Curious about “natural” or clean beauty and ready to switch up some of your daily products? We get it. There’s a lot of interest and a lot to be gained from learning about the products you put on your body.

When it comes to selecting a single “natural” product, you may be surprised to find a variety of terms used like “green” or “non-toxic.” And while that in and of itself can be confusing (what is the difference?), there is the added layer of lack of regulation. For example, labels like natural and organic are not specifically regulated. This means that one brand could say a product is organic if 60% of their ingredients are organic while another will make the same claim at 40%.

That said, EU consumers are protected by two key regulations that hold brands responsible for claims made of cosmetic products if not the specific terms used. First by Article 20 of the EU Cosmetic Products regulation that labels or advertising "...shall not imply that these products have characteristics or function that they do not have." And, second, Regulation 655/2013, which says that all cosmetic claims have to comply with six common criteria including evidential support and honesty.

Curious about “natural” or clean beauty and ready to switch up some of your daily products? We get it. There’s a lot of interest and a lot to be gained from learning about the products you put on your body.

When it comes to selecting a single “natural” product, you may be surprised to find a variety of terms used like “green” or “non-toxic.” And while that in and of itself can be confusing (what is the difference?), there is the added layer of lack of regulation. For example, labels like natural and organic are not specifically regulated. This means that one brand could say a product is organic if 60% of their ingredients are organic while another will make the same claim at 40%.

That said, EU consumers are protected by two key regulations that hold brands responsible for claims made of cosmetic products if not the specific terms used. First by Article 20 of the EU Cosmetic Products regulation that labels or advertising "...shall not imply that these products have characteristics or function that they do not have." And, second, Regulation 655/2013, which says that all cosmetic claims have to comply with six common criteria including evidential support and honesty.

Reading packaging shouldn’t take a vocabulary lesson, but to understand what you’re buying—and how to trust but verify—we’ve come up with a list of words to know:

1. Clean: In the world according to Harpers Bazaar, a clean product should have nontoxic elements as a baseline, use plant-based ingredients, and consider human and environmental health. To sum up, clean should mean safe for people and the planet.

What clean means to Yas Alpaca: This term is our ethos. We take pride in producing clean products.

2. Cruelty-free: Animal testing is banned in the EU so products produced here are de facto cruelty-free; therefore, they are not be labeled as such. If produced outside of the EU or UK, a product should be labeled cruelty-free if it is not tested on animals during the manufacturing process or product development. If a product includes animal-derived ingredients, cruelty-free can mean that the ingredients were not taken at the expense of the animal’s welfare.

What cruelty-free means to Yas Alpaca: None of our products are tested on animals unless you include writers*. *I didn’t mind because my hair is so silky smooth (check out my experience trying shampoo bars here).

3. Green: Of all the words widely used in beauty, this one is the most misused. It should mean that the product does not harm the environment or considers environmental health. In their vocabulary lesson, Harpers Bazaar offers the example of a reef-safe sunscreen in biodegradable packaging as a “green” sunscreen. But, a lot of companies use this term to mean vegan or organic, which can be misleading.

What green means to Yas Alpaca: For us, a product wouldn’t be clean without also being green. In particular, our choice to be plastic-free and to use biodegradable packaging means that the use of our products produces minimal waste (read other reasons to feel good about shampoo bars here.)

4. Natural: The big one and another term whose definition varies widely. Typically, a product labeled "natural" should contain only ingredients found in nature (think plants) and not created synthetically. An ingredient sourced from nature, but chemically processed in some way, should be labeled naturally derived. But “natural” does not necessarily mean “good for you” as many natural botanicals can cause irritation or rashes.

What natural means to Yas Alpaca: You’ll see on our ingredients list that some of our ingredients are from plants and some are derived from plants. We care about the ingredients we put in our shampoo bars and want them to be effective and safe. We also want to be transparent; wherever possible, we make the distinction for each ingredient for you.

5. Non-toxic: A label of non-toxic should mean that at the intended dose the ingredients have not been found to cause adverse health effects. Keep in mind, however, that even water can be toxic in the wrong dose. In the EU, the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) reviews all cosmetic ingredients and declares safe usage levels.

What non-toxic means to Yas Alpaca: Every single ingredient used in a YA shampoo bar is nontoxic according to the SCCS.

