When you’re shopping for products and working on understanding clean beauty ingredients, there are several questions you may want to ask to ensure the products you’re looking for meet your standards.

What kind of commitments does the brand have?

Do brands have a commitment to inclusivity and advocacy? If so, how does the brand uphold these commitments? Spending on beauty products is a way to support the community in ways that feel good to you. If you’re spending on cosmetics, you might as well support philanthropic brands that meet your standards.

What clean beauty ingredient standards does the brand follow?

Brands often have a list of restricted or banned ingredients. Ingredient standards are important to examine when looking for products, especially if there are ingredients you’re allergic to or need to avoid for some reason.

Are ingredient changes coming to the restricted ingredient guidelines? Will ingredient standards affect the availability of brands? The answers to these questions will likely affect your decision about whether or not to buy.

How are the clean beauty ingredients sourced?

The most important thing to consider is whether or not the brand’s policy aligns with your values.

If you’re shopping for a new product, it’s important to look at how a brand defines ethically sourced ingredients. Some brands will steer clear of ingredients due to ethical concerns, even if the ingredient would be beneficial.

Other brands choose to source ingredients carefully and choose to include ingredients as long as companies meet the brand’s ethical standards.

How does the brand define natural?

The term “natural” can be used by marketing companies at will. The FDA does not currently regulate the term, so it’s important to consider which ingredients a brand considers to be natural. Looking for organic certifications is a great place to start.

Has the brand been recognized by associations or organizations?

What does recognition by organizations tell you about ingredient standards and product technology? It’s important to look at linked organizations to learn more about a band’s standards.

How does the brand define sustainability?

Greenwashing can make sustainable beauty difficult to navigate. You may have heard about blue and green beauty standards. Each brand will have an FAQ section where sustainability standards are defined. One of the best places to look for sustainable products is an ocean-friendly supply store called Beauty Heroes.

Does using the product align with professional recommendations?

Have you looked into professional advice? Does the brand let you know who the product is and isn’t meant for? If the American Academy of Dermatology (ADA) recommends a specific routine, you might want to look for products that align with professional recommendations.

Beauty Swaps: Clean Beauty Ingredients

Understanding clean beauty is simple when you know what questions to ask and what to look for on labels. Clean beauty is a balance between your personal standards and health recommendations.

For example, maybe there are several ingredients your specialist has approved, and now you’re looking for the ones you prefer based on those recommendations. The questions above will help you find what you’re looking for more quickly.