Clean Beauty and Why It Matters
Updated April 2023
Chances are, if you know about Kinder Beauty, then clean beauty is already important to you.
But have you ever wondered what, exactly, "clean beauty" means? It's a pretty well-known phrase these days. And since there isn’t a formal definition, it’s easy to confuse clean with buzzwords like “organic,” “vegan,” and “green." But the bottom line is: clean means non-toxic.
But it’s hard to go clean when you’re not sure what you’re looking for.
So, since clean beauty can be a bit of a mystery—and since we at Kinder Beauty pride ourselves on being the best vegan, cruelty-free, clean beauty subscription box—we’re here to break it down a little.
What does clean beauty mean?
In the beauty world, clean means non-toxic. The important thing to note here is that it only means non-toxic—not necessarily vegan or cruelty-free. (Though Kinder Beauty is all of those things, naturally.) Non-toxic beauty includes products that are free of toxins linked to health issues.
Let’s look at what some of these ingredients are (and why they should be avoided).
- Parabens may cause hormone disruption and cancer (they’re still doing studies, but we’d rather be safe than sorry).
- Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.
- Triclosan causes severe eye and skin irritation and is super toxic to aquatic environments.
- Hydroquinone may cause allergic reactions, genetic defects and cancer
- Petroleum suffocates pores and may contain carcinogenic oils if not properly refined.
- Micro-beads are tiny microplastics that absorb toxins, end up in our bodies, and may cause reproductive problems, nervous system issues, and a weakened immune system. They’re also devastating to aquatic ecosystems.
And those are just a few of the dozens of toxins you should be avoiding. It’s really no wonder so many people are switching to clean beauty products—considering the short and long-term effects these ingredients have on your health.
You'll never find any of those toxins in your Kinder Beauty boxes. Blech, no. Instead, you'll find up to $165 worth of clean beauty products, for as little as $25/month.
Clean doesn’t mean preservative-free! There’s a lot of negative talk about preservatives and synthetic ingredients in beauty products, but the truth is that’s all it is—talk. There are safe preservatives and synthetics out there that, when used in beauty products, are still considered “clean” (as long as they aren’t linked to adverse health effects).
Another thing you should probably know is that the FDA doesn't approve beauty products before they go on the market. (You: "WHAAAAAT?!" Us: "Bananas, right?!")
This is part of the reason why it’s so hard to find genuinely clean beauty—you have to check and vet all of the products for yourself. And if you don’t know what to watch out for, you run the risk of being greenwashed by the beauty industry. The last thing we want for our Kinder community is for you to be greenwashed.
What is greenwashing?
Greenwashing is when companies take advantage of what you don’t know by using clean beauty buzzwords like “organic” and “natural” on their products to make them look better. Despite these labels, the ingredients they use are likely far from safe.
That’s why it’s so important to always double-check the label—or sign up for our Kinder Beauty clean beauty box and leave the label-deciphering to us.
The benefits of clean beauty
Now that we know a little more about what clean beauty is (and isn’t), we can look at some of the ways it’ll change your life. If you don't already know why we at Kinder are obsessed with it, you're about to find out ... and you're about to be obsessed, too.
1. Protects your skin.
Harsh ingredients negatively affect the layers of our skin, which causes irritation, redness, breakouts, and allergic reactions. Sometimes, overuse of these dangerous products compromises the skin barrier, which can sensitize the skin and leave it exposed to environmental toxins. Clean ingredients are overall gentler and less likely to cause issues. They’re also safer for those with sensitive skin!
2. Nourishes your skin, mind, and body.
Think of the toxic ingredients as a band-aid. They might fix our problems in the moment, but they won’t necessarily heal the root of the problem.
Not only is clean beauty gentler and safer, but it also tends to be more effective than the other stuff. Non-toxic ingredients nourish, protect, and promote restoration in both our bodies and minds. In general, clean beauty products target our problem areas while also strengthening our overall well-being. Those are exactly the types of products you'll find in Kinder Beauty boxes.
3. Feels good inside and out.
Through dermal absorption, the products we put on our skin end up in our bloodstream. From there, the invaders move through your body, away from the entry site, to cause an array of different health problems.
With clean ingredients such as the ones we vet for you, you won’t have to worry about harsh chemicals finding their way into your body—because there won’t be any there in the first place. Removing toxins from your routine can save you from both short and long-term health problems.
4. Helps you lead healthier lifestyle.
In order to lead a truly healthy lifestyle, we have to take a step back and consider all areas in our lives. Many of us just switch up our diet, hydration patterns, and exercise routine and call it a day.
But there are some not-so-obvious changes we need to focus on, too, like replacing our cleaning supplies and beauty routines. Because what you put on your body is just as important as what you put into it, beauties. (But you already knew that.)
5. Helps protect mother nature
Tons of common toxins in makeup and beauty products are getting washed down our sinks every day, along with thousands of microbeads. From there, those ingredients and microplastics are ending up in our oceans, destroying ecosystems, affecting the food chain, and killing wildlife and coral reefs.
This isn't okay. Part of the reason we started Kinder Beauty was to protect our planet and all the animals who reside on it beside us. That's why we're totally vegan and cruelty-free. Nobody needs to suffer for us to look good. Since clean beauty products don’t use these chemicals, they don’t negatively impact marine life and, in turn, protect our oceans and wildlife.
Make the switch to clean beauty
At Kinder Beauty, we strive to use and provide the cleanest, most sustainable products we can, because clean beauty is so much bigger than us. While it benefits our health and well-being, it also impacts the planet. Imagine what would happen if all of us made the switch to clean beauty.
It would be world-changing. And that’s why it’s so important.
Start your clean beauty journey by signing up for Kinder Beauty. We send clean, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty products right to your doorstep once a month. Let us do the hard work for you and take the guessing out of this beautiful process. Clean beauty, as far as we are concerned, is the only type of beauty to support. We're passionate about it (can you tell?!), and we want to make sure it's easy, accessible, and exciting for you.
Thanks for being on this journey with us, beauties!
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