🚫🧪Choosing Clean, Safe Products

Awareness around toxic ingredients has never been higher—especially for women of color, who’ve historically been targeted by products containing parabens, phthalates, and other questionable chemicals.

Toxic ingredients can undermine your glow and long-term health. Building a clean-beauty arsenal ensures efficacy without nasty surprises. Let’s break it down:

1. Decode the Label

   • Step 1.1: Learn to identify parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-), phthalates (DBP, DEP), and sulfates (SLS/SLES).

   • Step 1.2: Watch for “fragrance” or “parfum”—often a catch-all for irritants.

2. Use Trusted Databases

   • Step 2.1: Check EWG’s Skin Deep or Think Dirty to score products by hazard.

   • Step 2.2: Opt for EWG-Verified or COSMOS-certified formulas when possible.

3. Prioritize Transparency

   • Step 3.1: Favor brands that list full INCI names and sourcing details.

   • Step 3.2: Avoid products with “proprietary blend”—it may hide unknown chemicals.

4. Simplify Your Shelf

   • Step 4.1: Reduce overlap by choosing multi-purpose products (e.g., tinted SPF moisturizers).

   • Step 4.2: Rotate only 3–5 core items, eliminating untested fads.

5. DIY with Caution

   • Step 5.1: If you make at-home masks, use food-grade ingredients (oatmeal, honey, yogurt).

   • Step 5.2: Avoid essential-oil concentrates on face—too potent for sensitive skin.

6. Support Ethical Brands

   • Step 6.1: Vote with your wallet: back companies committed to clean labs, fair trade, and cruelty-free testing.

   • Step 6.2: Engage on social media—demand reform from lagging brands.

     
     

Clean beauty is an investment in your health and the planet—curate wisely, and glow confidently.

Take care of your skin, and yourself. Remember to tune into SkinTalk x SkinAura as your friendly skincare accountability partner.