I’m often questioned on my stance on "clean beauty" and whether or not Graydon Skincare is a “clean beauty” brand. Usually, I try to stray away from giving a direct answer because, truthfully, this topic is quite controversial.

Let me explain...

To begin, there’s no official regulation or set definition for "clean beauty". So essentially, any brand can create their own definition of the term and run with it.  

To some, "clean beauty" means formulating products with naturally-derived ingredients. To others, it means caring about the environment and being as sustainable as possible in all stages of production. Or it could mean creating products without the use of controversial (err... dirty) ingredients.

Is Graydon Skincare a Clean Beauty Brand?

At Graydon Skincare, we prioritize formulating with naturally derived superfood ingredients that are proven by science to improve the health and longevity of your skin. We believe that some of the best multi-beneficial and gentle skincare ingredients come from the earth and we distill their powerful benefits into all of our products.

We are not 100% natural because we recognize the decades of scientific research behind some lab-derived skincare ingredients like glycerin or niacinamide, but we strive to make our superfood ingredients the stars of each formula.

We believe that some of the best multi-beneficial and gentle skincare ingredients come from the earth.

Beyond the actual skincare itself, we place a great deal of emphasis on sustainability and transparency. From improving our packaging design to be more eco-friendly, sourcing upcycled ingredients to reduce waste from the food industry, keeping our supply chain as short as possible, partnering with pact to rescue hard-to-recycle beauty empties out of landfills, using biotechnology to fill sustainability gaps, and planting trees with every order, we make decisions at every level of the business to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our sustainability efforts.

We also consider “clean” to mean free from animal cruelty. Most modern brands set this expectation for themselves as well, and we’re proud to say we are Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free.

So by these self-set standards, we are definitely a clean beauty brand.

Busting "Clean Beauty" Myths

The thing is, sometimes a few bad apples can really spoil the bunch. So while we’re satisfied by the bar we’ve set for ourselves with our definition of “clean”, not all brands hold themselves to a similar standard—and in some instances, "clean beauty" is synonymous with misinformation and pseudoscience. Or at least, that’s the perception of it.

So let’s take a moment to unpack some of the clean beauty myths you might not realize aren’t true.

You may have heard things like…

“Use chemical-free products only since chemicals are bad.”

Everything is actually a chemical. Water is made up of chemicals. So is the air. And so is everything else around us. Chemicals are not inherently good or bad. It’s a matter of how they are used.

“That ingredient is toxic. You should never use it.”

This is a terribly overgeneralized statement. According to the study of toxicology, anything can be toxic depending on the circumstances. A glass or two of wine over dinner sounds reasonable. Healthy, even. But several glasses within an hour? A bottle a day? Not so much.

“Synthetic ingredients are bad for you. Use natural ingredients instead.”

Also not true because it totally depends on how the ingredients are formulated within a product. Poison ivy is natural, but we don’t use it on our skin.

Plus, there’s now an in-between when it comes to ingredients thanks to advancements in biotechnology, where ingredients are created through natural processes but within a controlled lab environment. And frankly, these types of ingredients—like torula oil—are pretty exciting.

But like these myths above, you can find a plethora of other sensationalized statements.

So you see, sometimes the term "clean beauty" comes with fear-mongering and pseudoscience that’s pushed by people who want to sell you things.

Just to be crystal clear, that’s not what I believe in and it’s definitely not what Graydon Skincare is all about. You won’t find us using fear-mongering as a sales tactic. At Graydon Skincare, we hope to empower, not hinder you.

At Graydon Skincare, we hope to empower, not hinder you.

And that puts us at a catch 22.

Due to our stance on sustainability and our preference for naturally derived ingredients, we are a clean beauty company. But we do not align ourselves with the tactics that some people associate "clean beauty" with these days. So are we not "clean beauty"? And if we are not "clean" beauty, what are we then? 

There’s really no good answer here. 

However, I’ve given this some serious thought for a very long time. And I think I may have arrived at an answer that best portrays us and our values.

Our “Clean” Values

We’re a proudly Canadian, Toronto-based skincare brand with a small team committed to running every aspect of our business with sustainability in mind. We believe in transparency and constant improvement—we should always strive to be better.

We’re also committed to science-backed formulas and creating products that are clinically proven for sensitive skin. We have an unwavering emphasis on efficacy. All this is possible because of the naturally derived ingredients we use, not despite them. The earth offers so many skin-loving ingredients to use, and it’s both a passion of mine and a pillar of this brand to select and formulate with the best nature has to offer.

We have an unwavering emphasis on gentle efficacy using plant-based ingredients. 

And above all, we are committed to empowering you with skincare education, an age-positive ethos, and products that help you age better, give you good skin days, and make you feel incredible.

Building Transparency and Education into our Brand

One way we aim to share all we can about our products, the ingredients we use, and routines and advice that can help you perfect your skin’s self-care routine is through our Mindful Beauty Magazine. 

There, we share evidence-based, expert advice on how to best take care of your skin, so that you can tackle the world with confidence.

You’ll find:

• Answers to your most frequently asked skincare questions like this article
• Deep dives into plant-based ingredients like this article
• Skincare tips and tricks backed by science like this article
• Ways to navigate the hormonal changes that affect your skin like this article

It’s my hope that in the future we won’t even need imprecise labels like “clean beauty” anymore—instead, I dream of a beauty industry where an emphasis on sustainability, education, and gentle, effective ingredients is the norm for everyone.