In an ideal world, beauty product labels would be simple and accurate. This isn’t always the case: cosmetics marketing is littered with broad phrases, imprecise directions, and dubious claims. However, it is critical for consumers to conduct their own research and read ingredient labels carefully.

The realm of ‘clean beauty can be confusing. With a growing number of clean companies entering the beauty business on a daily basis, whether for personal care, skincare, haircare, or makeup, determining what is truly clean and safe to use, as well as skincare elements to avoid, maybe a minefield.

The enigma surrounding clean beauty begins with the phrase itself. While it is gaining popularity, there are numerous definitions. It can be a blend of ‘green,’ ‘natural,’ or ‘organic,’ with each phrase carrying minimal weight without a clear meaning, resulting in a deceptive part of the beauty world. ÀWA marketplace defines clean beauty products as those that are free of elements that have been proven to harm or have the potential to impair human health.

In particular, vegan products can still have ingredients that come from animals. This happens more often than you might think! Here are a few red signs to check to ensure you obtain a true vegan product.

 

Potentially harmful beauty ingredients

The beauty and personal care industries are poorly regulated, making it difficult to find truly clean beauty products for healthy skin. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has banned only 11 chemicals from cosmetics, whereas the European Union has banned over 1,300 chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, genetic mutation, or reproductive damage. This means that beauty companies in the United States are free to keep putting chemicals that could be harmful into the cosmetics we use every day.

If you want to rid your cabinet and skincare regimen of potentially harmful components but don’t have time to research and locate the information you need to make informed decisions, a smart place to start is with the (quite simply) mind-boggling product label.

How to Read a Cosmetics Label

We often see claims like “organic,” “hypoallergenic,” and “all-natural,” and for many people, these are the most important factors in deciding whether or not to buy something. However, did you know that the FDA does not have a standard definition for them? This means that these statements are unregulated, and businesses have complete flexibility over how they define them. In other words, they can simply exploit them to attract the conscious consumer’s attention.

The sequence in which the ingredients are listed is also essential. They are often stated in descending order from the most to the least amount contained in the product, which might reveal a lot (essentially, whether an ingredient you want to avoid is in high concentration). The open-jar symbol indicates how long a product can be used once it has been opened. Look for the numerals ‘6M,’ ’12M,’ or ’24M,’ where ‘M’ stands for months, and this will give you an idea of when you should start putting these things away.

Importantly, a clean beauty label should be clear in disclosing all of its ingredients and, if feasible, the source — for example, if you read the term “glycerin,” the ingredients list may include the words “plant source.” Or “non-GMO olive oil.” It does not have to be natural, vegan, or free of preservatives. Rather, the goal of converting to clean beauty products should be to eliminate as many potentially hazardous components from your beauty routine as possible, which studies say may be carcinogenic or hormone-disrupting to the human body.

 

What Is the Difference Between Natural and Organic?

Let’s start with the distinction between natural and organic. Even if a product is branded “natural,” it most certainly contains many dangerous substances. Because the phrase “natural” is not controlled by any formal organization, businesses can use it to describe whatever chemicals they like.

Look for the term “organic” when shopping for natural products. Products labeled “organic” are regulated and hence a better bet if you’re seeking for safe and wholesome skincare products. One disadvantage is that many helpful skin care components, such as clays, are not organic. This means you may have to wade through the ambiguity of ‘natural’ items.

 

Skincare ingredients to avoid

We endeavor to stay up with the findings of scientific research on cosmetic ingredient safety, which is always evolving. When seeking for beauty products for healthy skin, avoid the following five skincare elements.

 

(1) Formaldehyde

Another preservative in products that helps to limit bacterial growth is formaldehyde. It can be found in shampoos, liquid soaps, hair treatments, and eyelash glue, as well as in rather high concentrations in some nail polishes and removers! These low-cost, fast-acting preservatives can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and create skin problems in people who are sensitive to them.

It can lurk behind a variety of names (sensing a pattern here?!). Ingredients include DMDM hydantoin, methylene glycol, quaternion 15, and 3 dioxane. It has been linked to skin cancer and allergy responses, so no, thank you!

