The History of Clean Beauty
Throughout the years, we’ve seen the beauty industry undergo various changes and one movement that has been gaining momentum is the influx of clean beauty brands hitting the shelves. The first mention of clean beauty dates back to the 70s and has since become one of the biggest selling points for those looking to take better care of the body’s largest organ--the skin. Whether you’re looking to make the switch to clean makeup products or simply committing to cruelty free brands, it’s important to understand the definition of clean beauty and how it may impact your overall skin health. While there certainly is no legal or official definition for clean beauty, LYS has established strict formulation standards that align with the overall mission to help others radiate confidence...long after the makeup comes off!
With such a broad, overarching term and conflicting definitions, it can be difficult navigating the market to find products that are best-suited for your skin’s particular needs. Over recent decades, we’ve seen a drastic switch from people focusing solely on how a product makes them look and gravitating towards formulas that provide lasting benefits. Couple that with the broader wellness revolution and there’s no denying the consumer’s growing desire for gentle and effective products.
The sad reality is people of color are exposed to double the amount of toxic beauty products due to the lack of options, accessibility and education. It’s important that we understand what we are putting on our skin because with nearly 90,000 chemicals available, the FDA only regulates only about 10% of them. Using such ingredients overtime may have a lasting impact, like skin sensitivities such as acne and eczema.
Committed to a skin-first approach, LYS is proud to become Sephora’s first black-owned Sephora Clean Color Cosmetics brand, offering makeup lovers the beauty they want, minus the ingredients they may not. This seal reaffirms the brand’s commitment to formulating without parabens, sulfates like SLS, talc, phthalates, mineral oils, formaldehyde, fragrance and more.
Confidence without Compromise
In recent years, we’ve seen a steady uptick in clean beauty offerings. However, just as brands are finding ways to become more inclusive, there are still many groups left out of the clean conversation, particular beauty lovers of color. LYS is on a mission to dispel the myth that clean formulas, inclusive shade offerings and high-performance products cannot coexist.
At LYS, beauty is simplified by creating products that enhance, but never conceal, your greatest features. Created from the lens of a multicultural consumer, LYS works intimately with the lab to create enriching formulas that help improve the look and feel of skin, regardless of skin type, texture or tone. Incorporating its own standards, LYS draws inspiration from age-old beauty practices and integrates noteworthy ingredients, yielding the most desirable results.
The LYS Difference
It’s no secret that the industry has been green-washed and uncovering clean beauty gems may be difficult for the average beauty consumer. Keep reading to see which LYS ingredients target your most troublesome skincare concerns, while still rocking your favorite makeup looks.
Hyperpigmentation/Dark Spots
- Turmeric: Helps brighten and promote, clearer-looking complexion
- Grapefruit Extract: Helps to brighten the look of dark spots
Aging Skin/Fine Lines/Wrinkles
- Hyaluronic Acid: Infuses skin with lasting hydration
- Green Tea Extract: Helps soothe and replenish skin, while reducing the appearance of redness
- Avocado Oil: Helps to retain the skin’s moisture for the appearance of a revitalized and firmer-looking complexion, while providing antioxidant benefits
Excess Oil/Large Pores
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Helps reduce the appearance of large pores and limit excess sebum
Irritation/Sensitive Skin
- Ashwagandha (Indian Ginseng): Powerful herb to help combat skin-stress
- Green Tea Extract: Helps soothe and replenish skin, while reducing the appearance of redness
- Vitamins E: Helps calm and soothe sensitive skin
Blemish-Prone Skin/Congested Pores
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Helps reduce the appearance of large pores and limit excess sebum
- Green Tea Extract: Helps soothe and replenish skin, while reducing the appearance of redness
- Vitamins C: Helps brighten the appearance of dark spots or hyperpigmentation
Dry/Dull Skin
- Hyaluronic Acid: Infuses skin with lasting hydration
- Turmeric: Helps brighten and promote, clearer-looking complexion
- Avocado Oil: Helps to retain the skin’s moisture for the appearance of a revitalized and firmer-looking complexion, while providing antioxidant benefits
The Exclusions
At LYS, the definition of clean is not only what’s in the product, but which ingredients are purposefully excluded that are proven to compromise the skin’s health. LYS is committed to providing high-performance products that are formulated without:
- Talc: Also known as talcum powder, talc is a natural mineral that is often used in powder-based formulas, like translucent setting powders, blush, eyeshadows and pressed powders. Effective in absorbing oil and excess shine, many brands pair talc with pigment for said formulas. However, talc fibers can cause skin irritation, as well as lead to respiratory problems if the powder is repeatedly and unintentionally inhaled.
- Fragrance: When used in cosmetics, fragrance has the ability to assign a signature scent to each product, but products with added fragrances are known to call irritation, allergies or in severe cases, disrupt hormones. In fact, fragrance can be one of the leading causes of skin reactions in makeup.
- Parabens: Specifically used to help extend the shelf life of products, parabens are often found in cosmetic products despite the proven links to breast cancer and the disruption of hormone functionality. While the ingredient is effective in inhibiting the growth of bacteria and microbes in products, the potential risks are far too high to consider.
- Phthalates: Also relied on to extend shelf life and help ingredients penetrate skin, phthalates refer to a group of chemicals that help bind products. However, research shows a potential risk of disrupting hormones and leading to infertility.
- Formaldehyde: A great preservative, formaldehyde is commonly found in cosmetic products. However, as makeup and skincare are being absorbed in the skin, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and skin irritant with extended exposure.
- Triclosan: Commonly used in color cosmetics, as well as other personal-care products, triclosan is often used to prevent bacterial growth within products. It can lead to reproductive issues and/or disrupt thyroid functionality.
- Petrolatum/Mineral Oil: While oils have endless skincare benefits, mineral oil is one that we should all steer clear of due to the pore-clogging characteristics. Additionally, while it’s unlikely that it leads to skin irritation or reactions, mineral oil is known to sit on top of the skin, making it difficult for other products to penetrate for maximum effectiveness.
- PEGs: Also used for their thickening, softening and moisturizing properties, polyethylene glycols, can become mild respiratory irritants and are known carcinogens that can lead to damage of the nervous system.
- SLS/SLES/BHA/BHT: Commonly found in lipsticks and other color products, these synthetic antioxidants may lead to skin discoloration/depigmentation.
- Cyclic Silicones (cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), cyclopentasiloxane (D5), Cyclohexasiloxane (D6), and Cyclomethicone: Studies show that some of these chemicals may have reproductive, developmental toxicity and/or endocrine disruption with extended use.
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