This Sephora Clean Beauty Haul will give you insight as to what is in-fact clean and how to ensure you don’t get greenwashed on products they have labeled as “clean.”
When I found out Sephora was starting to incorporate cleaner products into their store, I was thrilled. I mean, it’s Sephora! The store is everywhere and having more clean beauty and skincare options at your fingertips just goes to show you how far the clean beauty revolution has come.
But recently, I had a good friend of mine ask me for skincare product recommendations from Sephora that were clean. As she was sending me the ones that she was looking into, I was shocked. These products being labeled as “Clean at Sephora” were misleading. As I was reading some of the ingredients contained in the products, there were still toxic ones in the bottle. Why they are being labeled “clean” is beyond me. The question as to how clean it actually is can be debatable, mainly because what’s clean to me may not be clean to someone else. Each person holds their own standards as to how clean they want their products to be and that’s ok. But for me, I have high standards as to what goes into my body.
The Controversy
Phenoxyethanol is something you see in many products and something I personally value as NOT a clean ingredient. Why is that? For starters, Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is part of the glycol family that can possibly contain carcinogens. It’s also linked with skin issues such as, dermatitis and irritation. The way this ingredient is processed is associated with multiple forms of cancer. Source
It’s also made from Phenols which is basically derived from coal tar and rate a 7 out of 10 on the EWG toxicity scale. Coal Tar is a colorant and anti-dandruff product that is actually a by-product of coal processing, which makes it carcinogenic.
Some brands choose to have this ingredient in some of their products, while others don’t and mainly because they try to keep just a small amount in the products, making it “safer” to use. But the point I’m trying to make is, determine what’s right for you. Do your research and determine your version of “clean” based on what you read. I wish it were clean cut with how it all works and ingredients used in products. But hey, we’ve come this far already and I’m sure within the next 5-10 years, it will be much clearer.
So let’s get into the Sephora clean beauty haul, shall we?
Helpful Shopping Tips:
- Be sure to always read the labels. Here is what Sephora has as their “Clean at Sephora” program. All of this is great and like I mentioned, it’s a step in the right direction. But again, do your research and determine what’s clean to you.
- Always stay away from Fragrance. I have a whole list in this ebook with other ingredients I don’t approve of, but Fragrance is bad. If you see it, don’t buy it. As you can see in the photo below, this is not vetted at Sephora. Another reason to read the labels.
- If you don’t see a list of full ingredients posted on the website, chances are it’s not clean. Most companies are proud to share what’s in their products.
Sephora Clean Beauty Haul
So what products are actually clean? To keep this blog post from becoming a novel, I will list out my top 4 picks for skincare and makeup. Should you want the FULL list of Approved and Not Approved products, sign up for my weekly newsletter for full access.
Top 4 Favorite Clean Skincare Brands
- Drunk Elephant: THIS is the only one clean
- Tata Harper: I like THIS one and THIS one
- Herbivore: I like THIS one and THIS one
- Indie Lee: Love THIS one, THIS one, and THIS one
TOP 4 Favorite Clean Beauty Brands
- Aether Beauty: Summer Solstice Palette is my favorite
- Ilia: Lovet this Eye Primer one and heard great things about this Mascara
- Antynom: I own this Baked Blush one and Highlighter
- Kosas: I own this Liquid Eye Shadow, Lipstick, Blush and Highlighter Duo, and Chapstick
Other Sephora brands that are PTB approved and have used, tried, or owned are: RMS, Lawless, Kora, Beauty Chef, HUM, Moon Juice, and BKR.
In conclusion…
Do your research and determine what you consider to be a “safe” as “natural.” We’ve come so far and seeing Sephora now carrying cleaner brands is something to be somewhat proud of. But be careful, because even they are greenwashing consumers into thinking most of their products are “clean.” I can’t wait to see what’s in store in year’s to come. Clean beauty is taking the world by storm and that’s because people like You and Me are spreading awareness.
I hope you enjoyed this Sephora Clean Beauty Haul and find yourself wanting to be more cautious about being greenwashed.
Related Links: Skincare Products I Swear By, Greenwashing, 10 Minute Natural Makeup Look
XO,
Natalie
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust. There is no additional cost to you.