What Is Clean Skincare, Anyway?

(And why everyone seems to have a different definition.)

Somewhere between “non-toxic,” “natural,” and “chemical-free,” skincare marketing completely lost the plot. Every brand calls itself clean now — even the ones stuffed with mystery fragrances and ingredients that sound like a science experiment.

Here’s the dirty truth: “Clean skincare” isn’t a regulated term. No rulebook. No standard. Just whatever definition a brand decides sounds good enough to sell product.

Natural ≠ Better. Synthetic ≠ Evil.

Let’s start here — because this one drives me nuts.“Natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe. Poison ivy is natural. So is snake venom. 🐍

And synthetics? Some of the safest, most stable, and most effective ingredients in skincare are lab-made. Hyaluronic acid? Lab-made. Niacinamide? Lab-made. Both amazing. The goal isn’t “all natural.” The goal is balanced — formulas that actually work without unnecessary crap.

Marketing Made It Messy

“Chemical-free.” “Non-toxic.” “Clean enough to eat." Stop. Just stop.

Everything is made of chemicals — even water. The problem isn’t chemicals; it’s toxic levels and bad formulas. But “chemical-free” looks better on a label than “we just formulated responsibly,” so here we are.

So What Does Clean Mean (When It’s Done Right)?

It means you can flip the bottle over, read the ingredients, and actually understand what’s in it. It means no hidden fragrance blends, no unnecessary fillers, no marketing BS. It means formulating with safe, effective ingredients that do something for your skin — not just sound fancy in a reel. Clean doesn’t mean boring or basic. It means honest, transparent, and intentional.

Here’s What Clean Means to Unfiltered AF:

• No synthetic fragrance

• No parabens or phthalates

• No “trade secret” mystery blends

• No ingredient that’s there just for show

• No hype — just results

  
  

I use natural oils, botanical extracts, and lab-backed actives that actually do something. Because you deserve skincare that’s clean and effective — not just marketed that way.

Bottom Line

“Clean” isn’t a trend. It’s common sense. And if your skincare label reads like a chemistry final or smells like a candle store — it’s time to detox your routine, not your skin.