If you care about your health, the health of your children, and the health of our planet, your ears may perk up when beauty brands talk about clean beauty. But what does clean beauty really mean and why is it important? In this blog, we’ll give you our take on clean beauty and examine some of the benefits of embracing the best clean beauty brands.

What is clean beauty and what does it mean to clean beauty brands?

In truth, there is no standard definition for clean beauty—not by the beauty industry or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That being said, self-described clean beauty brands are usually clear about how they define clean beauty for their brands.

And you’ll find many similarities in clean beauty definitions across brands. These include a commitment to using natural and non-toxic ingredients, not testing products on animals, manufacturing and operating in environmentally conscious ways, decreasing or eliminating product and packaging waste, and reducing carbon footprint, among others.

What does this mean for consumers? If clean beauty is important to you, take time to learn more about the beauty brands and products you use because every brand is different. Consider how they define clean beauty and whether their initiatives and beliefs align with yours.

How does Izzy define clean beauty?

Izzy Beauty was born because our founder wanted to reduce the beauty industry’s impact on the environment, so his children could live on a safe and healthy planet. For Izzy, that means a commitment to creating zero waste at every stage of our business. Nothing from our manufacturing, marketing, or distribution processes ends up as waste—unlike some brands that only commit to reducing waste.

In addition, our products are 100% cruelty-free, vegan friendly, and contain no animal derived ingredients. We also don’t use harmful ingredients like sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, and mineral oil, among many others, to help ensure our customers enjoy a clean and safe beauty experience.

How do people and the planet benefit from clean beauty?

Let us count the ways! While clean beauty means different things to different clean beauty brands (and people), when more consumers purchase clean beauty products instead of traditional ones, the benefits can be plentiful.

Better health outcomes for consumers.

In the U.S., the FDA has prohibited or restricted some ingredients from being used in cosmetics in the U.S. (a whopping 11 …) due to safety reasons. That number pales in comparison to the European Union and other countries, which have banned or limited at least 1,600 ingredients from personal care products, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Ingredients are banned or restricted for a variety of reasons, including links to cancer, allergic reactions, hormone disruption, various forms of toxicity, and more. Since the FDA takes a reactive approach to regulating cosmetics, consumers should be proactive about researching the products they apply to their bodies.

Less waste and reduced carbon footprint for a healthier planet earth.

Many clean beauty brands use sustainable manufacturing practices, like sourcing ingredients locally to help reduce carbon emissions and ethically to reduce the impact on vulnerable ecosystems. This is a big deal for Izzy, because we’re committed to zero waste and preserving the environment for our kids, as noted above.

When you purchase our zero waste clean mascara or brow gel, you’re doing good by the environment because our refillable stainless steel makeup vessels can be sterilized and reused thousands of times. Our biodegradable mailers are also reusable, so no plastic or other non-recyclable packing materials end up in the landfill.

Learn how Izzy’s efforts have helped reduce the beauty industry’s carbon footprint by 14 metric tons of CO2e in our recent blog: Four Years of Izzy: How Reimagining Refillable Makeup is Changing the Beauty Industry for Good.

Better working conditions for workers and support for local economies.

Some of the best clean beauty brands also commit to promoting a safe and healthy working environment for employees, along with fair compensation and working hours. This helps ensure a more healthy and stable future for their workers and an opportunity to contribute to the communities they live in, both domestically and overseas.

Beauty brands that invest in sustainable manufacturing practices are also investing in creating a healthier environment for the families and communities that reside in the cities, villages, and towns where they operate. These initiatives also raise awareness about the benefits of clean beauty brands and the sustainable initiatives they support, which can prompt more people to adopt environmentally sound practices.

Shop Izzy to make a positive impact on the environment today!

If you’re in the market for zero waste clean mascara, brow gel, or other clean beauty products, we invite you to shop our site. You’ll be in the good company of our many valued customers who have purchased over 10,000 zero waste makeup products since 2021, reducing our industry’s carbon footprint by 14 metric tons of CO2e and counting.

Ready to make an impact with zero waste beauty? Shop our award-winning zero waste beauty products today!