EWG Verified™: What It Means—and What It Doesn’t

Transparency in Clean Beauty Certification The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has long positioned itself as a consumer advocacy group dedicated to reducing toxic exposure from household and personal care products. Its EWG Verified™ mark appears on cosmetics, skin care, and even cleaning products, and is often interpreted by consumers as a gold standard of clean …

Clean-Adjacent Complexion Products: A Closer Look at What’s Inside

In this editorial, we’re unpacking three complexion products that fall into the “clean-adjacent” category. They’re marketed as better-for-you options, but how do they stack up when it comes to actual ingredient transparency? We’re comparing: These are formulas many have used and even loved, but for anyone trying to steer clear of PEGs, phenoxyethanol, and silicone, …

W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Lengthening Mascara – Clean, vegan mascara enriched with jojoba oil and rice bran, featured as an Ingredient-Led Pick

Review: Well People Expressionist Lengthening Mascara

$20 | Vegan | Clean Formula | Dermatologist-developedAvailable at Well People and Amazon (affiliate)Made in Germany Well People’s Expressionist Lengthening Mascara is everything a clean mascara should be—gentle, effective, and refreshingly transparent. The wand is sponge-like and easy to maneuver, coating lashes evenly without clumps. It noticeably lengthens lashes, creating a natural-but-defined look that wears …

Clean Claims, Messy Realities

Clean beauty has always been about more than just what’s in the jar. It’s about transparency. A belief that consumers have a right to know what they’re putting on their skin—and, increasingly, what they’re supporting with their wallet. But what if the money behind the clean beauty movement isn’t so clean? Consider Thirteen Lune, a …

The Most Gentle Eye Makeup Removers (And Whether Coconut Oil Belongs on the List)

If you’ve worn eye makeup for decades, you probably already know: what works at 25 might backfire at 45. The skin around the eyes is not only thinner and more delicate—it also remembers. Years of eyeliner, waterproof mascara, and daily remover routines can lead to long-term sensitivity, dryness, or even tiny clogged pores (aka milia). …

The Cleanest Drugstore Mascara You Can’t Find Anymore

Rimmel Kind & Free Was a Rare Gem—Here’s Why That Matters Mascara: it’s the one product many of us wear even when we’re “not wearing makeup.” It’s also the first to smudge, flake, or migrate straight into our tear ducts—so you’d think that of all things, mascara would be among the first to go clean. …

Is Heimish Dailism a Clean Mascara? I Tested It.

Smudge-proof, vegan, and surprisingly affordable, the Heimish Dailism Smudge Stop Mascara has built a following among K-beauty fans and after testing it myself, I can see why. I chose the ‘curling’ mascara, which isn’t particularly thickening or volumizing, however Heimish has a ‘volume’ mascara as well. It applies smoothly, defines lashes naturally without clumps, and …

Why Online Shade Matching Still Feels Like a Gamble

Artificial intelligence may be trying to match your undertone with a few clicks and a smartphone selfie, but until it’s perfected, there’s still no substitute for a good old-fashioned swatch comparison. Take the image below: each of these formulas is labeled as a “light neutral” tint. And yet, the differences are obvious—one leans peach, another …

Titanium Dioxide in Lip Products: What the Science (and Silence) Says

In 2022, the EU banned titanium dioxide as a food additive due to concerns over nano-sized particles that may accumulate in the body and potentially damage DNA over time. While this doesn’t apply to cosmetics, it raises questions for lip products, which can be incidentally ingested. The move reflects a precautionary approach, not proven toxicity, …

The COVERGIRL Cleantopia Waterproof Mascara Looked Too Good to Be True — Was It?

⁠Fragrance-free. Vegan. Waterproof. Leaping Bunny Certified by Cruelty-free International. $10.50. The COVERGIRL Lash Blast Cleantopia Waterproof Mascara checks a lot of boxes, and with a softly tapered brush that builds fluffy volume, it looked like a clean beauty unicorn. Even better? The ingredient list on COVERGIRL’s official Amazon storefront didn’t mention polyethylene, a commonly used …

Biossance Pro-Peptide™ Lip Perfector Review

Vegan, Clean, and Long-Lasting It’s rare to find a lip balm that feels as good as it performs—especially one that lives up to a 24-hour moisture claim. But Biossance’s Pro-Peptide™ Lip Perfector delivers. At $18 for 15 g (.53 oz), this vegan balm pairs science-forward ingredients with skin-first results. Key Ingredient: Sugarcane-Derived Squalane At the …

California Naturals: The Feel-Good Formula of Affordable Luxury

In a crowded beauty landscape, California Naturals stands out not just for what’s inside the bottle—but what it stands for. Founded by Shelby Wild, a passionate clean beauty innovator, and joined by the ever-charming Owen Wilson as its “Chief Shampoo Officer,” this California-born brand makes a compelling case for everyday essentials that don’t compromise on …