Beauty

clean beauty.

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Written by Natalie Holaday | Owner of Holaday & Co.

live in an age where consumers are becoming more aware of what is in the foods we ingest and products we apply to our body. Skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs everything, so it’s important to understand what we are feeding our skin.

While organic food has been a trend for many years, more recently beauty customers are being compelled to use products labeled natural and organic, which is understandable. Mankind has created enough harmful chemicals to scare us all. However, just because an ingredient is natural or organic doesn’t guarantee a benefit for your skin. Surprisingly enough, there are a lot of natural and organic ingredients that are actually detrimental to our skin’s overall health. In addition, there are many cosmetic companies selling products with ingredients that either aren’t legitimately natural or contain natural ingredients We

that can be problematic for skin. This can prove to be a challenge for the customer as well as a business owner. Even the most dedicated to “clean beauty” are at risk of being deceived.

The beauty industry in the United States is one of the least regulated consumer categories. Europe has banned over 1,300+ cosmetic ingredients while the United States has only banned 30. It is legal in the U.S. for companies to use chemicals known to be harmful and/or ingredients that have never been evaluated for safety. The FDA doesn’t consider it misbranding for companies to label products as “natural,” even if they contain toxins like coal, tar, asbestos, and the list goes on.

Because of this low standard for health and safety, the responsibility to filter out the “good” from the “bad” falls on the individual. Just because a product is or isn’t organic

doesn’t determine its negative or positive effect on the body or environment, so it would be inappropriate to say that only natural and organic ingredients are the “best” or furthermore, the only option for your skin. While there are many ingredients natural and manmade that are not ideal for skin, there are also a large range that are exceptional.

It can be overwhelming to shop when the rules seem very unclear. Even as a business owner with firsthand experience making and buying products, I have run into challenges with companies who claim to be “clean” which we’ve had to later phase out of our store because they just didn’t meet our standard of safe and healthy. When there are so many terms of classification (natural, organic, synthetic-free, plant-based, cruelty-free, vegan, artificial, manmade), it is better instead to focus on which ingredients are in each product. And most important of all, know thyself i.e. be aware of your own sensitivities.

The following list shows which common health and environmental issues are triggered or damaged by which ingredients:

Allergies:

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), BHT (Butylated Hydroxytolune), Hydroquinone, Methyl Cellosolve or 2-Methoxyethanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone Resorcinol

Cancer:

BHA (ButylatedHydroxyanisole), Ethanolamines, Ethoxylated Ingredients, Formaldehyde

Endocrine (Hormone) Disruption

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), Chemical Sunscreens Parabens, Phthalates, Resorcinol, Triclosan and Triclocarban

Toxic to Human Body

Methyl Cellosolve or 2-Methoxyethanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone Toluene, Toxic to Environment, Chemical Sunscreens Cyclic Silicones, EDTA

The above list doesn’t contain fragrances, glycols, or phenoxyethanol. I believe these ingredients tend to be less straightforward; therefore, they deserve a bit of extra examination. The more we know, the better we can separate authentically clean brands from imposters.

Fragrances, for example, have a powerful ability to tell a story or recall memory with one whiff. Just as we are turned off by a foul smelling home or fierce body odor, humans have a history of covering smells, or eradicating them entirely, with fragrance. I have always loved fragrance - who doesn’t? Personally, I prefer natural fragrance over synthetic, however, I’m not opposed to synthetic entirely.

For more info + products visit: www.holadayandco.com

It’s important to know about what is included under the “fragrance” label. The most problematic ingredient in “fragrance” is phthalates. Phthalates, as mentioned above, are endocrine (hormone) disruptors.

Polypropylene Glycol is a synthetic chemical used to attract moisture to the skin, and help keep products stable. Polyethylene Glycol, or PEG, is an ethoxylated ingredient, which means it has gone through a chemical process to make certain ingredients less harsh. Though there is a list of reactions and exposure symptoms, research shows that they do not appear to pose a safety risk for most people. This is a case where it would be very prudent to know your own irritations and sensitivities.

Phenoxyethanol, despite being a controversial ingredient in the organic community, has a similar safety profile to other commonly used preservatives. As most of us know, preservatives are necessary to kill/prevent the growth of microbes in any product which contains water. I personally believe, specifically in products that contain water, phenoxyethanol is a very necessary ingredient.

There is an abundance of information out there and I know a lot of these terms and indications can be overwhelming. It is unrealistic to disregard the learning curve. No one can be healthy 100% of the time. I hope this bit of information can get you started on your search for “clean” beauty. We are all in this together and should reserve judgement on where any one individual is at in their own personal journey to health. At Holaday & Co. we will continue to push the envelope to educate you, as we educate ourselves.

Be kind to your skin... you’ll wear it everyday for the rest of your life!