Last Updated on 5th September 2023
The realm of skincare, with its ever-evolving trends and innovations, has introduced consumers to a plethora of industry-specific terms. Understanding these can be pivotal for anyone hoping to navigate the skincare aisle with clarity.
Let’s dive into some of these popular terms, shedding light on their unique philosophies and implications.
Clean Beauty
At its core, clean beauty emphasizes products that are free from certain potentially harmful ingredients, such as parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. The movement encourages transparency in ingredient lists and sources, ensuring that what you apply to your skin is not only effective but also safe.
Green Beauty
A step beyond just the individual, green beauty focuses on the bigger picture: the environment. This term refers to products that prioritize sustainability at every stage, from sourcing ingredients to eco-friendly packaging. It’s about marrying personal care with planetary responsibility.
Slow Beauty
Amid the bustling world of quick fixes, the slow beauty movement advocates for a more mindful approach. Rooted in rituals, sustainable practices, and long-term solutions, it promotes a deeper connection to one’s skincare routine. Dr. Heather Smith, an advocate of clean beauty and transparency in cosmetic marketing, often speaks of slow beauty as a “holistic lifestyle choice, emphasizing patience and understanding of one’s skin.”
Blue Beauty
Blue beauty, while related to green beauty, has a specific focus: conserving water and championing marine ecosystems. It underscores the importance of preserving our water sources and ensuring that the beauty industry does no harm to marine life. This term was originally coined by Jeanie Jarnot, founder of Beauty Heroes.
Clinical Skincare
Moving away from broad philosophical approaches, clinical skincare zeroes in on efficacy. These products are backed by scientific research, often developed with input from dermatologists or skincare professionals. The aim? Targeted treatment for specific skin issues using evidence-based methods. Not to be confused with prescription treatment, this category of skincare works to straddle the line between cosmetic and medical.
Cosmeceuticals
Following the term clinical skincare from above, the portmanteau cosmeceutical is a name given to treatments that are marketed to imply they are more clinical and more effective. Bridging the gap between your over-the-counter skincare and prescription drugs, cosmeceuticals offer a potent blend.
These products, often rich in active ingredients, claim therapeutic benefits that can modify the skin’s structure and function. Whether there is truth to the claim or just marketing behind the focus on clinical effectiveness depends a lot on the brand and how they spin their messaging.
Natural Beauty
With a spotlight on Mother Nature, natural beauty emphasizes ingredients that are sourced directly from nature, sans synthetic compounds. Think plant extracts, essential oils, and minerals that bring about benefits without artificial additives. Like the other terms above, there is no regulation or guideline as to what actually constitutes natural. Lots of room for interpretation here.
Vegan Beauty
A pledge to compassion, vegan beauty eschews animal-derived ingredients or by-products. The movement stands firm on cruelty-free practices, ensuring that no animals were harmed in the making of these products.
While each term comes with its own set of principles, there’s a common thread binding them: the call for transparency. As Dr. Smith notes, “Defining beauty into different categories is purely marketing, which isn’t actually a bad thing. Marketing is needed so consumers can find products that match their goals and world-view. Without marketing, search engines wouldn’t know what to show you. However, brands need to step up and eliminate dishonest marketing, excessive hype, and a lack of transparency.”
Understanding these terms empowers consumers to make choices that resonate with their personal beliefs and skincare needs. Whether you’re drawn to the eco-friendly ethos of green beauty, the meticulous approach of clinical skincare, or the patient rituals of slow beauty, this glossary serves as a foundational guide in your skincare journey.
