Clean & Green Skincare: An Exploration and Guide to Clinical Integration

It’s hard to escape the ever-growing popularity of ‘clean’ formulated cosmetic and personal care products emerging within the skincare market today. Initially, product labels brandished the various ingredients omitted from their formulation, alongside their inclusion of natural and organic contents. More recently, focus has shifted to also showcase not only what the topical product is ‘free from’, but to additionally highlight the brand’s incorporation of environmentally conscious practices, from recyclable packaging through to sustainably sourced ingredients. As health consciousness and environmental practices continue to move to the forefront of our society’s collective goals, so too will this realm of clean and green skincare products.

This course is designed to provide Naturopathic Doctors and Healthcare providers with an in-depth look into the world of clean skincare. 

Key elements reviewed will include:

• An understanding of the current regulatory statuses in North America and the European Union
• The elements which drive demand for clean products
• An examination of the primary ingredient classes common to most skincare products
• A detailed, balanced, and evidence-based review of the common and current cosmetic ‘ingredients of concern’ often limited or avoided in clean skincare formulations. This will include parabens, phthalates, sulphates, fragrances, benzophenone UV filters, per- & polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), among many others
• The green market: Showcasing how clean and green cosmetic products are being formulated and manufactured; the integration and development of green ingredient alternatives; the benefits and potential challenges inherent to this; and how these tie in with sustainability efforts to support environmental and social benefits
• Various resources to integrate into one’s clinical practice to help direct those patients looking to incorporate cleaner skincare and living habits  

Who might this course intrigue the most? 

Quite simply, any healthcare provider looking to:

• Enhance their awareness of how skincare products are typically formulated, the common concerns surrounding traditional skincare formulas, and evaluating such concerns through evidence-based research
• Appreciate what role more ‘cleanly’ formulated skincare products may play in terms of health and environmental sustainability
• Better answer their patients’ questions surrounding both traditional and clean formulated skincare products 
• Integrate clinical resources to more easily identify clean formulated cosmetic & personal care products