Today is National Clean Beauty Day and we want to celebrate by going over what “clean beauty” means and our stance on industry standards today. 

This day is meant to spread awareness about finding better ways to care for ourselves and the environment through clean beauty. So, what exactly is this beauty category and why should we want to make the switch? Keep reading for all the facts you need to know!

What is “clean beauty”?

Clean beauty refers to any personal care products that are void of toxic ingredients that are good for you and the environment. These products also typically include clear, easy to read ingredient labels on all packaging.

Clean beauty comes in many forms including skincare and makeup to haircare and bodycare. 

Harmful Ingredients to Avoid

While there’s not one standard when it comes to no-no lists, the most common ingredients to avoid include: parabens, phthalates, silicone, gluten, petrolatum, formaldehyde, glycol, triclosan, triclocarban, propylene, GMOs, NPEs, PEGs, sulfates (SLS/SLES), EDTA/BHT/BHA, synthetic dyes/colorants, synthetic fragrances.

Some of these ingredients take a while to break down and are thus also harmful to the environment. The most well-known “bad-for-you” ingredients are parabens, sulfates, PEGs, phthalates, and formaldehyde. Parabens are an easily absorbable endocrine disruptor (EDC) and have been linked to causing an early onset of puberty in girls. Phthalates are another well-known endocrine disruptor that help fragrances, materials, and products last longer. Formaldehyde is a notorious preservative that is considered a human carcinogen (aka it’s capable of causing cancer). Sulfates can be synthetic and they may produce a harmful chemical known as 1,4-dioxane that is most likely a carcinogen. PEGs are typically used to help you absorb product better - this comes with an added risk of the product entering your bloodstream. 

What are endocrine disruptors (EDCs)?

EDCs are what we always avoid when formulating new products. They are the reason Julie wanted to found a brand that would alleviate women’s hormonal issues and not worsen them. EDCs are chemicals that can mimic the body’s hormones (aka the endocrine system) and are found in everyday items like food, plastic, cosmetics, etc. They are so bad for you that they may cause early puberty or they may interfere with reproduction and cause fertility issues for everyone. They can also lead to developmental malformations, come with an increased cancer risk, and negatively affect the immune and nervous systems’ functions. BPAs (yes, the chemical found in plastic), parabens, phthalates, phytoestrogens, and triclosan are the most well-known endocrine disruptors.

Long-lasting impact of harmful ingredients

While you put your products on the surface level, they don’t always stay there. Some of the most harmful ingredients go below the skin’s surface and find their way through the body’s system. They can cause unexpected health issues like certain cancers (especially breast cancer in women), thyroid disease, and other serious conditions. 

Even worse? Those harmful components can be delivered to children through pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. 

Where does Knours fit into all of this?

Our founder Julie has always recognized the importance of using clean products for her own hormonal wellness. As she experienced menopause and tried to find ways to alleviate the symptoms associated with it (especially the effects on her skin), she was surprised to find endocrine-disrupting chemicals in widely-known skincare products. The beauty industry has begun to make changes, but there's still room for improvement: 

“I'm happy to see that a commitment to clean is widespread now, but not enough brands have a clear motivation or understanding behind what 'clean' means for them, and just slap it on as an afterthought - which has become problematic. As an industry, we all need to understand that prioritizing transparency is a given, because knowledge is power when it comes to purchasing dependable, effective skincare. It goes beyond skincare; this is our health (and frankly, Mother Nature's, too) at risk.”

Our Commitment

We have set high standards for ourselves when it comes to creating products that are good for you and the environment. Our approach to and standard of clean is with a very clear reason and purpose: we don't want EDC’s to build-up in your body and potentially cause health issues for women in the long-term. All of our products are EWG-verified and our “no-no list” is strict and particular to avoid any ingredients with risk of toxicity or ones that trigger hormonal shifts, especially during the 3 M’s of life: menstruation, maternity, and menopause. 

We have a hands-on approach when we research ingredients and make sure we test the products thoroughly ourselves. We are upfront about what goes in and what stays out of our products and are always willing to share our ingredients lists so you can feel confident in your decision to use our products. 

We also use the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep Cosmetic Database® to help us understand which ingredients to avoid and the reasons behind those restrictions. We have proudly carried the EWG Verified logo on all of our products since the very beginning and we will continue to meet their standards. 

Where should I start?

You don’t want to suddenly buy new products while you still have a lot of your old products leftover (not great for your wallet or the environment). First, consider your beauty goals and think about what products you use the most. This can help you pick a starting point before you commit to a completely new routine. Don’t forget to read product reviews and conduct a little more research than you normally would so you can stay informed about what you are using. Most people change their face and hair products first then their body products. Regardless of how you begin, we recommend starting small (think minis) to test out different products and find the best ones for you!

Clean beauty is such an extensive realm and we hope this has served as a helpful guide! We can’t wait for you to join us on this exciting journey.