{"id":22413,"date":"2019-01-23T10:36:30","date_gmt":"2019-01-23T09:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/?p=22413"},"modified":"2019-03-28T14:48:05","modified_gmt":"2019-03-28T13:48:05","slug":"eye-on-ingredients-chemical-free-cosmetics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/eye-on-ingredients-chemical-free-cosmetics\/","title":{"rendered":"Eye on Ingredients: ‘Chemical-free’ cosmetics \u2014 what does that really mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I hear the term ‘chemical-free’, I associate it with the trust I would give to a safe, environmentally friendly & “clean” product. But the more I think about this, the more I realise that I don\u2019t actually know what ‘chemical-free’ means. Because all of my natural, organic, 100% vegan beauty products contain some sort of chemicals.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In the series Eye on Ingredients, I look at the efficacy & safety of a number of ingredients<\/a> that are being used in our self-care products & cosmetics. In this article, I want to talk about cosmetics that use the term ‘chemical-free’ \u2013 what this really means, and what to look for instead.<\/p>\n

Misinformation in natural & organic marketing<\/h2>\n

The beauty industry is all about result-driven products: longer lashes, the \u201c24-hour effect\u201d, or volumized hair. Because of this, an avid awareness around certain chemical ingredients used to achieve such results \u2013 those which serve a short-term focus and neglect long-term health \u2013 has become our main form of action. Thus, in the natural & organic cosmetic circles, we are inundated with information about toxic, harmful or carcinogenic ingredients that you don\u2019t want to be using.<\/p>\n

While this awareness is important (because there are some pretty nasty chemicals<\/a> that have needed to be removed from personal care products for some time now), it has led to many of us being easily fooled by greenwashing<\/a> <\/strong>\u2013 conditioning us to think that all chemicals, especially synthetics, are bad for us. Savvy advertisers making up catchy phrases to make us believe that we are buying safer products by default.<\/p>\n

The truth about “chemical-free” products<\/h2>\n

‘Chemical-free’ has become one of those greenwashing terms advertisers use. The truth is that there is no such thing as cosmetics that are completely chemical-free.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While there are more defined guidelines for natural & organic labeling<\/a>, saying that something is ‘chemical-free’ holds no meaning; chemical ingredients are used in the manufacturing of all cosmetics \u2013 naturally or otherwise.\u00a0Because the very foundations of chemistry tell us that you, and I, and everything around us \u2013 all of it is constituted by chemicals… be it with oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, or any other element on the periodic table. So undeniably, that means that our moisturiser is actually full of chemicals.<\/p>\n

I understand the well-intended place the term ‘chemical-free’ stems from \u2013 and it\u2019s amazing(y)<\/em> that more people & brands are on the journey towards cleaner cosmetics and even safer skincare. But it\u2019s important that we don\u2019t just trust brand images or front labels\u00a0\u2013 not without remaining vigilant in our own discerning of the harm that may be caused to ourselves & the environment, specifically from companies whose manufacturing practices prioritize profit over sustainability.<\/p>\n

The best way to protect yourself from potentially harmful ingredients is to identify them as you read through an ingredient lists.\u00a0<\/em>Try our\u00a0Amazingy #toxicfreebathroomchallenge<\/a>\u00a0to reduce the nasty bad chemical ingredients you can find hiding in your cosmetic & self-care products.<\/em><\/h5>\n

In the end, we can\u2019t always trust a brand\u2019s image. We must seek companies & brands that are genuinely interested in offering us quality cosmetics with ethically sourced ingredients. It is possible to find good chemicals in your self-care & cosmetics products! And at Amazingy, we\u2019ve handpicked companies, brands & products that have high standards, following the philosophy of quality over quantity \u2013 a philosophy of sustainability that we feel needs to be adopted asap.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Now, a question for you:
\n<\/em>Are you okay with buying from a brand
\nthat says ‘chemical-free’?
\n<\/em>Let us know in the comment section below.<\/em><\/h3>\n
Enjoyed reading this article?\u00a0\u00a0Sign up here<\/a> for our newsletter and get updates, sustainable health & beauty tips, and special offers from our shop \u2013 dropped right into your inbox!<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Photo credit:\u00a0Ian Dooley<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I hear the term ‘chemical-free’, I associate it with the trust I would give to a safe, environmentally friendly<\/p>\n

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