Clean versus Natural. Which One Is Better?

If you’ve been to any Target or beauty supply store lately you’re almost guaranteed to run into products that say “natural”. 

You’re also highly likely to scroll past brands claiming to be clean when browsing Instagram and Twitter. 

So what’s the difference? And does one matter more than the other? 

In short - yes. Clean is better.

But let me clear up why I say that. 

For starters, natural does not have any regulated definition. Most people think the ingredients of a product with the term “natural” on it means it came from nature.

But that isn’t always the case. And even when it does come from nature, let’s sit with the fact that not all things from nature need to be in our products. 

Poison Ivy anyone? 

Natural does not mean safe. 

In addition, natural often indicates that the manufacturer simply chose one (maybe two) ingredients that are natural. And leaves nothing to be said about the rest of what goes into making a product. 

When it comes to a brand that claims to be clean, you still need to do your due diligence, because one - green washing and two - there still isn't direct regulation of the term.

However, because of growing consumer awareness and education surrounding the ingredients in our products, clean has become the term used when safe is the end goal & message. 

Clean generally means products are free from certain ingredients, usually the ones that are known to cause harm - and those ingredients are often outlined by the brand, thus creating standards and transparency. 

Further, clean brands usually commit to third-party testing and focus on being both eco-friendly and sustainable. Most companies in this space are focused on both human and environmental health. 

The reason clean products are so important is because when you use them your body can both recognize and process the ingredients being absorbed. 

Did you know something like 60-70% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body? 

So how do you know what to look for? 

• Watch for vegan and cruelty free products. (Cruelty free means they don’t test on animals and vegan means a product is free of animal by-products.)

• Ask a company/brand where their ingredients are derived from and how they are processed and/or modified. 

• Search EWG for a product rating & insight into what ingredients are used to produce it. 

• Avoid: 

  • Parabens

  • Sulfates

  • Triclosan

  • Mineral Oil

  • Fragrance

• Don’t rely on “essential oils” to be synonymous with safe. They are not regulated & a lot of greenwashing goes on here. 

Don’t know where to start?

I suggest you start paying closer attention to your hair products and anything you put on your face. Our skin is more sensitive in these two areas and stands to absorb more ingredients as a result. 

Remember - you can start small and still make a big difference in your health.

Choose you. Choose safer.