There’s never been a better time for personal care. With stress and uncertainty becoming the new normal, giving yourself some extra attention is essential. But what if your personal care products were doing more harm than good? Ms. Dipali Mathur Dayal, Co-Founder & CEO of Super Smelly (India’s only 100% toxin-free personal care brand for GenZ) explains what is clean beauty and what are the ingredients considered toxic.

Numerous mainstream brands offer products – moisturizers, face packs, lotions, shampoos, hair gels, etc. – that make high promises but fall short when it comes to ingredients. Fortunately, we’re now living in a world where clean beauty is becoming a mainstream trend. New-age brands are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that their products are completely toxin-free yet effective.

Clean beauty: Why does it matter?

Our skin is a gateway to our body and is one of the largest organs. It absorbs over 60% of everything we apply to it, thereby making it crucial for us to be hyper-aware of the products we use. The prolonged usage of toxin-laden products can cause skin issues such as eczema, patchy skin, hives and more.

But what exactly does ‘clean beauty’ imply? Any product that is formulated without the use of certain toxic ingredients falls under the clean beauty category. As long as it is made excluding harsh chemicals, it can be considered safe to use. Switching to clean and toxin-free products can work wonders for not only your wellbeing but also for the environment in the long run.

While the idea of clean beauty is irresistible, you may not have the time to go into the depth of each ingredient on every label. However, you could start with opting for the products that come with certifications like “Made Safe”, ‘Toxin-free”, “Cruelty-free” and “Environment-friendly”. This is why it can be a good idea to opt for brands that are doing the research for you. These innovative brands create safe products and have almost all the necessary certifications to prove it. Apart from this, here is a list of some toxic ingredients you should absolutely avoid under any circumstances:

Parabens

Most of us would have come across advertisements online for shampoos and skincare products that talk about being paraben-free. Parabens are preservatives that are used widely in various cosmetic products ranging from moisturizers to shampoos, face washes, and deodorants. Parabens mimic estrogen, resulting in abnormal levels of this hormone in the body that can lead to a major imbalance, and can even cause breast cancer. So, it is best to avoid products that contain parabens such as propylparaben and isobutylparaben at all costs.

Sulphates

Sulphates are foaming agents widely used in products like shampoos, shower gels, and facial cleansers. While we tend to get the impression of being squeaky-clean, they are usually the culprit behind the dryness and skin irritation. Sulphates take away the hydrolipidic film that is naturally present on our skin and scalp. Two of the most common forms of sulphates to look out for are SLS and SLES. They irritate the eyes, skin, and even our lungs with long-term usage, and contain a substance called 1.4-dioxane, a carcinogen. Products that contain sulphates are also not environment-friendly and are often tested on animals to measure the level of irritation it can cause on humans.

Triclosan

Used as antibacterial and antiperspirant agents, triclosan is notoriously known for leading to hormonal imbalance, and other allergic reactions like reduced resistance to antibiotics, contact dermatitis, and skin irritation. While the FDA has banned this ingredient from being used in soaps, it can still be found in other products such as deodorants, toothpaste, face washes, and hand sanitizers. The ingredient is also a threat to our ecosystem, with a profoundly negative impact on flora and fauna.

Petrochemicals

Derived chemically from petroleum, petrochemicals hardly offer any benefits to our skin or hair. They merely clog our pores by forming a barrier-like coating on our skin making it resistant to air and water. Containing phthalates, phenoxy-ethanol, and aluminium that seem to make the skin appear smooth, but in reality, petrochemicals can block our pores, which can further result in frequent breakouts.

PEGs

Found in cosmetics that are thick and creamy in texture, PEG stands for polyethylene glycol, which is a group of compound substances bonded together. When glycol is mixed with polyethylene, the most common form of plastic, it becomes a thick liquid. Comprised of chemical agents such as ethylene dioxide and 1.4-dioxane, PEGs can even cause damage to the nervous system. Moreover, since they aid penetration of other ingredients into your skin, they can also be promoting the absorption of impurities into your bloodstream. What’s more? PEGs were even used as a nerve gas in World War II. Surely not something you’d want to put on your skin.

Without a doubt, clean beauty is the way to go and you can begin your journey of living a conscious, ethical, and healthy lifestyle by simply discontinuing the use of products with toxic ingredients. With several beautifully packaged and safely made products available in stores both online and offline, it can be a daunting task to choose skin-friendly products that are void of chemicals, but will certainly be worth the effort.