New year, clean beauty choices: your new routine
A new year is the perfect time for a fresh start and making changes.
When it comes to your self-care and beauty routine, switching to clean products can be an easy and impactful change.
We get it – understanding all the ingredients in beauty and personal care products can feel a little overwhelming. But don’t worry, that’s where we come in! The best part is that you don’t have to overhaul your routine all at once. You can start by simply swapping out your empties for clean products!
If your New Year’s resolution is to start living a healthier, more sustainable life, switching to clean beauty is a perfect place to begin. Clean beauty is gaining a lot of popularity – and for good reason. But you might be wondering: what exactly does clean beauty mean?
Keep reading to find out about:
- What clean beauty is all about
- Ingredients you might want to avoid
- 5 common myths about clean beauty
- Why 2025 is the year to make the switch
- Clean beauty brands worth trying
What clean beauty is all about
Clean beauty is one of those terms you see all the time, but what does it actually mean? It can vary depending on who you ask, but here at b.clean, we define clean beauty as products made without ingredients that could be harmful to your health. It’s about making mindful choices for you and the planet, and avoiding ingredients linked to hormone disruption, skin irritation, and negative environmental impact.
It’s worth noting that when a product is marketed as “clean”, “green”, or “eco-friendly”, these terms are often pretty vague. There’s no regulation around these different terms or clean beauty standards, so they can really mean anything.
Finding clean beauty products can be confusing, but we’ve got your back. At b.clean, we do the heavy lifting for you – we find, try out, and share clean beauty finds using reliable tools like EWG’s Skin Deep Database and the Yuka app.
Ingredients to avoid
There are many harmful or potentially harmful ingredients that are found in cosmetics. A great way to find out about ingredients is on EWG’s Skin Deep Database. Here are a few key ones to avoid:
Fragrance lovers, we’re sorry to say this, but while fragrances make products smell divine, they’re not always as sweet as they seem. The problem is that fragrances can contain many chemicals – sometimes up to 3,500 different ones!
These hidden chemicals can disrupt your hormones and irritate your skin. Plus, companies don’t have to tell you what’s actually in their fragrances, so it’s hard to keep track.
Phthalates are often found in fragrances, and they’re an ingredient you probably want to avoid. They are known endocrine disruptors, which means that they mess with your hormones.
They can lead to all sorts of issues, such as fertility problems, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer or neurological issues.
Not exactly what you want in your products, right? Luckily, there are many fragrance-free and phthalate-free options with safe ingredients available!
Parabens are another group of ingredients that are good to avoid in cosmetic products. Luckily, parabens are some of the easier ingredients to identify.
What are parabens, and why should you avoid them?
Parabens are used as preservatives in many beauty products, but they are also absorbed into your body. Tests have found parabens in blood, urine, and even breast milk. Like phthalates, parabens are endocrine disruptors that affect your hormones and reproductive system.
The good news? Parabens are easy to spot because their names usually end in -paraben (think methylparaben, butylparaben, and propylparaben).
Common myths about clean beauty
There’s a lot of misinformation about clean beauty, so let’s clear up a few myths:
- All natural ingredients are better than synthetic ingredients
- It’s easy to assume that natural ingredients are always better than synthetic ingredients, but that’s not always the case. Some natural ingredients, like essential oils, can actually irritate your skin. There are many safe synthetics that are gentler on the skin. It all depends on the actual ingredient.
- Clean beauty is expensive
- This is a common misconception, but it’s not true! Just like with conventional beauty products, you can find clean beauty products that fit any budget. Brands like Good Molecules and Sky Organics offer quality products without a large price tag.
- All clean beauty is cruelty-free
- While many clean beauty brands are cruelty-free, clean beauty and cruelty-free don’t always go hand in hand. If using cruelty-free formulas is important to you, make sure to double-check the label or research the brand.
- Clean beauty is just a trend
- It is true that the clean beauty movement has become more popular in recent years. However, clean beauty is not just a trend that will disappear. It’s part of a larger movement toward healthier lifestyle choices and sustainable practices, like sustainable packaging, that will be around for a long time.
- Clean beauty doesn’t work as well as conventional beauty
- There are many clean beauty products that work just as well, if not better, than conventional beauty products. And because they have better ingredients that are free from harsh chemicals, they’re often gentler on your skin.
Why make the switch to clean beauty in 2025?
New year, new intentions? If you’re looking to make healthier, more mindful choices in 2025, switching to clean beauty is a great place to start!
Clean beauty is for everyone! Whether you’re all about eating whole foods and getting your daily movement in, or you’re just starting your journey toward a healthier lifestyle, clean beauty is the perfect addition to your routine.
If you are passionate about sustainability and the health of the planet, then choosing clean beauty products makes sense. The products we use every day impact not only our health but also the planet. For example, ingredients found in cosmetics, such as methylisothiazolinone (a popular preservative) and oxybenzone (found in chemical sunscreens), are a few that have been found to damage the environment.
Methylisothiazolinone has been found in aquatic environments, where it poses a threat to marine life, while oxybenzone has been linked to coral reef damage.
When you choose clean beauty without harmful chemicals, you’re not just doing something good for yourself – you’re also making a positive impact on the planet.
Clean beauty products and brands
Although there aren’t many brands with all of their products scoring well on EWG’s Skin Deep Database and the Yuka app, these are some excellent options to start with. These brands offer many products in the clean beauty market with high ratings, giving you a great starting point for your clean beauty routine!
Skincare
- Sky Organics
- Primally Pure
- Byoma
- Cocokind
- Well People
- Ogee
- Attitude Living
- Honest Beauty
- Beekman 1802
- Crunchi
Makeup
Haircare
Bodycare
Fragrance
Ready to make the switch?
If you’re thinking about switching to clean beauty, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to start! It’s an easy way to take care of yourself and the environment at the same time.
The next time you’re at Sephora or Ulta Beauty, pick up one of the cleaner options to try! One of the best ways to begin is to start small by changing one product. With so many amazing options with clean ingredients available, starting your clean beauty journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and you’ll find new favorite products with clean ingredients!
Ready to make the switch? Let us help you find your next clean beauty favorite!
To read more about clean beauty products, why not explore these articles:
