What is “Clean” beauty? 

Currently there is no legal definition of “Clean” as it applies to cosmetics, skin, and hair care. While there are many  organizations and blogs that will give their ratings for clean brands, the use of the term is not regulated and therefore  may be used by brands for marketing purposes when it does not actually apply. 

“Clean Beauty” is generally defined as products that are formulated with only proven safe and non-toxic ingredients,  and brands having clearly disclosed their ingredients lists for transparency and honesty. It is distinct from “organic”  and “natural” as those terms are also not regulated, and many organic or natural ingredients can still be unsafe for  

topical use. Many synthetic ingredients are also completely safe, and even better for cosmetic use than their natural  counterparts. 

What makes a brand “Clean”? 

Brands manufactured in the EU are subject to EU Cosmetic Production Regulation, which bans over 1300 ingredients  from use in cosmetic products. This does not guarantee a brand is clean however, as other organizations have  compiled lists of over 2700 ingredients deemed unsafe due to potential risk as allergens, carcinogens, hormone  disruptors, and toxicity to the envirment or human body. 

The brands we have marked as Clean have either been verified to use 100% safe natural ingredients, or go above and  beyond the EU standards in how they formulate their products. Many self-labeled Clean brands will also go the extra  mile to provide a “No-List” of the ingredients they exclude to support their claim.

While the complete list is very long, here are some of the main ingredients to avoid when shopping Clean: – Parabens – Sulfates – Phthalates – Talc – Formaldehyde – Petrolatum – Cyclic Silicones –  Polyethylene Glycol (PEGS) – Oxybenzone & octinoxate – Triclosan – Coal tar – BHA/BHT –  Polyacrylamide – Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA, MEA, ETA)  

 

Clean Brands Spotlight

SKINCARE / BODY
AbOvo Skincare
Aztec Secret
Bare Republic
Bite Toothpaste
Bump Patrol (Patrol Grooming)
Caudalie
Clearly Natural
Cleo + Coco
Coola
Dickinsons Witch Hazel
Dr. Bronner
Dr. Hauschka
Egyptian Magic
Eminence
EO Products
Fur
Goldfaden MD
Heritage Store
Jao
Kai
Lavanila
Little Barn
MD Solar Sciences
Milk + Honey
Montana Emu Ranch
Moroccan Magic
Noriko
Okay Pure Naturals
Olivella
ORG Skincare
Purlisse
Ren

Silcskin
Taha Natural
Thayers Witch Hazel
To-Go Spa
Weleda
Xotics

MAKEUP
Besame Cosmetics
Blinc
Colorescience
Eleman Beauty
Esum
Ilia Beauty
Jane Iredale
Jillian Dempsey
Kjaer Weis
Kosas Cosmetics
RMS Beauty
Sweed Beauty
Youngblood

HAIRCARE
ABBA Hair Care
AG Care
Amika
ColorProof
Ethica
EVO
Hask Beauty
John Masters Organics
Kai
Kinky Curly
Love & Snow
Original Minerals

Original Sprout
Oway
Rahua

OTHER
BeautyBlender
Londontown
Medic Murder Mix
Sana.Sana Apothecary (Germaphobe)