In a wellness world that is ever-expanding, it is easy to grow fatigued from the seemingly endless slew of terminology, ingredients, and keywords to keep track of. While the scientific terms and regulated standards may seem daunting, the increased transparency of skincare products can be celebrated when paired with enhanced consumer literacy. Here are a few key terms that may arise when selecting products for your clean skincare routine; with increased understanding, we can more easily identify the products that best align with our wellness needs and goals.
Natural
Natural is a widely used, unregulated term in the world of skincare. It generally refers to ingredients grown in nature, as opposed to synthetic or chemically composed ones. This could include water, essential oils, plants, and so on. However, using the term "natural skincare" does not require all ingredients in the product to be natural, nor does it require any third-party certification. It simply means that at least some of the ingredients are sourced from nature. A thorough inspection of the ingredient list is often required to determine just how natural a product is.
Cruelty-Free and Vegan
These two terms are often used synonymously but in fact refer to two different relationships between beauty products and animals. Vegan products are those created without any animal-derived ingredients or byproducts, such as beeswax or tallow. Cruelty-free refers to products that have not been tested on animals. Cruelty-free skincare products are often noted with a small bunny symbol, reflecting standards set by Leaping Bunny or PETA.
Clean Beauty
Clean Beauty is just as simple as it sounds: products are made without chemicals or toxins known or suspected to be potentially harmful to one's health. Flagged ingredients may be naturally derived or synthetic, but either way could negatively affect the skin or have long-term effects on the body. Despite being a rapidly growing and widely accepted term, "clean beauty" has no regulation paired with it and largely remains subjective.
Organic
Organic skincare generally refers to products made without chemical additives. This includes synthetic fragrances or dyes in the product, and can also refer to fertilizers or pesticides used in the growing process. In the United States, the term is governed by the USDA National Organic Program, which certifies agricultural ingredients and controls use of the USDA Organic seal. The FDA regulates cosmetics but does not define or certify "organic" as a cosmetic claim. As in the food industry, many skincare brands formulate to organic standards without pursuing full certification.
Green Beauty
Green Beauty refers to skincare products produced in an ethical, sustainable manner. The term is another subjective one, as there are many avenues for a company to demonstrate its dedication to the environment. Some examples include ethically sourced ingredients, biodegradable packing materials, recycled glass for bottles, or compostable packaging. Green beauty is not regulated in the way organic or cruelty-free claims are, leaving the meaning and application of the term up to producer and consumer discernment.
Climate Adaptive
As the world continues to feel the increased impact of climate change, skin will feel its effects too. Higher heat, increased environmental pollutants, and harsher UV exposure all place more demand on the skin than before. The skincare market has had to adapt to this shift; climate adaptive skincare is designed to support the skin as those conditions intensify. The term may refer to products containing higher concentrations of antioxidants, which help neutralize free radicals. It could also refer to the inclusion of ingredients such as chaparral, a desert plant whose own resin evolved to shield its leaves from direct UV exposure.
With increased literacy, the world of clean beauty products becomes much easier to navigate. Consider our line of clean, cruelty-free, climate adaptive skincare products today.
