Your Guide To Clean Beauty
Clean beauty--it’s a term we love. Makeup should feel luxurious, empowering, and enjoyable. When you apply your favorite lipstick, you don’t only want to look good, you want to feel good. This is something we can take into account with makeup, as the products we use should be free of toxins. Due to this, we want to encourage and teach you how to take part in clean beauty.
Clean beauty--it’s a term we love. Makeup should feel luxurious, empowering, and enjoyable. When you apply your favorite lipstick, you don’t only want to look good, you want to feel good. This is something we can take into account with makeup, as the products we use should be free of toxins. Due to this, we want to encourage and teach you how to take part in clean beauty.
The rise of clean beauty confronts poor-quality standards in our products. It also offers safer alternatives with transparent labels so you don’t have to compromise between beauty and health.
“The problem is, without regulation, anything can be called ‘clean’— whether proven unsafe or not.”
What is Clean Beauty?
Today.com defined clean beauty as a change that “embraces both natural and man-made ingredients, putting the focus on safety over source.” It’s essential to know that just because products say “natural” does not mean that they're safe. Meanwhile, you should note that “not all synthetic ingredients are unsafe.” Clean beauty isn’t focused on only product marketing, but rather on ingredients, which is key. A brand may promote itself as vegan or all-natural, but that doesn’t mean anything about the actual ingredients and their risks.
Why Use Clean Beauty Products?
The Food and Drug Administration is in charge of handling cosmetics. These laws fall under clean beauty. Yet, they do not regulate ingredients. Brands are not checked on what toxic substances they add to their products.
Good Housekeeping points out issues in beauty industry regulations by stating: “The problem is, without regulation, anything can be called ‘clean’— whether proven unsafe or not.” Their clean beauty article also shows how the U.S. has fewer regulations than other countries. In the U.S. “the FDA has prohibited only 11 ingredients." In contrast, "over 1300 unsafe ingredients are banned” in Europe and Canada.
Several products can cause potentially harmful health conditions from toxic cosmetic ingredients. One of the most toxic substances that have repeatedly been found in makeup and personal care products is asbestos. Cosmetics such as blush, foundation, and eyeshadow usually retain a powder-like consistency. Talc is an ingredient in makeup that supplies that texture. While talc isn’t harmful alone, asbestos is a common contaminant in talc. If there is asbestos in makeup, consumers are at risk for mesothelioma or lung cancer. Understand that talc-based makeup has the potential for cross-contamination with asbestos, but it is a generally safe ingredient.
What to Look for in Your Beauty Products
If you want to stay on top of your beauty regimen and switch to cleaner products, you should read up on the guidelines for standards in beauty and know where to shop.
Product labels are insights into what kinds of ingredients you are applying to your skin. There are a dozen terms that could be confusing to you. In Good Housekeeping’s article, they also created a guide for you that defines common beauty terms.
While they provide a better definition, they also give advice for when these labels are accurate and trustworthy:
Green or Sustainable:
Look for certifications for sustainability and the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.
Fair Trade:
Look for verifications from Fairtrade International, Fair Trade USA, or Fair for Life. These can also be found on the brand’s website if not on the package.
Cruelty-Free:
Look for endorsements from Leaping Bunny or the Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab’s gold standard. Both of these ensure that the product is made through a certain standard, not just the brand’s own discretion.
Organic:
Look for a label that says it is USDA-Certified Organic or NSF Organic-Certified. These two agencies protect consumers from using cosmetics that don’t meet the minimum requirements.
Natural or All-Natural:
Look for confirmation that no less than half of the product’s ingredients are plant-based from an environmental organization stamp.
Chemical-Free:
Look for detailed information with transparent labels and a Good Housekeeping Seal, which compiles data to authenticate chemical-free claims.
Non-toxic:
Do not look for this label. It’s disputed as there is no evidence that any ingredient can be non-toxic. Improper use or too much of an ingredient can be toxic. There is no research to prove or disprove this claim--making it deceptive.
Best Non Toxic Makeup and Skincare Products
Additionally, some popular brands have come out with clean makeup lines for your convenience. There are always lists online of the best beauty products to choose from for your skin, eyes, or hair. Last year, Women's Health Magazine provided a recommendation for the top 20 natural makeup brands.
