Clean Beauty: A Hot New Trend That Entrepreneurs Should Know

Interesting Facts, New Trends
Clean Beauty is a new trend for Thais, although it has been around in other countries for a while. You may have heard of Natural Beauty, Organic Beauty, or Green Beauty, but some may not have heard of Clean Beauty at all. So what is Clean Beauty? What are its characteristics? You can find out in this article.

What is Clean Beauty?

Clean Beauty is a new trend in cosmetics and skincare. Many people may have heard of Pure Beauty, Natural Beauty, or Organic Beauty. Clean Beauty refers to cosmetics and skincare products that use natural ingredients with traceable sources, recyclable packaging, and are cruelty-free (not tested on animals).
The ingredients must be free from chemicals that are harmful to the skin, health, and importantly, the environment. The ingredients must be effective and necessary for the user’s skin. In addition to clean and safe raw materials, the production process must also be environmentally friendly. There should be no waste released into rivers, no factory emissions, and the packaging must be recyclable.
The labeling must clearly show the ingredients, including what the product is made from, and be free from harmful chemicals such as parabens or preservatives, which are often found in cosmetics and skincare products and may increase the risk of cancer in users. Lead is another chemical found in lipstick, and mineral talc is found in face powder and eyeshadow.
Therefore, Clean Beauty products must have safe, traceable ingredients, complete labeling, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, recyclable packaging, and no animal testing.

What characteristics should Clean Beauty products have?

They should not use dangerous chemicals as ingredients in cosmetics and skincare.
Reading product labels is very important because they list the ingredients and their percentages. If you find that the label contains dangerous substances, you should avoid it for your own safety. Dangerous chemicals in beauty products include:

1. Mercury
Mercury is commonly found in cosmetics and skincare products used to quickly whiten skin, reduce freckles and blemishes, and reduce acne. 20% of products with these properties contain high levels of mercury, which is harmful to the skin and body. Mercury is classified as a prohibited substance for use in cosmetics and skincare products according to the Ministry of Public Health. If used partially, the skin may darken after discontinuation. It may also cause allergic reactions, thinning skin, permanent freckles or blemishes, and if used continuously for a long time, mercury may be absorbed into the bloodstream. 1. Mercury: It damages liver and kidney function, causes anemia, and if a pregnant woman is exposed to mercury, it can be passed to the baby, potentially causing brain damage.

2. Hydroquinone:

Hydroquinone has skin-bleaching properties, inhibiting the chemical process of melanin production by inhibiting the enzyme Tyrosinase, which is responsible for melanin production. This inhibition results in lighter skin and reduced freckles. It’s often found in products designed to reduce freckles. However, hydroquinone is banned as an ingredient in beauty products because continuous use can cause irritation, burning sensations, red bumps, uneven skin tone, thinning skin, increased sun sensitivity, and importantly, a higher risk of skin cancer.

3. Steroids:
Steroids are commonly found in products that promote brighter skin and faster acne healing. However, using high-concentration steroid products incorrectly or continuously can lead to severe internal and external side effects such as rashes, cracked skin, and acne returning with worse results after discontinuation. Furthermore, using steroids can impair blood sugar control in people with diabetes. 3. Immunosuppression leading to weakened immunity.

4. Lead
Lead is often found in cosmetics such as lipstick. Lead is classified as a hazardous substance because when it enters the body, it can cause unexplained abdominal pain, constipation, or bloody stools due to the rapid destruction of red blood cells and a decreased rate of red blood cell production. Excessive lead exposure can disrupt the nervous system.

5. Retinoic Acid
Retinoic acid, also known as vitamin A acid or retinol, affects melanin production, stimulates skin cell turnover, and prevents clogged pores. Therefore, retinoic acid must be registered as a medicine. Its use in cosmetics and skincare products is considered hazardous. It is often found in acne medications and exfoliating creams. Self-medication without consulting a doctor may cause skin peeling or rashes.

6. Sodium Sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate is commonly found in body cleansing products such as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. This substance can penetrate the inner layers of the skin. It thins the skin and makes it more susceptible to allergies to other substances.
7. PVP

PVP (Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone) is found in hair styling sprays such as mousse and gel. PVP has solvent properties and can be absorbed into the body through inhalation and skin penetration, causing hair loss, clogged pores, and in some cases, allergic reactions causing inflammation on the forehead, neck, and around the ears.

8. Talcum Powder
Talcum powder is a powder mixed with talcum or asbestos. It is commonly found in face powder, eyeshadow, and feminine hygiene products. When inhaled, it can increase the risk of lung cancer and adrenal gland cancer. Women who use face powder containing talcum have a higher risk of developing these cancers.

9. Parabens
Parabens are a type of preservative widely used in cosmetics, deodorants, skincare products, and hair cleansing products. They are effective at inhibiting fungi and bacteria that are likely to grow in products and also help to remove dirt. However, they accumulate in the body and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Currently, there are concerns that parabens may trigger breast cancer.
Therefore, if you find these substances as ingredients in a beauty product label, you should avoid using it immediately, as they are harmful to the skin and body and may potentially cause cancer. The label must clearly list the ingredients.
And the ingredients should be beneficial to the skin, and only included in the amounts truly necessary for the skin.

Cruelty Free or Not Tested On Animals

To be considered a Clean Beauty product, it must not be tested on animals. This can be observed from the Cruelty Free or Not Tested On Animals symbol on the product packaging. Currently, many brands are certified by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that their products are not tested on animals.

Animal Testing is the process of testing the safety of a product on animals before it is sold to the general public. The purpose is to increase confidence that the product is safe for human skin. This is mostly for products used directly on the human body, such as cosmetics, skincare products, and even medications. There are four main tests:
1. Skin irritation test
2. Photosensitivity test
3. Eye irritation test
4. Skin absorption test
The animals commonly used in this testing are small animals such as guinea pigs, mice, dogs, cats, and rabbits. Rabbits are particularly popular for testing cosmetics and skincare products. Because rabbits have more sensitive skin than other animals and their skin is the most similar to humans.
Eco-Friendly
Currently, beauty product packaging generates 120 billion units of waste per year. Eco-friendliness is therefore another important factor in Clean Beauty. Packaging must be environmentally safe, refillable, recyclable, or biodegradable.
In Summary
Clean Beauty is a new beauty trend where products must contain safe ingredients, have clear and complete ingredient lists on the labels, be reusable or recyclable, and not be tested on any animals. Whether Clean Beauty is a fleeting trend or not, using clean, toxin-free cosmetics is good for users. It also highlights the importance of reading product labels and promotes waste recycling. Most importantly, it pressures brands to stop testing animals, which is completely unacceptable in today’s world, so that all living things on Earth—animals, plants, and humans—can have a better quality of life.

Animals commonly used in testing are small animals such as guinea pigs, white mice, dogs, cats, and rabbits. Rabbits are preferred for testing cosmetics and skincare products because their skin is more sensitive to testing than other animals and is most similar to human skin.

Eco-Friendly

Currently, beauty product packaging generates 120 billion units of waste per year. Eco-friendliness is therefore another important factor in Clean Beauty. Packaging must be environmentally safe, refillable, recyclable, or biodegradable.

In Summary

Clean Beauty is a new beauty trend where products must contain safe ingredients, have clear and complete ingredient lists on the labels, be reusable or recyclable, and not be tested on any animals. Whether Clean Beauty is a fleeting trend or not, using clean, toxin-free cosmetics is good for users. It also highlights the importance of reading product labels and promotes waste recycling. Most importantly, it pressures brands to stop testing animals, which is completely unacceptable in today’s world, so that all living things on Earth—animals, plants, and humans—can have a better quality of life.