The popularity of natural beauty has grown drastically over the past year. Almost every new beauty item that pops up in stores is created without the use of harsh chemicals. But what exactly does "natural" mean? Is this the same as vegan products? Are cruelty-free products always natural?
With new beauty terms being thrown at us left and right, it can get a bit confusing and that's 100 percent okay! There is absolutely no need to worry. I'm here to help you understand all of this and get to the bottom of what natural really means.
To start off, let's get these two terms out of the way:
Cruelty-Free
When a product is labeled as cruelty-free it simply means it was not tested on an animal. According to Cruelty Free Kitty this includes, every single ingredient in the product. These products may still contain dangerous chemicals.
Vegan
Any beauty company that falls into this category does not use any ingredient that comes from or is produced by an animal. You know when people choose this lifestyle of eating? It's just like that except for your beauty brands. So yes, these products can still be tested on animals and may include nasty chemicals.
This isn't too confusing, right? Moving on to natural products is where it gets a tad tricky.
Did you know any company can add the word natural to their label? That's right, no regulations. Nothing. When I first heard this I was extremely surprised, but it turns out this word is really just used for marketing purposes.
Since 'natural' has no real validity when it's plastered across our beauty products, you're probably wondering, "how am I supposed to know what products really are natural?" The best thing to do is look for products that say they are free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. These are the top three ingredients you want to stay clear from. This might require a little hunting around on the back of the bottle, but it'll be there! These ingredients could also have a prefix before the word sulfate or paraben (sodium lauryl sulfate, isobutylparaben, or dibutyl phthalate) so be on the lookout for that. Other chemicals you want to try to stay clear of include, petroleum derived chemicals (toluene), triclosan, and formaldehyde.
The chemicals listed above have been shown to be a human carcinogenic, disrupt the endocrine system, cause reproductive and respiratory disorders, and irritate the skin. Crazy, right? When I first started learning about natural beauty, I couldn't believe how many harmful chemicals are in products I use everyday.
Since our bodies absorb what we apply on our skin, our makeup and skin care routines should be just as clean as the food we are putting into our bodies. Once you decide to make the switch to a natural beauty routine, it isn't very difficult, it just takes time. Unless you have a hefty wallet, my guess is that you won't be throwing out all of your current beauty products and replacing them with natural versions in one day, which is completely okay! I'm in the same boat as you. Below are my top tips on how to switch over your products.
If you're ever unsure if a product is natural, or contains the harmful ingredients I listed above, check out the apps Think Dirty and Environmental Working Group. On both of these apps, you're able to look up make up and skincare products. The app will list all of it's ingredients and give the product a rating based on how safe or harmful it is. This is very useful on the go!
To help you start you're natural beauty journey, I've rounded up some brands that offer products free of harsh chemicals and full of skin-loving ingredients. All except Tarte Cosmetics and Woosh Beauty can be found at the drugstore and are very affordable!
Will you be making the switch to a natural beauty routine? I'd love to hear! Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @CaitlinRedd13.
