Clean Beauty Raising the Beauty and Ingredient Standards in Our Products - But What Does Clean Actually Mean? We were inspired to write this post because not only are we passionate about Skincare and Clean Beauty but because we also realize that a lot of the information surrounding Clean Beauty and Clean Ingredients, especially on the internet, is fear-based and derived from a misinformed place. Therefore, we wanted to provide the research for you so you can feel happy about the products you are using and feel empowered with the most accurate and science backed information to help you make well-informed decisions about the products you’re introducing into your daily life. Let’s start by first understanding the difference in definition between natural vs clean products, according to Jama Dermatology’s article Natural Does Not Mean Safe - The Dirt on Clean Beauty Products “...the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to clearly define clean and natural, leaving these labels open to interpretation by non dermatologist retailers, bloggers, and celebrities who have set out to define Clean Beauty for themselves,” and here starts the fear-based approach towards Clean Beauty.                            Let’s try to break it down by differentiating between the terms natural vs clean as it refers to just the ingredients themselves, and furthermore explain what Clean Beauty looks like here at Hey Honey. Natural ingredients are those derived from naturally occurring substances, while clean ingredients can either be synthetic or natural, are not toxic and will not result in any long term adverse effects. It is important to emphasize that natural does not always equate to better or safer, according to Jama Dermatology’s article Natural Does Not Mean Safe - The Dirt on Clean Beauty Products many so-called natural products contain high concentration of botanical extracts that are a leading cause of both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis and photosensitization.  Here at Hey Honey we have drawn up our formulation of Clean ingredients based on long-standing research and have acknowledged a list of ingredients that have been linked to harmful health effects such as but not limited to irritation in the skin, hormone disruption and cancer. What Clean Beauty means to us here at Hey Honey, on the other hand, is an umbrella term that encompasses not only the formulation of the products using only Clean ingredients, but also a standard of practice and production that encourages mindful consumption and sustainability, including sustainable packaging. It is important to us to give you mindfully created products, and  that you have a skincare routine that you can feel good about both inside and out.    Now that we understand Clean Beauty a little more, let's dive into which ingredients violate our strict standards for Clean Beauty and why we understand these culprits to be dirty, which should be avoided, and what other practices we consider integral to being Clean.   Parabens Parabens are a type of preservative used in skincare products to help prolong their shelf life. Unfortunately they are known to be endocrine disruptors (hormone disrupting chemicals) that can affect fertility and in extreme cases can result in cancer.  Phthalates Also known as plasticizers can be found in skincare products, household items, and even the air we breathe. It is important to limit the additive effect of these chemicals which can result in male infertility, asthma, and birth defects.    Sulfates (SLS) The highest risk associated with sulfates, especially the synthetic-based chemicals, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is irritation and contact dermatitis to the skin and eyes. As you can expect this kind of reaction can lead to worsening of skin conditions and disruption of the healthy moisture barrier of the skin.   YES to Cruelty-Free We strongly believe that mindfully created products are formulated without testing on animals. We uphold these values and are proud to say that we are certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny.    YES to Sustainable Packaging and Resourcing Clean products would not be clean if they were packaged in tubes, jars and bottles that are not recyclable. Our packaging is made using sugar cane and is 100% recyclable.    Here at Hey Honey we believe in giving our consumers an all around best self-care experience from the inside out. It is important to us that our products be effective, safe and sustainable for the environment. Clean Beauty here at Hey Honey is an umbrella which encompasses our value for high quality ingredients that are non-toxic, cruelty-free, and made with packaging that is sustainable and recyclable. All of our products are created with zero parabens, no sulfates, and zero S.L.S & Phthalates.    In conclusion, I think it is safe to say that the wave that is the Clean Movement won’t be crashing anytime soon. More than ever before consumers’ standards and expectations for the products they use and their demand for safe, non-toxic products, cruelty-free, clean, and sustainable products is a requirement for many when making purchasing decisions. Hey Honey’s approach towards skincare is a mindful living approach that delivers benefits from the inside out. We are proud of our unwavering commitment to Clean Beauty, to products that deliver the results you crave, and to our promise to continue to provide products that are healthy, safe and environmentally friendly. We also encourage our customers to decide what ingredients you feel fit your needs best, and to reach out to our Education Manager care@heyhoney.com for any questions you may have about any of our products.