What do natural, vegan, organic, and Clean Beauty mean?

By Dr. Vanessa Casteli, dermatologist and co-founder of SineVie.

History of the term Clean Beauty?

The term "clean beauty" emerged in the 1970s as a reference to clean, makeup-free skin. By the 2000s, the launch of skincare lines without ingredients that could negatively impact human health in the long term began – whether through ingestion, application, cross-contamination, or by being a potential environmental pollutant after disposal. This impacts the entire production chain, as everything from the raw materials used to the method of production, distribution, sales, and waste disposal must adhere to the "clean" idea. These choices can bring benefits to the user's health and the environment, but they do not necessarily mean a "cleaner" or even safer product, as natural products can also cause contact dermatitis or even phytophotodermatitis.

In Brazil, there is no official regulation for "clean beauty cosmetics," nor is there registration for a natural, vegan, or organic product, as they follow the same requirements as conventional cosmetics, with no distinction between them before the national regulatory body, Anvisa.

What do natural, vegan, organic, and Clean Beauty mean?

Natural Cosmetics
A natural cosmetic is one that does not contain chemical or synthetic additives in its composition. Its raw materials are of animal, plant, or mineral origin, excluding products like petrolatums and silicones or synthetic preservatives, colorants, and fragrances, for example.

There are international certifications, famous seals, where you invest a considerable amount to undergo analysis and receive the seal, with the best known being COSMOS, ECOCERT, the Brazilian Vegan Seal (SBV), and the Biodynamic Institute for Rural Development (IBD seal).

Some certifiers require more than 95% of raw materials to be of natural origin and up to 5% synthetic substances, provided they are approved.

In addition to its composition, the product's packaging must be designed within this concept, using recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable materials. One such seal is "eu reciclo" (I recycle).

Organic Products

For the cultivation of raw materials, the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers is prohibited. Organic cultivation is based on crop rotation, cover crops, appropriate species selection for crop rotation, and the use of biological and natural pesticides.

For most organic cosmetic certifying companies, at least 95% of raw materials must be of organic origin, and the product must not contain synthetic raw materials to receive organic certification.

Consumers must be willing to make a much larger investment, as these raw materials are very expensive.

Vegan Products

Veganism is a philosophy of life, applied to diet, clothing, and cosmetics, that avoids ingredients of animal origin such as beeswax or lanolin, for example.

Furthermore, they are cruelty-free, which prohibits products from having their efficacy or safety tested on animals.

A warning! Vegan does not mean natural or clean beauty!

It is important to emphasize that a vegan cosmetic does not have the same definition as a natural or organic one; thus, it allows 100% synthetic ingredients, provided it does not contain raw materials of animal origin in its formulation.

And what about clean beauty? Less is more!

Generally, it follows 3 pillars:
1. More than 90% natural ingredients and no harmful ingredients.
2. No animal testing, from raw materials to finished product.
3. Sustainability or zero waste.

Regarding sustainability, it's a different universe, concerning what is truly effective for the environment, ingredients, and waste.

The mindful beauty and clean girl trend, which involves lifestyle, fashion, and cosmetics, has given the clean beauty universe momentum in the digital space.
Less is more, fewer synthetic products, more health for naturally beautiful skin without needing makeup. Giving the freedom to go bare-faced or with light makeup.

SíneVie BeautyCare is a brand that believes in minimalism and the importance of avoiding harmful ingredients, so its formulas combine natural and vegan ingredients with pharmaceutical technology and nanotechnology to deliver a lot in just one bottle of cosmetic, simplifying the time spent on skincare. It does not test on animals and cares for the planet!

Bibliographic Reference: Clean beauty: review article on the new trend in cosmetics. Surgical & Cosmetic Dermatology, vol. 14, e20220137, 2022. https://doi.org/10.5935/scd1984-8773.2022140137