Why Black Women Deserve Clean Skincare: A Real Conversation About What’s in Our Products

If you’ve ever flipped over a skincare bottle and had no idea what half the ingredients meant—you’re not alone. For a lot of Black women, skincare has been a long game of trial and error. We’ve used what was available, what our moms passed down, and what marketing told us would work for “our” skin. But here’s the truth: the beauty industry hasn’t always had our best interest in mind.

More often than not, the products targeted toward Black women are filled with questionable chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and things that can quietly disrupt our health. And while the clean beauty movement is picking up steam, we’re still the ones most likely to be left out—or worse, targeted with the harshest stuff.

So let’s break this down together:

·       Why clean skincare is more than a trend for us

·       What’s actually hiding in some of those everyday products

·       And why switching to clean isn’t about being “extra”—it’s about protecting what’s yours

So What’s Really Going On?
Here’s the thing: studies show that Black women are more likely to be exposed to toxic ingredients in beauty and personal care products than any other group. A 2016 report from the Environmental Working Group found that:

"Beauty products marketed to Black women are more likely to contain potentially harmful ingredients than those marketed to the general public."

And those ingredients? They’re not just hard to pronounce. Some are straight-up harmful:

·       Parabens – linked to hormone disruption

·       Phthalates – found in synthetic fragrance, tied to fertility issues

·       Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives – yep, formaldehyde

·       Harsh dyes and alcohols – known to inflame and irritate skin, especially melanin-rich skin

This isn’t about fear. It’s about facts—and knowing that we deserve better.

What Does “Clean Skincare” Actually Mean?
Let’s keep it simple. Clean skincare means:

·       No harmful ingredients that mess with your hormones or irritate your skin

·       Ingredient lists you can actually understand

·       Formulas that nourish and protect, not strip and stress out your skin

·       Products made with sensitivity and melanin in mind

It’s not about being 100% natural or perfect. It’s about being intentional—and informed.

Why Making the Switch Makes Sense

1.     Less Toxic Buildup
Every swap you make reduces the load your body has to carry. That’s less internal stress and more peace of mind.

2.     Your Skin Deserves Gentleness
Melanin-rich skin can be prone to inflammation and hyperpigmentation. Harsh products only make that worse. Clean formulas help restore balance.

3.     Your Hormones Matter
Black women already face higher risks when it comes to hormone-related conditions like fibroids. Ditching endocrine disruptors (like parabens) is a smart, protective step.

4.     It’s About Long-Term Skin Health
Clean products feed your skin instead of forcing quick fixes. Over time, that means better texture, tone, and less reliance on cover-ups.

5.     You Get to Decide
Reading your labels, asking questions, and making the switch puts the power back in your hands. You define what beauty looks like—for you.

Sis, Before You Bounce
We’re not here to judge what’s on your shelf—we’ve all used what we had access to. But now? We have options. And every clean product you reach for is an act of self-respect.

At DeFinding Beauty, we believe beauty is defined by you—not by what’s trending, and definitely not by outdated industry standards. So if you’re ready to make the shift, start small. Start intentional. Start with products that love you back.

Sources:

·       Environmental Working Group (EWG.org)

·       Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

·       Campaign for Safe Cosmetics