Well, you saw the title. I want to talk about clean beauty, and why it’s not a label that’s here to help you. It’s a marketing ploy that is here to get you to part with more of your hard-earned dollars. I want to break that down a little bit today.

Clean beauty has no definition. There is no legal definition for natural, clean, green, or hypoallergenic. None at all. I can say whatever I want is clean. Saying things like “chemical-free” is also ridiculous because all makeup is made of chemicals. Some are natural, some are lab-made (synthetic). It doesn’t matter.

So, let’s take the best known “clean” initiative, Clean at Sephora. Clean at Sephora is a badge given to makeup, skincare, and fragrances that are free of some select ingredients. The big ones on this list are parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and mineral oils among others.

Parabens

Parabens are the big ones that people have heard of. A few studies have found that they are connected to tumors in breast tissue, but this has not been easy to replicate. At normal concentrations, as you would get from wearing foundation every day, the chance of them causing you harm is infinitesimally tiny. But why use parabens at all? They’re a preservative. They make your makeup and skincare last longer and avoid growing bacteria and mold. Other options would be to not use a preservative at all, making cosmetics last less time, or to use a different preservative. The problem comes in that these other preservatives have been studied even less, which means we simply don’t know if they are effective or could have negative health effects. We just don’t know.

Sulfates

Sulfates, to make a long chemistry lesson short, make things like soap lather up. They are what allows dirt and grime to be washed away by things like a face wash. This is what gives your skin that clean, refreshed feel. If you’re using a sulfate-free formula, and it still lathers up, you’re just using a different type of detergent. It’s still a detergent that does the same thing. The downside here is that these detergents can be too effective. They strip away too much of your skin’s natural oil, leaving behind redness or itchiness. If you don’t have sensitive skin, then no worries. And if you do, you probably should be avoiding detergents altogether, not just sulfates like SLS or SLES.

Phthalates

Phthalates are a compound that binds things together. Think of it like making cookies. You need to have an egg in there to hold all the ingredients together and act as a binder. Phthalates are the binder that holds your makeup and skincare together. They keep it from separating and you get your smooth, consistent formulation. It also is what makes plastic flexible. Because of this, you are in contact with phthalates constantly. It’s in all the plastics you touch and in wood finishing and paint. The problem with these lies in that phthalates are a huge group of chemicals. It’s like saying you’re allergic to vegetables. All vegetables? It’s a huge group, and there are many kinds that are vastly different from one another. Of all of the things that are “bad” on the clean-beauty no-no list, this one is the most convincing, but again, we’re talking about three bad compounds in a group of over 2,000.

Mineral Oil

I’m just going to come out and say it. Mineral oil is safe. There is no reason to think otherwise. Of everything on this list, it’s hands down the most researched and most purified substance. It’s made from petroleum, so if you’re not into that, that’s one thing, but it’s safe. It’s in products that we know and have trusted for a long time like Vaseline and Aquaphor. It can act as a laxative, but whatever tiny amount is in your lip gloss won’t make a difference. It doesn’t clog pores and takes makeup off like nobody’s business

Bottom Line

The short of it is that if you have a reason to avoid a specific product due to your own personal sensitivity, that’s one thing, but blanketing on a long list of things to avoid without any knowledge is a silly thing to do. These words are in headlines, and Sephora (and other brands) are using them to trick you into thinking that this brand is better for you and worth your dollars as opposed to whatever you’re using now. Remember, cyanide and arsenic are both deadly, but are both 100% natural!

Do your research, using multiple sources, and make informed choices. Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re making good choices by a company that does not necessarily have your best interests in mind!

This post is based on my research over the past few months and my experience as a chemist. Chemicals aren’t bad y’all, they’re everything.