6. Organic: This term is not regulated, but there are bodies that certify if a cosmetic product is “organic." The most common certifying bodies in the EU are COSMOS or NaTrue. To receive certification by COSMOS, for example, a products' ingredients must be at least 95 percent organic (water and mineral content excluded). But, certifications like this can be expensive. For that reason, many brands that may include only or mostly organic ingredients choose not to be certified. Of course, brands can also say they are organic without actually being so.

What organic means to Yas Alpaca: We don’t claim to have an organic product, though our product does have many organic ingredients (see ingredients list here).

7. Sustainable: Not unlike a green product, a sustainable one should only include ingredients and packaging not harmful to the planet.

What sustainable means to Yas Alpaca: This is another big one for us and one of the reasons to feel really good about shampoo bars (read more reasons to feel good about shampoo bars here).

8. Vegan: To be vegan, a product shouldn’t contain any animal by-products or ingredients sourced from animals. That a product is vegan, however, is not a guarantee that the product does not contain ingredients of concern. Conversely, if a product is not vegan, it does not mean it can’t be a clean, green, or cruelty-free product. A product would not be vegan, for example, if it contained beeswax or honey from bees or lanolin from sheep wool.

What vegan means to Yas Alpaca: None of the ingredients found in Yas Alpaca shampoo bars are sourced from animals.

A word on should: Because definitions are subjective and change from company to company and package to package, it is nearly impossible to determine the truth from a label. Ultimately, unless regulations are tightened, certifications by non-biased third parties (like COSMOS or NaTrue) will be the answer. In the meantime, we still recommend reading the ingredients list (a guide to reading ingredients here) and taking time to look into the brands you support with your hard-earned monies.

For a five-step guide on transitioning to a more clean beauty routine, check out Part II of this blog below.

That said, EU consumers are protected by two key regulations that hold brands responsible for claims made of cosmetic products if not the specific terms used. First by Article 20 of the EU Cosmetic Products regulation that labels or advertising "...shall not imply that these products have characteristics or function that they do not have." And, second, Regulation 655/2013, which says that all cosmetic claims have to comply with six common criteria including evidential support and honesty.

3. Green: Of all the words widely used in beauty, this one is the most misused. It should mean that the product does not harm the environment or considers environmental health. In their vocabulary lesson, Harpers Bazaar offers the example of a reef-safe sunscreen in biodegradable packaging as a “green” sunscreen. But, a lot of companies use this term to mean vegan or organic, which can be misleading.

What green means to Yas Alpaca: For us, a product wouldn’t be clean without also being green. In particular, our choice to be plastic-free and to use biodegradable packaging means that the use of our products produces minimal waste (read other reasons to feel good about shampoo bars here.)

4. Natural: The big one and another term whose definition varies widely. Typically, a product labeled "natural" should contain only ingredients found in nature (think plants) and not created synthetically. An ingredient sourced from nature, but chemically processed in some way, should be labeled naturally derived. But “natural” does not necessarily mean “good for you” as many natural botanicals can cause irritation or rashes.

What natural means to Yas Alpaca: You’ll see on our ingredients list that some of our ingredients are from plants and some are derived from plants. We care about the ingredients we put in our shampoo bars and want them to be effective and safe. We also want to be transparent; wherever possible, we make the distinction for each ingredient for you.

6. Organic: This term is not regulated, but there are bodies that certify if a cosmetic product is “organic." The most common certifying bodies in the EU are COSMOS or NaTrue. To receive certification by COSMOS, for example, a products' ingredients must be at least 95 percent organic (water and mineral content excluded). But, certifications like this can be expensive. For that reason, many brands that may include only or mostly organic ingredients choose not to be certified. Of course, brands can also say they are organic without actually being so.

What organic means to Yas Alpaca: We don’t claim to have an organic product, though our product does have many organic ingredients (see ingredients list here).

8. Vegan: To be vegan, a product shouldn’t contain any animal by-products or ingredients sourced from animals. That a product is vegan, however, is not a guarantee that the product does not contain ingredients of concern. Conversely, if a product is not vegan, it does not mean it can’t be a clean, green, or cruelty-free product. A product would not be vegan, for example, if it contained beeswax or honey from bees or lanolin from sheep wool.

What vegan means to Yas Alpaca: None of the ingredients found in Yas Alpaca shampoo bars are sourced from animals.

