(BPT) - The products you put on your body matter as much as the ones you put in your body. That's why so many cosmetic labels now include buzzwords like 'clean,' 'natural' or 'organic.'
Unless you're a clean beauty connoisseur, it's hard to know why terms like 'clean' or 'traceable' are important when choosing the best brands and products for you.
That's why some companies are taking steps to spell out what these terms mean for their products. Artistry™, the skincare and makeup brand sold by Amway, shares why clean beauty is essential and what to look for when choosing products.
What does clean mean when it comes to beauty products?
'Clean' can mean different things for different products. Are certain ingredients clean? What about certain manufacturing practices?
For beauty, clean generally means that a product is safe and has a transparent ingredient label. "Traceable" means that the company can trace the ingredients back to the source.
That's important because the bloodstream can absorb skincare products and cosmetics, leading to potentially dangerous health risks. Products applied to your skin should be beneficial for you and for the world around you.
Ingredients to put on the 'No' list
When searching for clean makeup and skincare, a good place to start is choosing items that match your goals and your skincare standards. One strategy companies use is to develop a 'No' list to help identify unnecessary and harmful ingredients versus those that are safe, effective, compliant with regulations and reviewed by a toxicologist.
Trusted brands will be detailed and transparent about their ingredients. If you have to look too hard to find the information, you might want to think twice before using it.
Ingredients to put on the 'Yes' list
Clean beauty products avoid toxic and dangerous ingredients. They also prioritize the best ingredients, both naturally derived and synthetic, to create safe, effective formulas.
Just like the definition of 'clean,' that can mean different things for different brands. For some it means using powerful botanicals rich in plant nutrients.
It's also a good idea to think about where your products are coming from and how they're made. That traceability is one of the best assurances you can get for clean and safe beauty products.
Registered for your peace of mind
Clean beauty standards can still be up for interpretation - so let the buyer beware. It's always a good idea to seek out third-party validation for brand statements and claims.
If you want to ensure that these products are not tested on animals, you'll want them to be registered with vegansociety.com.
To qualify for registration, products must meet specific criteria assessed by a team from The Vegan Society that double-checks for any potential inclusion of animal ingredients.
Setting clean beauty goals
Look for brands that evolve with the beauty industry and continuously monitor the latest science, regulations and public concerns about clean beauty.
Some product makers are working to improve product formulations and further increase environmental stewardship, including expanding the number of traceable ingredients.
Spurred by the goal to improve products for consumers while being conscious of environmental impact, the Artistry team created detailed Artistry Clean Guidelines for future product launches. The guidelines call for vegan formulas, pure and safe ingredients, traceability for key botanical ingredients and better manufacturing processes, among other requirements.
'We're setting ambitious goals to improve our product formulations and further increase our environmental stewardship," said Marisa Grossnickle, brand manager for Amway North America. "We will continuously monitor the latest science, regulations and public concerns to ensure we are delivering pure, safe and effective products to you.'
Are you ready to make better beauty choices? Start looking at the labels and get ready to swap out your products for cleaner options. For more information, visit artistryskinnutrition.com.