More Dirt on Clean Beauty
https://anchor.fm/s/324f88f0/podcast/rss
Summary
Listen as Clean Beauty Advocate and Makeup Artist Campbell Richie and I talk about her career and her mission to make the world a safe and beautiful place. Hear her explain exactly what green washing is and why it is so important to research every product yourself before ingesting it in into your system. An incredible resource without ever being preachy, Campbell shares how we can make a difference in our own cosmetics choices and even better the world little by little.
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A Look Behind Clean Beauty
My conversation with Campbell (follow her on Instagram here!) made me more curious to explore greenwashing, and how clean beauty has moved from a niche category to a misleading marketing tactic — and the lack of regulation that enables brands to mislead consumers.
Allure says it best: “clean beauty has evolved from the early ’90s, where it started as a niche movement to promote natural and safe ingredients such as aluminum-free deodorant, in an industry where ingredient transparency was not the norm.”
An easy giveaway to see if a company is greenwashing is to see if they have sustainability pledges, are fair trade, and sourced ethically. Greenwashing goes beyond toxins and chemicals in the makeup — but on our planet.
The terminology here is key. Words like “green,” “cruelty-free,” and “natural” are used because there are little-to-no regulatory barriers for these terms. These words exploit uneducated consumers and their wallets, which is why finding ethical brands you can trust is so important. According to The Derm Review, some of the reputable eco-labels and certifications are USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.
Much like the food you eat, looking at the ingredients is the best way to cut through clever advertising and enticing packaging. Like organic food, clean beauty products typically have limited ingredients and additives . If possible, avoid ingredients like paraben and sulfate — they do much more harm to your skin than good.
“The U.S. skincare and beauty industry is worth about $100 billion, yet is remarkably under-regulated. Brands regulate themselves, for the most part,” says Annie Jackson, co-founder and COO of Credo Beauty.
One brand that I’m loving right now is Hear Me Raw Beauty, who pledge to use raw, fair-trade products and create mission-driven products. Ethical Elephant also has a fantastic directory of cruelty-free beauty brands.
If you’re looking to learn more about the ugly side of the beauty industry, Not So Pretty HBOMax, narrated by Keke Palmer, does a great job at comprehensively covering greenwashing — it’s a must watch for beauty lovers who want to become more educated about the industry.
The next time you’re shopping for beauty products, think about the full package: the product, the materials, and the effects it can have on your body and on our planet. When it comes to makeup, mindful consumption is beautiful.
In the next episode and blog, I’ll be chatting with The Dropout’s Makeup Department Head, Jorjee Douglass. Be sure to follow along on YouTube and show your support on Anchor — see you next time!