A word on should: Because definitions are subjective and change from company to company and package to package, it is nearly impossible to determine the truth from a label. Ultimately, unless regulations are tightened, certifications by non-biased third parties (like COSMOS or NaTrue) will be the answer. In the meantime, we still recommend reading the ingredients list (a guide to reading ingredients here) and taking time to look into the brands you support with your hard-earned monies.

For a five-step guide on transitioning to a more clean beauty routine, check out Part II of this blog below.

2. Cruelty-free: Animal testing is banned in the EU so products produced here are de facto cruelty-free; therefore, they are not be labeled as such. If produced outside of the EU or UK, a product should be labeled cruelty-free if it is not tested on animals during the manufacturing process or product development. If a product includes animal-derived ingredients, cruelty-free can mean that the ingredients were not taken at the expense of the animal’s welfare.

What cruelty-free means to Yas Alpaca: None of our products are tested on animals unless you include writers*. *I didn’t mind because my hair is so silky smooth (check out my experience trying shampoo bars here).

3. Green: Of all the words widely used in beauty, this one is the most misused. It should mean that the product does not harm the environment or considers environmental health. In their vocabulary lesson, Harpers Bazaar offers the example of a reef-safe sunscreen in biodegradable packaging as a “green” sunscreen. But, a lot of companies use this term to mean vegan or organic, which can be misleading.

What green means to Yas Alpaca: For us, a product wouldn’t be clean without also being green. In particular, our choice to be plastic-free and to use biodegradable packaging means that the use of our products produces minimal waste (read other reasons to feel good about shampoo bars here.)

4. Natural: The big one and another term whose definition varies widely. Typically, a product labeled "natural" should contain only ingredients found in nature (think plants) and not created synthetically. An ingredient sourced from nature, but chemically processed in some way, should be labeled naturally derived. But “natural” does not necessarily mean “good for you” as many natural botanicals can cause irritation or rashes.

What natural means to Yas Alpaca: You’ll see on our ingredients list that some of our ingredients are from plants and some are derived from plants. We care about the ingredients we put in our shampoo bars and want them to be effective and safe. We also want to be transparent; wherever possible, we make the distinction for each ingredient for you.

6. Organic: This term is not regulated, but there are bodies that certify if a cosmetic product is “organic." The most common certifying bodies in the EU are COSMOS or NaTrue. To receive certification by COSMOS, for example, a products' ingredients must be at least 95 percent organic (water and mineral content excluded). But, certifications like this can be expensive. For that reason, many brands that may include only or mostly organic ingredients choose not to be certified. Of course, brands can also say they are organic without actually being so.

What organic means to Yas Alpaca: We don’t claim to have an organic product, though our product does have many organic ingredients (see ingredients list here).

8. Vegan: To be vegan, a product shouldn’t contain any animal by-products or ingredients sourced from animals. That a product is vegan, however, is not a guarantee that the product does not contain ingredients of concern. Conversely, if a product is not vegan, it does not mean it can’t be a clean, green, or cruelty-free product. A product would not be vegan, for example, if it contained beeswax or honey from bees or lanolin from sheep wool.

What vegan means to Yas Alpaca: None of the ingredients found in Yas Alpaca shampoo bars are sourced from animals.

A word on should: Because definitions are subjective and change from company to company and package to package, it is nearly impossible to determine the truth from a label. Ultimately, unless regulations are tightened, certifications by non-biased third parties (like COSMOS or NaTrue) will be the answer. In the meantime, we still recommend reading the ingredients list (a guide to reading ingredients here) and taking time to look into the brands you support with your hard-earned monies.

For a five-step guide on transitioning to a more clean beauty routine, check out Part II of this blog below.

So, you want to be a clean beauty queen? We offer five easy steps to help guide your transition to a more natural routine.

1. Know the terms. This is the big one and why we start here. Most terms—like clean, organic, and cruelty-free—are not regulated. Reading packaging shouldn’t take a vocabulary lesson, but to understand what you’re buying, we’ve come up with a list of words to know (See Part I of this series to know more above).

2. Simplify. I counted the number of products I use on my body and the number astounded me. Turns out, I’m not alone. The average woman uses between nine and 16 products on her body. Not only are these nine to 16 ways to expose yourself to a variety of chemicals/toxins, but it’s also a lot of work (to apply and to know that they’re safe).

Ever since I took stock of my routine, I’ve started to replace multiple products with a single one. For example, my shampoo and conditioner bottles have been replaced with a single shampoo bar (read more about my experience switching to a shampoo bar here). This process has been a relief to my wallet and to my routine.

