Clean beauty: what do natural and synthetic ingredients mean?
One of the latest wellness trends is called “clean beauty.” While some trends are just fads that fizzle out over time, clean beauty looks like it’s here to stay. More and more, people want to move to minimalistic, natural skincare as they’re mindful of what they put on and into their bodies. This can include everything from a natural body wash to makeup and moisturiser.
Celebrate the skin
Your skin is the largest organ on your body and it’s also very powerful. It’s made up of three layers which work together to protect you from external aggressors. That’s why you’ll want to take good care of it to help it perform at its healthy best. Part of doing this is keeping it clean with the right skincare products that contain quality ingredients. At Sanex, all of our products contain carefully selected ingredients that help to support the health of your skin to keep it protected.
Natural vs synthetic skincare?
With so much talk of clean beauty, natural skincare, organic skincare and synthetic ingredients, it’s good to know what the differences are.
Natural skincare
Natural skincare mostly refers to skincare products that contain some or all natural ingredients or naturally derived ingredients. You might think that natural skincare ingredients are better for you, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes natural ingredients don’t benefit your skin or could even be harmful. Also, unless they’re ethically and responsibly sourced, they can have a damaging impact on the planet. Before choosing a natural skincare product, you should take a look at the ingredients and also the methods by which those ingredients have been sourced. This will give you a good idea of whether a natural skincare product will work for you and if it’s kinder to the planet.
Synthetic skincare
To understand synthetic ingredients, you should know that sometimes being synthetic doesn’t make them bad for you. Just think of bio-available synthetic ingredients like vitamin A or vitamin C, which are really good for you. A synthetic ingredient is generally derived from a natural source, then replicated in a lab to have the same effect as the original. Not all are harmful, but you might want to limit the use of some synthetic skincare ingredients, like sulphates.
What else makes clean beauty products?
Other factors to consider when looking for clean beauty products are:
- Sustainability: Are the product ingredients and packaging sourced and manufactured sustainably. Is the packaging recyclable?
- Ethics: Are the ingredients and packaging ethically sourced?
Understanding your skin
Your skin is your first line of defence against the environment and potentially harmful microorganisms. Your skin has a partner in the fight against these microorganisms. It’s called your skin microbiome, consisting of billions of tiny bacteria, fungi, mites and viruses. These work together with your immune system to keep your skin and body healthy. That’s why it’s important that any skincare product you use respects the natural workings of your skin. At Sanex, we carefully select ingredients that help to support these natural processes and keep your skin protected and performing at its healthy best.
Learn from nature and science
Just as we all need to do our bit to protect the planet, we need to do the same for our skin. This means we need to be conscious about what we put on it and where and how ingredients are sourced, whether those be natural skincare ingredients or synthetic ingredients. It’s all part of respecting and learning from both nature and science in an effort to follow a clean beauty regime.
Ingredients and formulations
We share our ingredients and processes with you and explain the science behind them. We partner with top dermatologists to make sure they meet the most rigorous safety and sustainability standards. To ensure our products are healthy for all skin types, our fragrance policy goes above and beyond European regulatory requirements.
Sustainability and ethics
We know that actions speak louder than words. We’ve developed the Sanex Stewardship Programme to ensure we safeguard our planet’s resources responsibly and respectfully. This means taking core actions that guarantee honesty and transparency in all of our ingredients, testing, packaging and product claims.
To find out more about Sanex and our commitment to safe, healthy products and our priorities for the planet, visit sanex.co.uk/about-sanex/about-our-commitment.
Finding the right products for clean and natural beauty
At Sanex, we’re passionate about both your skin and the environment, which is why we offer a wide range of vegan products that are specifically developed to look after your skin and its specific needs. Many of our products have a high percentage of biodegradability and contain many ingredients derived from natural sources. Here is a selection of our products that you might want to consider:
Sanex Zero% Kids’ Head to Toe Wash
Our head to toe body wash respects your little one’s skin and contains a 99% biodegradable formula and moisturisers of natural origin. It also contains 0% sulphates, 0% fragrance, 0% soap and 0% colourants.
Sanex Zero% Sensitive Skin Bath Foam
Specifically formulated for sensitive skin, this vegan bath foam contains 0% fragrance, 0% sulphates, 0% colourants and 0% soap. It also has a 99% biodegradable formula and moisturisers of natural origin.
