Clean beauty to us means skincare and cosmetic products that contain sustainably-sourced, safe ingredients that are natural, organic, and non-toxic. We believe that harmful chemicals should not be in the products we put on our skin.  

But it doesn’t just mean natural and organic, clean also means ethically sourced. When a product is ethically sourced, it means that in the process of manufacturing, the item is obtained with responsibility, in strict ethical and sustainable ways. When you buy ethically-sourced products, you can sleep easy knowing that they have little or no significant negative impact on society, humans, and the environment. The well-being of the workers that created the product is as important to us as our own well-being, and when we track down ethically-sourced beauty offerings from around the globe, we can hand on heart say that we are delivering you only the best, and the cleanest.

The driving force behind Clean Beauty Collective is the inspiring Fleur Insley, who made the move from corporate life with a global beauty giant to creating a little clean empire all her own. Of her own journey to clean – including ethically sourced – she says: “to be really honest, working for a well-known global cosmetic company, I never really thought about what went into the products we promoted. I had trust in the thousands of scientists and formulators that the company employed that they would be doing the right thing.” Like many well-meaning beauty lovers, she wasn’t so much turning a blind eye, “I guess it was more of a case that I didn’t ask enough questions. And on reflection, this is an all too common situation for many of us as consumers. We have trust in the brands and the companies that we are dealing with, so we don’t ask enough questions.” 

It’s for this very reason that one of the core values for Clean Beauty Collective is transparency. “I feel very passionate about ensuring that consumers know more, ask more, and are given transparency about the products that they buy,” says Fleur, “and that includes what they are made of and where they come from.”  

How can you tell if products are ethically sourced?

A simple way you can tell if a product is ethically sourced is by looking at a brand or company’s message behind their products, their philosophy, values, and what their business is about.

If you are looking for further assurance if their products are truly ethically sourced, check for the mark of organisations like Fairtrade International, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for clothing, Vegan Action, Forest For All Forever, Cruelty-Free Forever and other labels that prove that their products have been validated as ethically sourced. However, it’s important to remember that these certifications can cost a lot to be audited for and achieve, so it can be harder for small businesses to get a foot in the door.

Another way to ensure that products are ethically sourced is to look at their supply chain and evaluate their sourcing methods. Companies with transparent backgrounds when it comes to how and where their products are supplied can allow us to see if the company is sourcing their products ethically. 

Or, you can take all of the hard work out of the equation and shop with people like us, who have done all of the research for you!