With information at our fingertips, consumers are making more knowledgeable purchase decisions when it comes to what they’re putting on their skin. The demand for clean beauty products and clean ingredients are on the rise as consumers learn how to decipher labels, checking for irritating ingredients like SLSs or propylene glycol. Many companies claim to offer “clean beauty” or “organic” but what do these terms actually mean? Let’s dig deeper to find out what clean beauty is, the difference between clean beauty and organic skin care and what beauty products are safe to apply. 

What Is Clean Beauty vs Organic? 

“Clean beauty” is a phrase in the beauty industry meaning products that are free from toxic ingredients, synthetic chemicals and any ingredients that could irritate your skin. Ingredients include parabens, sodium lauryl sulphates (SLSs) or phthalates. Clean beauty can also refer to companies that take the environment’s wellbeing into consideration during the development, manufacturing and selling of their products. However, the definition can become a little complicated in that there is no governing body to regulate whether a company is allowed to put that label on their packaging. Neither does it indicate a set list of ingredients that you can and cannot use. It’s best to think of clean beauty as a movement of sorts starting from a desire to become mindful about what we put on our skin. Clean beauty consumers are also interested in their health and well-being and in supporting green and cruelty-free brands.

In comparison, if you see products with “organic” on the label, you know this is a regulated term. Of all the beauty industry terms, “organic” is the most regulated term by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. “Organic” refers to products that are made using ingredients grown using organic farming methods that refrain from using synthetic fertilizers, artificial fertilizers and pesticides. These ingredients are certified organic.

How To Choose Clean Beauty And Organic Beauty Products

By supporting brands labelled as clean or organic, you’re encouraging businesses to manufacture safe, effective products that are made with the environment in mind. When deciding which skin care to purchase, we recommend reading all the ingredients to the best of your ability. If you’d like to learn more about ingredients to avoid in skin care, read our complete guide. Also patch test new beauty products before applying them to your whole face to see if you have a reaction. 

As mentioned, Eminence Organics is a brand that sources ingredients from certified organic farms. The farmers and manufacturers we work with ensure that no harsh chemicals are added, in an effort to formulate the healthiest solutions for your skin. Products contain organic ingredients, free of animal by-products, petroleum, propylene glycol, harmful fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfates, harmful colorants and parabens. You can explore the Eminence Certified Organic Farm and see where certified organic ingredients grow.