If we’re going to ask for anyone’s input, we ask the experts. Hear the truth about what clean beauty is, and how Kiehl’s factors into it, with our in-depth personal interview with Esthetician Melynda Barham and why she loves Kiehl’s stance in naturally derived beauty!
Why Clean Beauty Matters
“When it comes to skin care – what goes on, goes in.” Melynda reiterates. “Studies have confirmed the products we put on our skin can make their way into our blood stream. Considering that here in the US we have no current regulations regarding product labeling for skincare, it has become relevant why more of us are joining the clean beauty movement.”
What is Naturally Derived Beauty?
“For me ‘clean beauty’ means products free of ingredients that cause negative health effects.”
Key examples would be 100% pure oils, with little to no other additives.
“That said, I also want products that actually benefit or improve the health of my skin. Just like we want more healthy food options actually taste good, we want more healthy skincare options actually work to improve the appearance of our skin.”
What to look for in Clean Beauty Brands
“Many companies promote a product as ‘naturally derived’. What they don’t tell you is this can be a loose term. Naturally derived simply means the ingredient started out as a whole plant. It does not account for how much of the molecular structure remains after the plant has been processed.”
How far can a plant be processed? Very, Melynda points out.
“Simply put, many companies can mislead us into thinking an ingredient is naturally derived when the natural ingredient has been so processed, its final form is closer to synthetic and only a minute amount of the plant still exists.”
Clean Beauty and Kiehl’s
“For Kiehl’s to even consider an ingredient as ‘naturally derived’, it must retain more than 50% of the molecular structure after being processed from a natural source. This is a much higher percentage than other companies. These high standards have helped Kiehl’s to maintain a prominent status as a trusted natural beauty brand for over 165 years.”
Products like their Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate are made with %50 of their original source, and in the Seed Oil Concentrate’s case, this is one of the key reasons why it’s so effective against problem skin and skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, and atopic dermatitus. It’s important to note that the oil is derived from the hemp variety of the Cannabis Sativa plant, which is non-psychoactive.
Be picky when choosing a Clean Beauty Brand
“Terms like “botanical,” “natural” and “green” are unregulated and what some companies tout as clean, could be considered harmful by a health-conscious customer.”
“Not only has it become paramount that we read the label, it has become just as important to research the brand’s own approach to clean beauty. As both a consumer and Esthetician, I not only want to purchase from a brand that promotes transparency but a brand that has high standards regarding naturally derived ingredients.”
To help customer’s make more informed purchasing decisions, Kiehl’s was one of the first companies to proudly list ingredients on its product labels. This was in 1924, far before the US government mandated it.
Psst! We mentioned this titbit in our April Box Reveal!
Melynda stands by her favorite brands mission to improve naturally derived skincare. “Kiehl’s continues to respond to consumer demands for transparent natural skincare products and has reformulated their top selling Ultra Facial Cream to be without parabens entirely. Plus, Kiehl’s strives to continue rebalancing formulas on other products to become paraben free.”
“This dedication to providing cleaner products without losing their efficacy, has set the example for other companies to follow suit. Not only does the company have a long legacy of providing high quality natural products but is now a leading company on the forefront of the clean beauty movement.”