Are Your Beauty Products Really Clean?

Q. How do I know if my beauty and skin-care products are actually clean?

A. Consumers need to be cognizant that there are products claiming to be clean that, though nontoxic, are actually made with mostly synthetic ingredients. I recommend downloading Think Dirty – Shop Clean or the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living, two apps that can help decipher some of the common jargon. I would also recommend everyone swap out their SPF moisturizer for a clean one. The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens can include avobenzone, octinoxate and oxybenzone, all of which can be irritating to the skin and have been found to be potential endocrine disruptors. In addition, oxybenzone is a known pollutant to the coral reef. Instead, reach for mineral sunscreens, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide – look for “non-nano,” as it is believed these particles are too large to harm ocean life.

About our expert: A holistic aesthetician, Beth Walker has been working with celebrity and private clients in Boulder, Colorado, for 15 years.