Clean Beauty on Amazon and Etsy, Why I started
Three years ago I had an allergic reaction on my face that wouldn't go away. I ran dozens of tests with my dermatologist to test skin sensitivity (image below), only to conclude I was highly sensitive to Propylene glycol.
A quick image search on Google reveals this:
Not exactly the photos you want to see on an ingredient you use on your skin everyday. Once I started searching Propylene glycol more, I noticed this was EVERYWHERE, from burt's bees chapstick to products Sephora claimed were Clean Beauty, are far from.
What is more scary is that the Environment International, showed that as much as 8% of the chemical exposed could be taken up by the skin, with more hydrated -- or 'sweatier' -- skin absorbing higher levels of chemical.
To see how much you're exposed to not-clean-beauty, you can run a test.
Let's look at an example,
Step 1: find product on Sephora that is listed under clean beauty
e.g) Caliray Blush
Step 2: Copy ingredients and Import the ingredients into ChatGPT:
Isododecane, Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica Cl 77019, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Octyldodecanol, Iron Oxides CI 77491, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Silica Silylate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water/Aqua, Tocopheryl Acetate, Red 7 Lake CI 15850, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Niacinamide, Kaolin, Glycerin, Copper Tripeptide-1, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Darutoside.
Step 3: Query to name toxins in the list of ingredients
Step 4: Be shocked, there will be about a page or 2 on each ingredient, but here's the high level summary: it's not clean beauty.
Here’s an analysis of the listed ingredients, highlighting their common uses and any potential concerns:
Main Ingredients
1 / Isododecane
Use: Solvent for lightweight, long-lasting applications (common in cosmetics).
Concerns: Generally considered safe but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.
2 /Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Use: Pigment for whitening and UV protection.
Concerns: Inhalation of nanoparticles may pose risks, though it's safe for topical use.
3 /Synthetic Fluorphlogopite (and Mica CI 77019)
Use: Provides shimmer and improves texture.
Concerns: Potential impurities (heavy metals) in mica can be a concern.
4/ Silica
Use: Absorbs oil, provides a silky texture.
Concerns: Fine silica particles may pose inhalation risks.
Summary
This formulation combines functional, color, and skincare ingredients. Key concerns may include:
- Potential heavy metal impurities in mica and iron oxides.
- Synthetic colorants (Red 7 Lake), which can be irritating to sensitive skin.
- Silica nanoparticles, if present, may pose inhalation risks during production, not typical consumer use.
Non toxic skincare brands: I started with Amazon Beauty for convenience:
I've started an incomplete list of products I review, test, and try. My list has expanded beyond Amazon to Etsy, which I'll also share but for now, here are some quick swaps:
7) Ethique Hair Shampoo Bar (multiple hair type, choose yours)
8) Ethique Hair Conditioner Bar (multiple hair types, choose yours)
9) Kitsch Shave Lather (Bar Soap)
10) Papoutsanis Pure Greek Olive Oil Bar Soap
This is just the beginning of a much larger non-toxic database. For comprehensive purposes, I've listed everything I've tried and trying on Etsy as well. You can view in this shared document.
I would love to hear what you're trying for clean beauty and what you love! Email me at jill@thetribalist.com
Cheer to creating a healthier skin and life!