MY THOUGHTS ON CLEAN BEAUTY ONE YEAR LATER... what HAPPENED?

Hey fam. I got some requests to revisit clean beauty specifically to chat about the products I still stand behind, and the industry since we stopped making it the main focal point of my channel. Um...A LOT HAS HAPPENED. I swear, we look away for five minutes! This is why we can't have nice things! Hahaha but hopefully today I can offer some NUANCE, as usual, for what has become a very binary situation.

Some interesting articles:

What's on my face:

Other Discount Links:

$2,500 off your complete smile makeover at The Cosmetic Dentists of Austin: Mention my name on your first call!

FTC disclosure: This video is not sponsored, but some items have been gifted. This video contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through my links.

[marycook]

From a sustainability standpoint, all I really care about with "clean beauty" is that the product is ethically and consciously made. I mean, if I'm going to pay "clean" beauty price, the workers who made the product better be paid fairly.
Also, preservatives in makeup is a good thing, because buying a whole bottle of "natural" foundation that expires in two months is just wasteful (especially when you don't wear a full face of makeup everyday!).

[nikitagrum]

Yeah, I see a lot of people criticizing clean beauty, but they seem to go to the other extreme as if we shouldn’t ever think about the ingredients we put on our faces. Obviously we know we won’t drop dead from putting on blush, but for people with sensitive skin it is really important to be aware of what might irritate or break you out.

[ginnyburley]

I was raised in a religion with extensive rules and restrictions for every area in one’s life. One consequence of that is that I abhor extremism, step away from participating in any “movement”, and insist on thinking for myself and checking out information for myself. I appreciate your perspective and grounded common sense that you share in this video!

[missysuddeth]

I only want transparency in my beauty, and we honestly can't be certain that that is happening with any brand, whether labeled clean or not. They are a business. They make money. It is priority one. Read the label and make your own decisions and hope for transparency.

[s.y.]

As someone who was swept up in green/clean beauty for years (even as a scientist) I know why it happened. As someone with chronic disease, it was the hook that it could be environmental stressors as the culprit of my problems. That maybe losing synthetic fragrance, parabens, etc. would be the solution for relief. Because our healthcare system is a sham and doctors don’t take patients seriously, and you constantly have to research everything on your own...clean products seemed like the answer for an exhausted sick person. Indie Lee for example, has based her entire clean skincare platform on the basis that she got cancer from environmental stressors. It’s just so easy to get sucked in when you are consistently failed and looking for answers.

[lemonrose]

Tbh i dont care much about as much about clean as i care about fragrance free, vegan and I look into the environmental sustainability of the brand. Those are the things i want in my products. Cruelty free would also be a plus in my book.

[warriorthu]

I started exploring clean beauty this past year while I was pregnant (it's how I found your channel!), and it led me to some of my now-favorite brands and products, like Aether, Ilia, and Ere Perez. I think there are two reasons I am still mainly sticking to clean beauty:
1) I like the "clean beauty aesthetic, " because it suits me more in my time of life. (I just turned 38.) I had been feeling really disillusioned with mainstream beauty for a few years now because it very much went the direction of glam full-coverage beat, and all the social media posts I had been seeing were featuring only 20-somethings, and I felt very much like I didn't know where I fit anymore. When I discovered clean beauty, a lot of what I was seeing was the more light coverage, "no makeup" makeup, dewy skin, multi-stick products, etc., and I totally felt myself going (I know that I can do that with mainstream beauty brands, but the way it was presented to me was just very appealing. Also, this coincided with the recent movement towards lighter makeup due to quarantining.)
2) Focusing on the category of "clean beauty, " even if it is ultimately arbitrary and just marketing, shrinks down the otherwise massive beauty world into just a few brands for me to focus on, and I've found that helpful from a personal standpoint. I draw the lines for myself because if I don't, I will end up with way, WAY more makeup than I have any business owning. (And I used to beauty-blog regularly, so... I've been there. Don't want to go back.)
However, I will never give up Fenty :)
(Sorry for the essay in your comments section!)

[ErinBrookes]

I started using "clean beauty" when I got sick about five years ago. My immune system was so sensitive and I was having allergic reactions to everything and nobody could figure it out. I also have always had super sensitive skin and have to be very careful with what I put on my face. I chose "clean beauty" because it made me feel safe. Of course they were no more likely to cause a reaction but I had this false sense of security from it. I still enjoy it honestly, but I have stopped about two years ago being obsessed about it and only using products that are deemed "clean".

[karolynanderson]

Clean Beauty Makeup brands claiming to be Sulfate-Free is like seeing a Gluten-Free sticker on a package of raspberries... I mean, yeah, it’s technically true. But did it really need to be said, much less boasted?