 

(2) Preservatives (Methyl-, Propyl-, Butyl-, Ethyl-Paraben)

Parabens are preservatives used in skin care products to lengthen shelf life. While this may appear to be an advantage, there is more to the story.

When this chemical is absorbed through the skin, it might act as estrogen in the body, causing hormonal abnormalities. Parabens have even been discovered in bodily tissues such as breast tissue and breast malignancies, so avoid this component!

They are linked to serious and long-term health damage and should be avoided, especially when it comes to baby wipes for youngsters with still-developing systems.

 

(3) SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) (SLES)

These are efficient foaming agents found in shampoos, toothpaste, and cleansers, assisting products in creating a rich lather. They also serve as a cleanser. Prolonged skin contact and exposure can be irritating to the skin, eyes, mouth, lungs, and scalp, and for those with more sensitive skin, it can clog pores and cause acne. Whether you feel irritation, consider if using sulfate-free items helps.

 

(4) Talc

Although there is no conclusive answer as to whether the use of talc in cosmetic products such as setting or pressed powders is a problem, it does represent a risk of irritation in people with more sensitive skin. The biggest issue with talc is the respiratory and lung difficulties that repeated inhalation can bring, such as asthma, bronchitis, and even talcosis, which is lung inflammation that can induce stiffness or even lung collapse.

 

(5) Triclosan

This antimicrobial chemical, which is already regulated in Canada and Japan, can be found in dish soaps, body washes, and toothpaste. The FDA maintains that many of the findings are still insignificant, while other research shows that triclosan makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics, which promotes the formation of superbugs (which we don’t need any more of!). For the time being, the FDA leaves claims exceedingly unclear; so, Triclosan is restricted because they cannot determine its safety. Claims on product labels such as ‘antibacterial’ or ‘odor-fighting’ frequently suggest the presence of Triclosan or Triclocarban, its chemical relative.

 

(6) Phthalates

Phthalates are used in goods to increase their durability, such as nail paint to prevent cracking and hair spray to increase flexibility when applied on your hair.

Another noble goal, but phthalates are endocrine disruptors (hormone disruptors) that have been linked to cancer and fertility problems.

 

Phthalates can also be hidden behind the moniker “scent” if it’s used to aid convey fragrance in items (such as perfume and shampoo), so if you read phthalates OR fragrance on a label, it’s a good hint to avoid it!

 

(7) In skincare products, polyacrylamide is used to bind components or to create a foamy effect in products such as moisturizers and cleansers.

 

It is labeled under several various names (acrylamide, polyacrylate, polyquaternium, and acrylate) and can degrade into acrylamide, which is a carcinogen – and carcinogens can cause long-term ill effects such as cancer.

We know this can be scary and even a lot to take in.

That is why all the items we provide at ÀWA marketplace are free of chemicals or potentially dangerous components. We only utilize the best quality plant botanicals and all-natural components, so you don’t have to worry. It’s all part of our narrative and dedication to you!

When shopping for skincare, keep an eye out for “greenwashing.” Greenwashing occurs when a product misleads you into thinking it is healthier for the environment or your skin by putting phrases like “eco” or “natural” on its packaging (which is frequently also tinted in green or earth tones!) When, in fact, many of these items are not better for you or the environment! This is why it’s critical to study the label for the genuine details rather than judging a book by its (perhaps misleading) cover!

We are completely upfront about our ingredients at ÀWA Marketplace, and we are committed to producing you the most beautiful version of yourself using only plant-based substances you know and trust!

 

Summary

Looking at lists like this and knowing that there are hundreds more possibly dangerous compounds lurking in our everyday items can be overwhelming and frightening.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Avoiding these top offenders lowers your risk.

Choose products and companies that do not include these substances, as well as those that clearly label and test their products.

“Don’t put anything in your body that you can’t pronounce,” as the old adage goes. I usually check the ingredients list on skincare products, but just because I can’t pronounce something doesn’t mean it’s dangerous. Alpha-tocopherol, for example, may sound like a dangerous substance, yet it is the antioxidant vitamin E. On skincare labels, shea butter is labeled as the tongue twister Butyrospermum parkii.

In the end, if you’re not sure, do some research!

We also have a Scratch-It List that contains all the ingredients we do not allow on ÀWA Marketplace.