What is Clean Beauty?
“Claims such as ‘natural’, ‘clean’, ‘green’ and ‘hypoallergenic’ have no set definition as yet and without a standard, can be misleading and open to misuse,” says Année de Mamiel, founder of de Mamiel skincare and a pioneer of plant-based beauty. “Terms like chemical-free are silly because all ingredients are chemicals, whether they are from nature or synthetic.”
Clean Beauty means a non-toxic product which is open to interpretation as toxic might have a different definition from one country to another.
“clean” is the umbrella that covers organic ingredients, Ecocert approved preservatives, no petrochemicals or silicones, no potential carcinogens, endocrine disruptors or ingredients with contaminants (i.e. parabens, chemical sunscreens, phthalates, BHT, PEGs)."
But the word 'clean' does not really provide clarity as such. Not all chemicals are bad and not everything natural is good for you. So how do you choose what's best for you? By getting as much information and advice -preferably from knowledgeable skincare professionals- as possible.
What is the INCI list and is it important?
A list of INCI ingredients stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI).
The order the ingredients are listed on the label is important. Ingredients are listed in descending order from greatest amount to least amount present in the product (except ingredients present at a concentration of less than 1%; those can be listed in any order).
Many people believe that ‘if you can’t pronounce the ingredient name, it must be bad for you’. That is not always true. There are plenty of common or naturally derived ingredients that have complicated names, but are safe to use and even have an important function in the product.
We should also note that just because an ingredient has an INCI name does not mean that the ingredient has been approved for cosmetics. When in doubt, always do your research.
Your safest bet is to avoid allergens and fragrance if you have sensitive skin.
How to do Clean Beauty the French way?
Below are our best sellers for non-toxic, cruelty-free French skincare
Caudalie Vinopure Gel Cleanser
We'd use it for the scent alone because it is that amazing. Its gel texture leaves skin feeling instantly fresh and clean. The spa-like scent is 100% natural scent derived from a unique complex of essential oils. Because it is made
Terre de Mars Bio Cellulose Mask
Single use masks might not be the best for the environment or for your face but these are different. Made from natural coconut fibres, they are completely biodegradable.
Pure, biodegradable and thermosensitive, it allows the active ingredients to be sealed before releasing them in contact with the skin, minimizing their evaporation.
And the ingredient list is a dream. Chamomille, Aloe Vera and caffeine in the purest form and from organic farming. It is the first Cosmos Natural certified caffeine mask according to ECOCERT Greenlife standard.
Gallinée Foaming Cleanser
Gallinée does not use plastic beads, silicone or dyes. They use very limited quantity of fragrance on some of our products. Gallinée preserve their products, using non-selective listed preservatives in minimal quantities. Most of their products do not contain secondary packaging (the cardbox box you throw away as soon as you open the product). They do not have any ingredients of animal origin and our products are not tested on animals.
Gallinée respect the pH of the skin which is between 4.5 and 5.2. The composition of their products is as natural as possible and has few synthetic
Sanoflore Aqua Magnifica Purifying Toner
Confused by the term natural? A truly natural product should be formulated with a high proportion of ingredients considered natural or organic, while naturally inspired products contain some natural ingredients but only a small proportion. They may also contain synthetic ingredients that are only inspired by nature, rather than being natural. For a product to be Certified Organic, such as Sanoflore, and be awarded a badge such as ECOCERT, it must adhere to a strict set of guidelines, and contain a high proportion of natural or organic ingredients.
