Many of the beauty products we’ve used for years have now been proven to have a negative effect on our bodies. A close look at the chemical composition of some of the most common ones reveals the presence of substances such as parabens and phthalates, both of which have been found to be endocrine disruptors linked to the increased risk of breast cancer. These revelations are leading people to embrace the clean beauty movement, which means a significant opportunity for online entrepreneurs.
Clean Beauty Defined
Said plainly, clean beauty is all about paying attention to the contents of the products we use on our bodies to minimize our exposure to toxic substances. While those chemicals do tend to perform as intended, their side effects can be particularly troublesome. The ultimate goal of clean beauty is to eliminate toxins in favor of natural options that pose minimal safety risks.
Culprits Include:
Petroleum Jelly: Good old Vaseline, used by many women to remove eye makeup, is derived from oil production. Yes, the same oil from which gasoline is produced. The same oil used to lubricate your car and all sorts of other machinery. In addition to its potential to wreak havoc upon the planet’s ecosystem, the body’s endocrine system is less than fond of it. Further, as a byproduct of the petroleum industry, it’s also a nonrenewable resource.
Meanwhile, rather than using petroleum; coconut oil, jojoba, olive oil, and Shea butter are just as effective. Similar alternatives exist for the other toxic substances listed below. If you’re looking for a niche within which to sell beauty products from home, embracing the clean beauty movement offers outstanding opportunities on a number of fronts.
Parabens: Largely employed as preservatives, parabens inhibit the growth of molds and certain bacteria in cosmetic products. However, they have also been found in breast tumors, so their use has grown increasingly suspect—although the FDA has no large-scale studies on file citing their potential to harm human health. Highly prevalent in our daily lives, parabens are found in lotion, sunscreen, shaving cream, foundation, lipstick, and even toothpaste.
Formaldehyde: Prone to show up in unexpected places, formaldehyde is present in a number of daily use products—even though it isn’t listed as an ingredient in many cases. In the cosmetics industry, the chemical is most frequently found in nail polish. Sometimes listed as “formalin”, it is a known skin and eye irritant. The EPA also considers it a probable human carcinogen.
Remarkably, even though chemicals such as this have been traced to a number of human maladies, there are no laws against using them in cosmetics in the United States. However, our neighbors to the north have taken a more proactive stance in this regard and yes, formaldehyde is on their list of prohibited substances.
Phthalates: Often found in color cosmetics, fragranced lotions, body washes, hair care products and nail polish, a loophole in Federal law enables cosmetics manufacturers to add phthalates to products without disclosing it to the public. Health concerns include endocrine disruption, along with developmental and reproductive toxicity and cancer.
An Unrivalled Business Opportunity
You can feel good about what you’re doing with a clean beauty ecommerce store because you’re helping people eliminate harmful substances from their beauty regimen. Additionally, natural alternatives tend to be renewable, so they’re better for the environment. And finally, people have demonstrated a willingness to pay more for natural beauty products, so you can do some good and make money too.
Business opportunities generally don’t get any better than that.
Images star Bonnie from prestigious MODELS 1 agency in London photographed for BEAUTY SCENE Exclusive stories by fashion and beauty photographer Seb Winter. Discover the full story on our BEAUTY SCENE web page.
