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Clean-up act
Updated On: 21 September, 2021 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Anindita Paul
While ‘clean beauty’ has become a buzzword in India’s burgeoning cosmetics and skincare industry, in the absence of regulation, it can be open to misuse by manufacturers
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If you’re in the market for a skincare or colour cosmetic product, you don’t need to look too far to find a bevy of (relatively pricey) brands positioning themselves as champions of ‘clean beauty’. And, to the untrained eye, the term ‘clean’ brings with it connotations of superiority that could easily lead you to believe that these products are, in some way, better for you than their counterparts. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that the ambit of what qualifies as a ‘clean’ product is arbitrary at best.
“Contrary to popular perception, ‘clean’ beauty is more of a marketing or advertising term as opposed to one that’s based on the products’ chemical composition. The most commonly accepted definition is that clean products are toxin-free. This again, is a debatable concept, as there is no substantial data backing why many ingredients that are branded as toxins should be avoided or what their long-term impact is on the body. For instance, in the case of parabens [that many cosmetic brands claim to avoid], there was only one study with a very small group of participants that claimed to find an adverse reaction. That was subsequently blown out of proportion, despite the fact that the US FDA does not discourage the use of parabens in formulations. Similarly, sulphates are another hair-care no-no as far as many brands are concerned as they can be drying. However, if you exclude sulphates from formulations intended for dandruff-prone or oily scalps, the resultant product will never thoroughly clean your scalp,” explains dermatologist Dr Chytra Anand, who is the founder of Skin Q, a skincare brand.
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