A useful little guide to clean beauty!

I'll tell you right away, even though I should be ashamed: I'm not eco-friendly in everything.

Yes, I recycle. I even bought a bin with compartments where I carefully place the waste I sort. I also buy my clothes secondhand because I like the idea of giving them a second life rather than overconsuming. I also prefer my feet and my bike to maxi cars.

On the other hand, I admit my unmentionable pleasure: I love taking my little bath that's almost scalding hot when it's cold outside, my herbal tea, my book, a candle and the delicate scent of the oil that I slip a few drops into the water .... All of it relaxes me instantly. So ok, I use and abuse liters of water and that's very bad. But I compensate on the beauty level by stopping spreading anything on my skin. It's good for the planet and for my skin!

Before working for Happy Officine, I already had some beauty habits to consume intelligently, but since then, I track labels and I take out my fatal weapon (i.e., my trash) every time I come across, in my wardrobe, a treatment that goes against my principles.

Basically, how do you spot a clean product? Get out your notebooks, here's the to-do list: a clean beauty product is a so-called clean treatment: it doesn't contain controversial ingredients (no more synthetic chemicals), it's natural, and it includes a very reasonable number of ingredients.

This phenomenon started a few years ago and has become increasingly widespread...why turn to clean beauty? First of all, today our skin is becoming increasingly sensitive, particularly due to pollution and stress.

So, when you put a product made of silicone or mineral oils (petroleum for example) on your skin that clogs pores... we'll let you imagine the result on already sensitized skin. As for the times we live in, they are increasingly anxiety-provoking: time is short, results must be instantaneous and brands are in a perpetual quest for the most miraculous product possible, no matter what it contains.

Nowadays, a cream must remove wrinkles in one application, a gloss must plump in 30 seconds, and a body lotion must rehydrate extremely dehydrated skin in the blink of an eye. It's effective in the moment, but is it really effective in the long term? Can a product that works miracles in 30 seconds, like a TV shopping slimming machine, really be reliable?

You know the answer: no.

And no, not all so-called "natural" beauty products are clean. Read our article above on labels! An organic product (beware of scam labels) with grapefruit may have been made with mostly water... so it won't work!

When you buy a truly clean beauty product, it benefits from proven and tested effectiveness. Its ingredients? They truly draw their power from nature. The very same nature that has intelligently regenerated itself for millennia despite natural disasters.

How can you scrutinize products? By using apps that scan barcodes to discover ingredients! Our favorites? Skin Deep from the Environmental Working Group or Clean Beauty from Officinea.

Which products should you adopt to move towards a responsible beauty routine for both you and the planet? Our favorites!

THE CREAM:

On the Wild Side, “Radiance” day cream

Why? This 100% clean, vegan, and natural product is Ecocert certified (a leading label). It is composed of vegetable oils such as plum, sunflower, sweet almond, and borage oil, as well as wakame seaweed. The latter contains strong anti-aging properties.

THE CLEANER:

Nuori, Protect + Cleansing Milk

Why? This Scandinavian brand prioritizes 100% healthy products. Composed of avocado oil, castor oil, and natural glycerin to combat dehydration, its formula has been enriched with chamomile and aloe vera for their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. This natural milk gently cleanses the skin to eliminate impurities accumulated during the day and also reduces irritation and redness.

LOCALIZED CARE:

Odacity, serum PF+o

Why? Odacité is the clean, made-in-the-USA brand that's rooted in a touching life story. Their 100% natural serums have received numerous beauty awards for their amazing effectiveness. Their strength? A range of serums tailored to your skin concerns, ultra-concentrated in natural ingredients.

Since it's the season, I use the anti-grey complexion one which boosts my mood as much as my complexion!

THE SHAMPOO:

Cut by Fred, vegan moisturizing shampoo

Why? "Cut by Fred" is the story of a passionate hairdresser who wanted to prove that you could have beautiful hair using clean products. A range whose content, made from natural ingredients and its (biodegradable) content, are good for the planet! I really like the 100% natural shampoo with a sweet almond scent. A treatment that pampers and repairs my scalp!