3. Transition slowly. Deciding to switch to natural beauty doesn’t mean you need to throw all of your products away at once. According to the Eco Hub, this will not only affect your pocketbook, but your skin in a detrimental way. Radically changing your skin routine can mean breakouts, redness, and more. They recommend slowly weaning yourself off your products by reducing the use of your favorite face wash to every other day. Or, as you run out of a product according to your normal rhythm, replace it with a clean one.

4. Read the labels. We recommend getting in the habit of reading ingredients labels top to bottom. Reading the ingredients list can help you to verify claims like “natural” and it can help you to avoid ingredients like parabens or sulfates, which many people have sensitivities towards. Learn more about “bad ingredients” here.

5. Experiment. If you made it to step 5, you deserve a pat on the back and a cookie (like a healthy cookie that has negative calories…that exists right?). Even if a product is as natural as its label says, your skin could still hate it. Le sigh. To avoid fatigue and frustration, take it one product at a time and try many small or travel-sized products to find the product that will be best for you.

In the end, we recommend being kind to yourself. If you just love a product that's not natural—I'll confess to loving and still occasionally wearing a red lipstick that has some questionable ingredients—it is ok. I don't judge myself too harshly for this (and you shouldn't either). There's a limit to both what natural products can do and a limit to how much you can put blame on certain ingredients. So, I'm following all the steps to find a "mostly clean" beauty routine. If you're ready for the whole shebang—a completely clean routine—or a single product switch, it will make a difference for you and the environment. Good luck out there, you goddesses and gods!

1. Know the terms. This is the big one and why we start here. Most terms—like clean, organic, and cruelty-free—are not regulated. Reading packaging shouldn’t take a vocabulary lesson, but to understand what you’re buying, we’ve come up with a list of words to know (See Part I of this series to know more above).

2. Simplify. I counted the number of products I use on my body and the number astounded me. Turns out, I’m not alone. The average woman uses between nine and 16 products on her body. Not only are these nine to 16 ways to expose yourself to a variety of chemicals/toxins, but it’s also a lot of work (to apply and to know that they’re safe).

Ever since I took stock of my routine, I’ve started to replace multiple products with a single one. For example, my shampoo and conditioner bottles have been replaced with a single shampoo bar (read more about my experience switching to a shampoo bar here). This process has been a relief to my wallet and to my routine.

4. Read the labels. We recommend getting in the habit of reading ingredients labels top to bottom. Reading the ingredients list can help you to verify claims like “natural” and it can help you to avoid ingredients like parabens or sulfates, which many people have sensitivities towards. Learn more about “bad ingredients” here.

5. Experiment. If you made it to step 5, you deserve a pat on the back and a cookie (like a healthy cookie that has negative calories…that exists right?). Even if a product is as natural as its label says, your skin could still hate it. Le sigh. To avoid fatigue and frustration, take it one product at a time and try many small or travel-sized products to find the product that will be best for you.

1. Know the terms. This is the big one and why we start here. Most terms—like clean, organic, and cruelty-free—are not regulated. Reading packaging shouldn’t take a vocabulary lesson, but to understand what you’re buying, we’ve come up with a list of words to know (See Part I of this series to know more above).

2. Simplify. I counted the number of products I use on my body and the number astounded me. Turns out, I’m not alone. The average woman uses between nine and 16 products on her body. Not only are these nine to 16 ways to expose yourself to a variety of chemicals/toxins, but it’s also a lot of work (to apply and to know that they’re safe).

Ever since I took stock of my routine, I’ve started to replace multiple products with a single one. For example, my shampoo and conditioner bottles have been replaced with a single shampoo bar (read more about my experience switching to a shampoo bar here). This process has been a relief to my wallet and to my routine.

4. Read the labels. We recommend getting in the habit of reading ingredients labels top to bottom. Reading the ingredients list can help you to verify claims like “natural” and it can help you to avoid ingredients like parabens or sulfates, which many people have sensitivities towards. Learn more about “bad ingredients” here.

5. Experiment. If you made it to step 5, you deserve a pat on the back and a cookie (like a healthy cookie that has negative calories…that exists right?). Even if a product is as natural as its label says, your skin could still hate it. Le sigh. To avoid fatigue and frustration, take it one product at a time and try many small or travel-sized products to find the product that will be best for you.