What is Clean Beauty? Tips For Cleaning Up Your Beauty Routine

The beauty industry is one of the world's largest, generating a whopping $528.59 billion globally every year and growing. With such a high demand for skincare products, companies feel the pressure to create products that stand apart from the rest. While some choose to differentiate themselves with cool packaging, the vast majority turn to chemical additives to keep costs low and give the illusion of effectiveness.

Unfortunately, these ingredients are often harmful and fail to deliver the promised results. With so many brands hiding dangerous additives within their products, the push for clean and effective alternatives is on the rise. Let's explore the push behind clean beauty and learn ways to incorporate it into your daily routine.

What is Clean Beauty?

Clean beauty is simply products that are free from toxic or harmful ingredients. These chemicals can include formaldehyde, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and parabens. These are commonly used additives found in the majority of skincare products and can wreak havoc on the skin and body. For example, parabens and sulfates are shown to cause an increased risk of breast cancer; phthalates can cause hormonal disruptions; formaldehyde is a human carcinogen, and synthetic fragrances can cause respiratory issues. These are only a few of the dozens of harmful chemicals found in mainstream beauty and skincare products, which is why many people are waking up to the need for chemical-free alternatives and turning to clean beauty products that are safe and produce the same (if not better) results.

The Environmental Impact of Clean Beauty

Along with the health issues traditional beauty and skincare products can create, they have a significant impact on the environment. In fact, the beauty industry generates over 120 billion pieces of trash yearly from packaging alone, adding to the growing size and number of landfills. Within the clean beauty movement is a focus on sustainability, with many brands using recyclable packaging to encourage a zero or low-waste lifestyle. Switching to these eco-friendly options can reduce greenhouse emissions by a whopping 60% over single-use packaging, leading to a greener, healthier Earth.

Tips for Incorporating Clean Beauty Into Your Daily Routine

If you're ready to say goodbye to harsh and harmful chemicals in your beauty and skincare products, but don't know where to start, don't worry, you're not alone! While traditional brands are a dime a dozen in any pharmacy or big box store, finding high-quality, clean beauty products can be a bit more challenging. Fortunately, we've created tips you can use to slowly (or quickly) transition away from chemical additives and towards beneficial and effective ingredients that care for your skin and the environment. Take a look at these easy-to-incorporate tips for cleaning up your beauty routine.

1. Start with the basics

When making the switch to cleaner beauty and skincare products, it's always best to start with your most used items. Focus on your everyday routine, starting with cleansers, moisturizers, etc. While it can be tempting to go all out and purchase a ton of products, that route can be expensive and overwhelming. Starting with just one or two main items is a great place to start and will make a huge difference in the way your skin looks and feels. We love this Sensitive Skin Face Lotion!

2. Focus on the shower

One of the biggest culprits of toxic chemicals is bath and shower gels, making them an excellent product to switch. Shower gels are chock full of synthetic fragrances that can irritate the skin and soak in quicker due to open pores that absorb product faster. Choosing clean products that soothe and moisturize, with ingredients that are ethically sourced and environmentally friendly not only benefits your body but helps the planet. You can take it one step further by switching to a clean shampoo that doesn't strip your hair of its natural oils or add in synthetic chemicals to make it appear shiny. Soon, you can have a shower routine that not only feels good, but leaves your body hydrated and clean without the need for harmful, stripping chemicals. Check out this vegan bar soap and protein shampoo bar!

3. Ditch your deodorant

Deodorants are one of the most harmful, chemically laden skincare products, packed with aluminum and other dangerous ingredients. A common additive to stop sweat, aluminum, is linked to cancer, which is why there is a growing movement to remove it from over the counter products. Additionally, aluminum inhibits your body's ability to sweat, which can lead to clogged pores and stop it from detoxing built-up chemicals. Switching to a clean, natural deodorant without aluminum and other common chemical ingredients can have many long-term benefits for your body. While some brands offer aluminum-free deodorants that don't work well, we love this sensitive skin friendly natural deodorant cream. Not only does it come in five incredible all-natural scents, it's baking soda-free and won't cause irritation or clogged pores! Plus, you don't have to stick to just your underarms; use this silky-smooth cream anywhere you experience odors.

4. Read the ingredients

Reading ingredients on products is one of the best ways to stay informed on what you're putting on your body. Many brands may claim they are "clean," but a closer inspection of the ingredient list shows a host of suspicious additives. While it is easy to get distracted by cute or organic looking packaging, the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Stay away from these commonly used additives:

• Oxybenzone
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Diethanolamine
• Polyethylene glycol
• Alcohol
• Petrolatum

While these are only a few of the most common chemicals added to beauty and skincare products, avoiding these harmful culprits can begin making a huge difference in your daily skincare routine.

Taking control of your beauty and skincare routine can have long-lasting benefits to your body and the environment. Earth Ahead is proud to offer a full line of eco-friendly lifestyle products with clean, beneficial ingredients. Whether you're embracing a zero waste lifestyle or looking to clean up your beauty routine, Earth Ahead makes sustainable living fun and easy!