In high school, I had a chemistry teacher who loved to terrify us with grisly tales of all the chemicals lurking in our everyday lives. According to him, these chemicals were hazardous, and our exposure to them would inevitably lead to certain death.
Never mind that he couldn’t quite pronounce the names of these supposedly deadly chemicals (aspartame was always “aspartane,” and antiperspirant became “antipresspirant”), these chemicals were everywhere, hiding in our food and hygiene products, quietly waiting to kill us.
Like my high school chemistry class, chemical phobia is running rampant in the beauty, health, and wellness industries. To be fair, chemicals are everywhere, but our exposure to them isn't automatically cause for concern. That hasn’t stopped skincare brands from capitalizing on people’s fear of the unknown. In fact, the beauty industry has plunged headfirst into the chemical phobia trend and has used it, quite unabashedly, for profit.
That’s not to say you should ignore safety concerns or be totally trusting about what goes into your favorite products. When it comes to choosing which products to buy, a little knowledge can go a long way in helping you make informed decisions.
To help you make those decisions, here is a list of some of the most common beauty buzzwords to look out for:
Clean: When a beauty product is labeled as “clean,” it typically means that the ingredients are free of harmful chemicals and are made with more natural, plant-based components. The tricky part is that “clean” is a rather murky term. Companies may have different standards for what qualifies as “clean” and may use other terminology.
In addition, the FDA does not require beauty products to be approved before they enter the market. This means that the beauty industry is largely self-regulated with no formal government regulation of clean beauty.
But the problems with clean beauty don’t stop there. The word “clean” implies that everything that is not clean is toxic or unsafe, which is not always true. Buying products labeled “clean” does not guarantee that you’re avoiding hazards. Many ingredients in cosmetics and skincare products can be potentially hazardous. Using this jargon indiscriminately is mainly a marketing tactic, and one that often confuses consumers.
Natural: A close cousin to “clean,” the term “natural” suffers from many of the same problems. Much like “clean,” “natural” beauty often refers to products containing ingredients derived from nature, such as plant extracts, minerals, and essential oils.
As doubts and fears about chemical ingredients increase, many people are turning to natural skincare products to care for their skin. However, it’s important to understand that natural does not automatically equate to better or safer products. According to research, 80% of natural skin care ingredients have not been clinically tested for safety or efficacy.
Much like “clean” ingredients, natural ingredients are unregulated, so it’s up to the beauty industry itself to decide what “natural” even means.
Natural ingredients often have shorter shelf lives and can spoil faster than their synthetic counterparts, posing a higher risk of contamination and microbial growth. Furthermore, some natural components touted for their benefits — such as essential oils like lavender or peppermint — can lead to skin irritation and potentially severe allergic reactions.
Toxic/Toxin: To be clear, there is little that most people are exposed to regularly that can be considered toxic. That hasn’t stopped beauty brands from tossing around terms like “toxic” or “toxins” to a nearly embarrassing extent.
Toxic means poisonous. When a product promises to clear your skin of toxins, it usually means that it works to wash away any dirt and debris that may have accumulated on your skin.
But to call dirt, debris, sweat, and excess oil “toxins” is deceptive. Unless you’ve been misting your face with arsenic, your skin is likely free of anything toxic. Regular cleansing and the occasional clay mask are enough to keep your skin free and clear.
Detox: To say that the term “detox” is overused would be an understatement. Everything these days, whether it’s our bodies and minds or our families and homes, needs a good detox.
While that may be true to a certain extent, the true medical definition of the word detox usually refers to a professionally aided treatment intended to remove impurities from the body. In many cases, these impurities are acquired through addictive behaviors such as smoking and/or alcohol and substance abuse.
Regarding skincare, “detoxing” refers mainly to what can be done to cleanse and protect the skin’s surface. Since toxins can’t exit the body via the skin, the term “detox,” as it is used in skincare, is misleading.
Your body already comes equipped with multiple organs that can automatically remove harmful substances. These are your liver, kidneys, lungs, and colon. As long as these organs are functioning, there’s little you need to do to aid this process (with the exception of avoiding substances in alcohol and cigarettes, which can cause lasting damage). As for your skin, regular cleansing, along with protection from pollutants and UV rays, is the best way to keep it balanced and healthy.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let fear-mongering or fancy marketing terms lead you to overspend on skincare. While common sense and caution are always good, it’s important to be aware of how the beauty industry manipulates consumers into purchasing expensive products that may not be any safer or more effective. With a little knowledge and awareness, it will be easier to find what works best for your skin.
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