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After a physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting year, most of us are looking forward to 2021 for a happy and healthy fresh start. As we jot down our list of new year's resolutions, the goal of adopting new habits that allow us to become healthier versions of ourselves usually sits at the very top, including our face, skin, and body. The clean beauty movement is continuing to have a serious moment—and for good reason.
“There’s been concern over the fact that the FDA has not passed a law concerning skin care since 1938, while the European equivalent has been banning and regulating ingredients quite regularly,” explains Sydney Givens, dermatological physician’s assistant and founder of Skincare By Sydney. That’s why “clean beauty” brands have started cropping up left and right—they strive to create quality skin products that are free of potentially harmful ingredients including parabens, phthalates, fragrances (parfum), mineral oil, and coal tar dyes to name a few.
“These chemicals are to be avoided because of the negative effects they can have on the hormonal system, skin and on our delicate ecosystem,” says Olivia Rose, N.D., naturopathic doctor and founder of Reliv Organics. “Along with what clean beauty products avoid, it’s also important to note the types of Ingredients that clean beauty products tend to include—botanical ingredients, unprocessed or minimally processed oils and butters as well as organic and wildcrafted ingredients.”
As more and more brands and their customers hop on the clean beauty bandwagon, the landscape is sure to change for the better. Here, clean beauty experts share some of their predictions for what the industry has in store for 2021.
“We are in a time of so much uncertainty and people are watching how they spend their money,” notes Dr. Rose who anticipates that 2021 will bring about more products that have multiple functions, including a day cream that can also work well at night, or an evening treatment that can also has benefits of an eye cream or a facial serum.
Probiotics have long been used to support a healthy gastrointestinal tract and microbiome, however, Dr. Rose predicts that we’ll see a lot more of it in the skin care we use. “Probiotics can balance the skin’s pH and reduce inflammation on the skin’s surface which can reduce breakouts and hyperpigmentation,” she says. “Look out for probiotics in products such as creams and masks.”
With the pandemic, we’ve become more accustomed to treating our skin with exfoliants, which help slough off dead skin cells, dirt and grime so that healthier and younger skin cells can resurface. Dr. Rose believes that 2021 will be the year that more of these natural exfoliants steal the spotlight, such as ground rice, arrowroot powder and ground flaxseeds. “These ingredients help facilitate skin turn over while increasing circulation and oxygenation to the skin’s surface,” she says.
Andrea DeSimone, New York-based aesthetician who specializes in organic skin care treatments, anticipates that 2021 will be a year when, more than ever before, clients look to skin care professionals to help direct them towards their skin needs. After a year that was met with much distance between aestheticians like herself and their clientele, she can’t wait to get back to working with clients in close quarters. “Because there are so many skincare products in the market, it can be confusing to discern what is best for you and what truly constitutes as ‘clean,’” she says.
Most of us are familiar with retinol, which helps fight off everything from acne to fine lines. While it’s a great skin care ingredient, it can be quite harsh on most skin types, causing dryness and irritation. It’s also not “natural” or “clean.” “There are plant based retinol alternatives that are emerging such as bakuchiol (babchi), stevia extract and rosehip seed oil,” says Dr. Rose. “They are effective yet more gentle on the skin than retinol-based products.”
Whatever 2021 brings to us and our skin, we’re ready for it! Happy new year from theEmilie Heathe team.
