Clean Beauty: What is it and Why am I Confused?
Clean Beauty is the latest trend and movement to hit the beauty market.
Other buzzwords like organic, natural, green, and non-toxic, are being used to describe skincare, makeup, and hair products, from cleanser and eye cream, to foundation and fragrance. But what does that actually mean in skincare? What ingredients are harmful? What should I be looking for?
If you’re confused about the true meaning of clean beauty, needless to worry, you’re not alone. Keep reading to get the lowdown on this beauty buzzword, as well as the inside scoop on NUORI, a Danish beauty brand that brings a fresh approach to skincare.
Why am I confused?
The average woman uses 12 personal care products with 168 ingredients a day, according to the Environmental Working Group. Cosmetics is a booming, multi-billion dollar industry, yet in the US it’s largely unregulated. Because it’s a free-for-all, any company can market their products as ‘natural’ or ‘green’, without any government oversight. Currently, the US has only banned 11 potentially harmful ingredients while the EU has banned over 1,300! With lower standards, weak regulation, and a lack of transparency, how do we know if the products we’re using are truly safe for our skin?
How do you define clean beauty?
Clean beauty is still open to interpretation, but most brands and experts use this phrase when they’re referring to products that don’t contain controversial ingredients. For example, Credo, a clean beauty retailer, has strict ingredient guidelines and only stocks products that aren’t formulated with anything on their ‘Dirty List.’ You can read more about what they ban here. The list includes ingredients that are known carcinogens (e.g. formaldehyde), or chemicals linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, allergies, or other issues.
Why I use clean beauty products
As a former skincare product junkie, the clean beauty movement has me taking a closer look at what I put on my skin. I spent most of my teenage years and 20s struggling with acne, and for over a decade, I tried harsh treatments from my dermatologist and tested countless skincare products. I was always searching for ‘the best’ moisturizer, mask, and eye cream, or some magical product to treat all my insecurities. This went on for years. But when I started taking better care of myself from the inside out, eating foods that nurture my body and skin, and living a more balanced lifestyle, I noticed significant improvement in my complexion. Now, skincare is just as important as what I choose to eat.
Skincare Shelf Life + NUORI’s Fresh Approach
There’s a rise of clean beauty brands on the market that are thoughtfully produced, formulated with high quality natural ingredients, luxurious, and results-driven. The Danish skincare brand NUORI is personally one of my favorites! I’ve tested a variety of their products for the last three months and I’m excited to share the inside scoop on what I love! What sets this brand apart from everyone else is their commitment to freshness.
Today’s skincare products are formulated to last 2.5 years or longer on the shelf, and the beauty industry spends billions of dollars on preservatives, colors, fillers, stabilizers, and fragrance enhancers to achieve this. However, active ingredients are weakened over time and consumers don’t realize that the beneficial properties of these ingredients may be lost. Since there aren’t expiration dates on beauty product labels, it’s hard to know how long its been on the shelf.
NUORI is committed to 100% freshness, efficacy, and purity, rather than longevity. They create freshly blended, high-performance skincare products by making them in small batches every 10 – 12 weeks in their laboratory outside Copenhagen, Denmark. Free of artificial preservatives and synthetic additives, their products are always 100% pure and fresh!
What NUORI products I’m loving
Vital Foaming Cleanser: I feel like I’m getting a facial every time I use this cleanser. I spend about 30 seconds lathering on the product while massaging my face! Its luxurious and gentle, and doesn’t strip my skin of its natural oils.
Supreme-C Serum Treatment: This is the most potent vitamin C treatment I’ve ever tried! The set comes with two 10-day intensive treatments, which contain 100% pure vitamin C powder and serum. When you release the powder into the serum, you’re able to use a fresh blend of active vitamin C, which helps improve skin texture and neutralizes free radicals.
Supreme Moisture Mask: This intensive yet gentle hydrating mask is one of my favorite overnight treatments! 1-2 times a week I’ll leave this on while I sleep and wake up to beautifully hydrated skin. It’s a nice pick-me-up for my skin!
Mineral Defense Sunscreen: Sunscreen is one of the best anti-aging products you can use. Their newest addition to their range of products is this 100% natural, fragrance free formula, with no chemical filters or titanium dioxide. I love this sunscreen because it’s lightweight, non-greasy, feels amazing, and gives my skin a nice glow. Available soon at Shop/Good.
A big thanks to NUORI for partnering with Glean & Glow this summer! I’ve been a huge fan of this brand for several months now and I’m excited to bring you more content featuring some of the products I’ve tested and love using. Check out my interview with NUORI founder Jasmi Bonnen here.
For more info, visit NUORI’s website here or on Instagram @nuoriskincare