[valenstein]

You said this all so well. I feel like you've been able to articulate everything on my mind for the last year.

[gb]

Having decided to be aware of what ingredients I put onto my skin 20 years ago (geez it's been that long...😲); it's been interesting to see how 'clean' beauty, skincare and haircare as grown and developed over the years. The biggest change has been accessability and range; I remember the only place I could get SLS etc. free shampoo was the healthfood shop! I feel like quality, performance and price of 'clean' makeup in particular is ever improving; with some amazing products on the market eg. Aether Beauty mentioned. I couldn't agree more that it's up to the individual to assess and work out what ingredients are important to them and love that sustainable packaging is finally being considered by small and larger brands.

[jenniferz]

Love that you address this! My understanding of “clean” is that there are none of those ingredients which, when absorbed by your skin (75-80% of what you put on your skin and use on your hair and scalp is absorbed and processed in your body by your liver) and used daily, have the potential to cause issues with systems within the body.
I had a liver infection a few years ago, and my Dr advised me to really be aware of the skin, body and hair care and cosmetics I used to avoid my liver needing to process any additional toxins which can be in those products. I even had to go without nail polish and stopped coloring my hair, since most aren’t clean. Talk about needing to do my own research! So “clean” to me means ingredients which don’t have any negative reactions when absorbed into the body.

[snik]

I always appreciate wariness of internet dogpiling. Attempting a measured approach isn’t a betrayal of ideas, and restraint isn’t apathy! Great video; my understanding of “clean” beauty is limited.

[lj]

I remember going through my autoimmune journey a few yrs ago thinking I could take boswellia and turmeric supplements. I hoped I could get off my biologic iv treatments and treat myself with diet... holistic lifestyle. Then I broke out in full body hives from whatever I was taking and had to go to ER and get steroid shot. Omg. I did my research and found that my autoimmunity is very severe without my man made scary medication and just had to surrender to that. While maybe these “clean” lifestyles/products work for some lucky people, it’s not for everyone. But the idea of clean is definitely comforting and I love clean makeup. For me, it’s a balance.
Also I love your take on having compassion for these people who give in to the conspiratorial mindsets that are completely unfounded. That’s great. They just make me angry most of the time. 🤗

[claireschnier]

You create the perfect balance of starting intelligent and thought-provoking conversations, while also playing with beautiful products. Sometimes it feels like you are on another level of understanding than me, but I still feel welcome to the party because... well... there’s makeup 😋

[racheltaylor]

Commenting here after watching the documentary “not so pretty” oh HBO max. I’m glad there are brands being transparent and on the safer side of production.

[jilliancampbell]

DEEPLY APPRECIATE this video! So much good perspective and thought. Thanks for sharing! I have found that I tend to stick to more of the brands that label as clean as most aren’t using fragrance which I’m very sensitive to. But I really appreciate the depth you go here and awareness of the spectrum of “clean.”

[rosiefreia]

From clean beauty I only love Kosas. Everything else I tried sucks. I don't want to compromise my looks just because something is labelled "clean" and apparently better. Those "dirty" cosmetics have years ands years of research backing up their effectiveness and safety in use. And for example essential oils, while natural, are known allergens. So I can mix and match clean and widely available cosmetics and be happy with it. There is so many things to worry about in this day and age, I don't want my makeup to be another battle.

[KellyChase]

Wow yes. This is a topic I feel passionate about. I'm so glad you pointed out that not all traditional clean/natural beauty brands have been the villain in marketing. It drives me crazy that conventional beauty puts every clean brand under one umbrella when that simply isn't the case. Is mainstream clean beauty marketing absolutely superficial and stupid? YES. However, I think that conventional beauty's narrative around it makes people confused and question the products themselves rather than the way they're advertised. The way that certain conventional/scientific influencers speak on this matter is often so ill intentioned, influencing followers to pit themselves against clean instead of educating them to understand the many nuances- and I agree, people need to look into products for themselves and THEIR skin and THEIR health and make their own decisions. People just go with whatever they hear and not off of personal experience or even basic research. Also worth noting that I think the mainstream beauty industry's idea of clean beauty is either prestige or hippie dippie, when it's SO much more than that. I think we're forgetting the small artisanal, wild crafted, luxury brands that are so worthy of attention for their general mindfulness and passion, not necessarily for their "cleanliness" .... I could truly go on about this forever 🤣 one does not have to be superior over the other, both sides need to learn this

[dwjamaicamakeupandmusings]

I'd rather have products that I know work, won't go bad, and I can actually afford tbh rather than "clean" products that are priced ridiculously