On a positive note, some changes are on their way. Recently, “Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, making California the first state in the nation to ban the use of 24 toxic chemicals, including mercury and formaldehyde, in beauty and personal-care products.” This happened in September 2020 and became a “momentous piece of legislation” for clean beauty and the residents of California.
This wave of advocacy for clean beauty is an amazing start. While we wait for other states to follow suit, we can participate in living toxin-free. By opting to buy honest cosmetics, you can feel clean on your wedding day, birthday, or for whatever occasion arises.
Interested in Beautycounter ‘Clean Beauty’ products? Shop the Beautycounter website below. We are a Beautycounter partner, so feel free to ask us questions.
The 2021 Beauty Trends You Need To Know About
What are the biggest beauty trends in 2021? There are quite a few of them. In this post, I am going to highlight 3 of my favorite beauty trends for the upcoming year.
The Biggest Beauty Trends in 2021
2020 is over! Thank Goodness! While we are still managing to get through a pandemic, the turn of a new year always brings about feelings of hope and inspiration for brighter days. It also means a change in what’s trending, especially in the beauty world. As I always say, trends are best used as an opportunity to change up your daily routine and try something new. Please remember that trends are not one size fits all. And the great thing about trying something new in the realm of beauty is that it’s usually not permanent. You can wash it off and try again.
“Ditch your heavy foundations and powders for a tinted moisturizer!”
In this post, I am going to highlight 3 of my favorite beauty trends for 2021! You can also see my talk about some of the products on Channel 5 KSTP, Twin Cities Live.
Fresh Skin
Fresh skin is in! 2021 is the year of more skincare, less makeup for your daily look. And now is the perfect time to work on that Glow Up! The following products are some of my current favs for fresh, healthy skin.
Daily collagen is a must and a game-changer for skin health. Collagen helps skin hydration by increasing hyaluronic acid production, helping hold water within the skin. Which leads to improved skin elasticity and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While our bodies produce collagen naturally, its production decreases as we age. So, it’s important to supplement collagen to maintain your skin's health. Just like you would with a daily vitamin. I have been loving the Collagen Elixir from Isagenix lately! It’s literally Glow Up in a bottle. I could spend this entire post raving about this product. It comes in a convenient “shot sized” packaging. Easy for when we start traveling again! Bonus, this baby has vitamin c and zinc in it as well! Who doesn’t love beauty health with some immune-boosting benefits too?
Use a hydrating face mask a couple of times per week like Honey + Lavender Radiance Face Mask from Naptime Aromatherapy in White Bear Lake. Apply a thin layer and let soak in for 20 mins, rinse with warm water. Repeat weekly as needed for radiant skin.
A good vitamin C serum is a must-have in maintaining healthy glowing skin. I love the All Bright C Serum from BeautyCounter. Apply 1 pump to clean skin in the morning as the first step for your skip prep.
Ditch your heavy foundation, powders, and contouring for a tinted moisturizer with SPF. My current fav is Dew Skin from BeautyCounter. I love this one because it is the perfect amount of hydration and protects your skin from the sun. Remember, sun care is important even in the winter!
Finally, just a touch of concealer under your eyes and on your eyelids to even out any dark circle or discoloration. This will help to brighten your eyes and be your final touch for a healthy glowing look. Try Skin Twin Creamy Concealer from BeautyCounter.
**For more info on clean beauty with BeautyCounter - please email me! If you purchase any products I’d love for you to choose me as your consultant at check out. :-)
Collagen is the new botox.
Photo courtesy of Isagenix.
Smoldering Eyes
Smoldering eyes are back and here to stay. Especially with wearing masks daily. Playing up your eyes is a fun way to let your personality shine through! Here’s how to create the look:
I always find it fun to incorporate the Pantone color of the year into my makeup routine. To do this with your eyes apply a few sweeps of any grey eyeshadow using a fluffy shadow brush. I like Evening Grey from MAC applied with their 217 brush.
Complete the look by lining both your upper and lower waterlines with a black pencil liner. I love this one from Kryolan.
Sky High Lashes!
Sky High Lashes are a huge trend this year! Lashes are one of my favorite features. If I were trapped on an island Mascara would be one of the things I’d want to have with me! My latest favorite is from Ilia which is another great clean beauty brand. I’ve searched for a long time to find a clean mascara that actually works and this one is by far the best! Give your lashes a gentle curl, then sweep on the mascara for sky-high lashes.
