, such as redness, dryness or acne.

By gradually introducing new products, your skin can get used to the new ingredients and you can better assess whether the product is suitable for your skin type and any sensitivities. For example, start by replacing one product, such as a moisturizer or facial cleanser, and use it for a few weeks before introducing a new product. If your skin responds well, you can gradually replace more products and build your own collection of clean beauty products.

Finally, remember that everyone’s skin is unique. Just because a certain ingredient or product works well for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you. Pay attention to how your skin reacts to different products and adjust your routine as needed.

In conclusion

The rise of the clean beauty trend in the skin care industry does not seem to stagnate. People are becoming more aware of the impact of their choices and are increasingly opting for clean beauty products, thanks in part to access to information through various channels, such as social media, blogs and other online platforms. This allows people to quickly and easily find information about the ingredients and processes involved in the production of cosmetics and how these products can contribute to preserving both the environment and our health.

This development has led to people becoming more critical of the products they use and leaning more towards products that align with their personal beliefs and values. This has led to a shift to products without synthetic chemicals and formulated with natural ingredients, which can not only nourish and protect the skin, but also contribute to a better planet.

Iconic Elements skin care strives for a clean beauty society and we think this is important:

While you are here

Plastic can no longer be ignored in our world. From packaging to the clothes we wear to the building materials in our homes? It’s a given: plastic is all around us.

Cosmetic companies are increasingly replacing natural, biodegradable exfoliating ingredients, such as exfoliating granules, with microplastics. These microplastics are often labeled as “microbeads” or “micro-exfoliants” and are usually made from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or nylon.

Although these tiny plastic particles are present in personal care products, they cannot be completely filtered out by wastewater treatment plants. As a result, the microbeads eventually end up in rivers, seas and oceans. Large and small marine animals ingest these particles through their food and accumulate in their bodies. Ultimately, the microbeads end up on our plates. It is important to emphasize that these alternative ingredients are not only harmful to the environment, but also to our health.

During the development of Iconic-Elements skincare, I discovered that many consumers and skin specialists were not aware of the connection between hormone-disrupting in cosmetics and microplastics. This connection does exist and in my opinion it is important that cosmetic providers and users are aware of this!

We ingest plastics through our skin and through our food. Do you know what that means? More abour microplastics and cosmetics