"It seems that all of the latest fashion and beauty trends revolve around the idea of achieving a so-called âclean girlâ aesthetic. Whether itâs rocking quiet luxury style, going for an effortless makeup look, or living a minimal lifestyle, everyone has been hopping on the âclean girlâ bandwagon (myself included). However, the more I thought about this trend, the more I began thinking about the term âclean.â This idea extends beyond just an aestheticâif you want to get that effortless, clean makeup look, youâll also want to be using the best clean beauty products.
As Iâve grown into the beauty junkie that I am, Iâve slowly but surely made strides to swap out some of my beauty products with clean and sustainable alternatives, and I havenât looked back. Trust me: I know how hard it can be to let go of your tried-and-true beauty go-tos and venture out to new products, but making the switch to clean beauty products really is worth it. Not only do I feel more at ease with what Iâm putting on my face and body, but choosing these clean products also means being kinder to our planet.
We should think of clean beauty not just as a trend that will come and go, but rather, a continued conscious effort to choose products that are better for our overall well-being and the Earth. If youâre on the fence about making the switch to clean beauty, youâre at the right place. Weâre breaking down the basics of what you need to know about clean beauty, how exactly to make the switch, and all of the best clean makeup, skincare, and haircare products to choose from.
Whether youâre a seasoned beauty guru or are just looking to expand your beauty collection, keep on readingâyour body and the environment will thank you for it!
What is Clean Beauty?
Clean beauty is a growing phenomenon of choosing beauty items that are derived from sustainable, non-toxic, and natural ingredients. The idea behind clean beauty is to create cosmetic products that not only perform their job, but are able to do so without harmful chemicals such as synthetic fragrances, sulfate, parabens, phthalates, and other harsh ingredients found in a lot of traditional beauty products.
There are several factors that go into making a beauty product âclean,â and knowing what to look for the next time youâre at Sephora or any beauty store will be better for your wallet and body long-term. Take a look at the list below to see what you should keep an eye out for when scoping out clean beauty products:
- Natural, organic, and safe ingredients: Look for products that are labeled as safely tested in order to prevent skin irritation and harmful reactions. I tend to reach for products that are sourced from organic ingredients like plants or flowers because of their natural benefits and low impact on the environment.
- Ethical sourcing: Before trying new products, I highly recommend spending a little bit of time researching a brand and how they source their products. Nowadays, itâs tempting to trust what beauty influencers are saying, but taking the time to learn about a brand and who they are should be something you do regularly. Itâs essential to know how transparent a brand is in the production of their products, and this will only better your understanding of cosmetic products.
- No animal testing: This is an obvious clean beauty must-have, but brands who practice cruelty-free testing earn major bonus points in my book. Cruelty-free testing means that these beauty products are never tested on animals during any stage of production.
- Environmentally sustainable: I think this factor is one of the biggest reasons to purchase clean beauty products. Reaching for products that are intentionally made with eco-friendly ingredients and packaging and ethical sourcing methods is a great step toward making a difference in bettering our planet.
Benefits of Clean Beauty
As if a product made with natural ingredients wasnât enough of a reason to switch to clean beauty, there are a plethora of other benefits. These go beyond your personal health and extend to the well-being of our planet. I, for one, feel more comfortable using clean products because theyâre made with ingredients that are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that naturally carry their own beneficial properties. Plus, itâll give you peace of mind knowing that clean products lower the risk of irritation and allergic reactions, while also reducing your exposure to potentially toxic ingredients long-term.
Beyond the physical benefits, using clean beauty items creates a positive impact outside of yourself. Youâre not just supporting brands that are transparent about their ingredients, manufacturing process, and packaging, but youâre also endorsing the environmentally-friendly missions of these brands. Clean beauty wonât just offer you flawless makeup looks or voluptuous hair, it will also allow you to have a more mindful approach when it comes to makeup, skincare, and haircare.
How to Make the Switch
Choosing to transition to clean beauty is a personal journey, and therefore, will be different for every individual. Start by educating yourself and prioritizing what you value in a brand and their line of products. Also, a companyâs definition of clean may differ from yours, so take the time to know what exactly youâre looking for. From there, read through a productâs ingredient list, look at labels, and search for products that align with your bodyâs needs. This process doesnât happen overnightâto make it less daunting, itâs OK to start small.
Go through products you own now and slowly start to swap them out with alternative products that aim to provide the same benefits (just without the harmful chemicals). It can also be helpful to ask a friend or family member to be your clean beauty buddy, as this can allow you to explore recommendations, learn from one another, and help keep yourself accountable. My biggest piece of advice is to be patient with yourself and enjoy the process of finding new products to add to your beauty routine. Thereâs no better feeling than knowing youâre making the choice to take care of yourself, while also taking care of the world around you.
Clean Beauty Products
Skincare
I stand by the fact that a solid skincare routine is the key to feeling glowy and confident from the inside out. I might even go as far as to say that skincare prep is the most important step in any beauty routine. During this step, your skin is able to absorb active ingredients to help nourish, correct, and protect your skinâs natural barrier. With that in mind, you want to be conscious of what youâre feeding your skin, and what better way to do so than with clean skincare items you know you can trust?
If there's one thing you should add to your skincare regimen, it's this Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. Crafted with clean ingredients, it's an all-in-one serum that will visibly brighten, firm, and hydrate your skin. 
Makeup
Gone are the days when we assumed that clean makeup is less effective than our usual makeup products. Itâs not too good to be true: You really can achieve the perfect makeup look without having to sacrifice quality and safety. The last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your go-to makeup contains harmful ingredients, so take this as your sign to invest in a routine filled with clean products.
This clean foundation recently made its debut, and we couldn't be more obsessed. It's a medium-coverage foundation that's formulated with over 20+ nourishing skincare ingredients and aims to reduce redness and protect your skin from environmental stress. 
Haircare
When we think of clean beauty, we donât typically think of haircare items, but we should. Weâre all guilty of doing some damage to our hair at some point, but do yourself a favor and treat your luscious locks to a few clean haircare items. If you use heat, notice breakage, have color-treated hair, or experience any other hair concerns, itâs time to consider implementing clean hair products into your regimen. Ever since I personally made the switch to clean haircare products, Iâve noticed a huge difference in my overall hair health.
A sustainable and reputable company, Viori's mission is to create highly effective, safe, and all-natural products. Their shampoo and conditioner bars target dryness, split ends, breakage, and oily scalps. The best part? It's perfect for all hair types. 
