When we think of "clean" beauty , the reassurance offered by a label guaranteeing clean cosmetics is obvious. However, in the absence of an official definition, no clean beauty label exists! It is then quite smart to turn to associations that offer the guarantees of beauty free of pollutants, ethical and much more, as proposed by organic labels and that of Slow Cosmétique® . Let's look in more detail at this mode of consumption of Clean Beauty.
What is the Slow Cosmétique® association?
Slow Cosmétique® is an ecological and ethical approach, based on a common desire to promote a natural, healthy and reasonable way of consuming cosmetics. A way of consuming beauty differently. It is an activist and international association, founded in 2012 by Julien Kaibeck. 250 brands currently carry the Slow Cosmétique label, including 216 in France.
The uniqueness of the Slow Cosmetics Mention
It is the only cosmetic label that focuses on both the formulas and the business model of a brand (including claims, manufacturing and capital structure). This label examines brands as a whole, based on more than 60 criteria induced by the Slow Cosmétique® Charter. In addition to their clean formulas, these brands practice “intelligent” and “reasonable” cosmetics.
How does the Slow Cosmétique® label guarantee clean beauty?
The Slow Cosmétique® label charter is designed around four pillars ( ecological , intelligent, healthy and reasonable cosmetics), two of which are very close to organic labels. As a priority: no toxic or polluting ingredients are tolerated. If there is any doubt about toxicity to humans or the environment, Slow Cosmétique® applies the precautionary principle by avoiding these ingredients.
From a health and ecological point of view, the guarantees between organic labels and the Slow Cosmétique label are generally the same (except for SCI surfactants – sodium cocoyl isethionate – not accepted in organic and tolerated by the Slow Cosmétique® Charter exceptionally for the formulation of solid cosmetics), because they contribute to raising public awareness of the zero waste approach in cosmetics. If they were found to be pollutants once rinsed, they would be banned.
Photo: Slow Cosmetics
Ecological cosmetics
This first pillar of the Slow Cosmétique® Charter indicates that the selected brands must formulate in an environmentally friendly manner . No more inert, inactive or unnecessarily processed ingredients: they must be natural and organic, with the least possible transformation in the formulas. Of course, ingredients from synthetic chemistry, petrochemicals, animal exploitation, as well as any ingredient that potentially pollutes the environment are excluded (while organic labels authorize 5% of ingredients from petrochemicals).
Clean too, because short circuits
Reinforced by the Covid effect, it is proven that consumers want more local, human, short circuits, ethics, in a word, meaning! This is good for Slow Cosmétique® which has already been advocating all this for nine years. To be labeled, cosmetic brands must strive to minimize their ecological impact in all spheres of their design and use. Short cycles, local exchanges and zero waste must be favored. These are also categories that decryption applications do not read (yet) because they do not consider the product and the brand in their entirety: Who manufactures? (Which subcontractor?) How? What is the origin of the raw materials? What is the quality-price ratio? etc.
Clean and reasonable cosmetics
This notion is the great forgotten of clean labels and guarantees. And for good reason, it calls into question the existing and dominant marketing model too much. Only the Slow Cosmétique® Charter mentions it: cosmetics must not make false promises! "Cosmetics must not create new needs for the skin. Limiting the number of products and actions necessary to maintain good skin health is essential to avoid marketing pitfalls". Slow Cosmétique® prohibits greenwashing, manipulation, and any form of retouching or concealment aimed at misleading consumers... "A company that highlights plant extracts in its advertising but which formulates conventionally is not slow". Hence the fact that we find many artisanal brands in this label, which do authentic work with heart. They promote ancestral and traditional know-how while respecting ethics, which is completely sought after by today's consumers. And what is less seen: in its development, Slow Cosmétique® ensures the improvement of the standard of living of all the actors in the production chain. As in fair trade: it is sold and bought at a fair price, which reflects the real quality of its formulation or its service.
In summary, Slow Cosmétique® is a clean cosmetic that also invites you to consume less but better, while encouraging you to come into direct contact with nature, without seeking to recreate it artificially. It provides valuable guarantees on the human, artisanal and reasonable approach of the brand (fair quality-price ratio, family control, short circuit, action towards zero waste , etc.).
To go further:
- Slow-cosmetique.org
- Natural well-being by Julien Kaibeck sold by Slow-Cosmetique.com
