Search for “chemical-free beauty” and you'll find plenty of skincare, haircare and makeup promising a cleaner approach. But there's a small problem with the phrase: technically, nothing is chemical-free. Water is a chemical. So are vitamin C, rosehip oil and every naturally occurring compound inside an aloe vera leaf.
That doesn't make the idea behind chemical-free beauty meaningless. Most people aren't trying to avoid chemistry itself. They're looking for products made predominantly with natural and organic ingredients while avoiding particular synthetic ingredients they would rather not use.
That's a much more useful conversation – and it's where natural and clean beauty really starts to make sense.
What's Inside
Is there really such a thing as chemical-free beauty?
Not in the literal scientific sense. Every cosmetic ingredient, whether it comes from a laboratory or a lavender field, is made from chemicals.
But in everyday beauty language, “chemical-free” is usually shorthand for something rather more useful: products formulated with naturally derived ingredients while avoiding particular synthetic ingredients.
So rather than getting too hung up on the terminology, it's more useful to look at what's actually inside the product and the standards used to formulate or select it. That's the thinking behind the MyPure Purity Promise.
First, what actually is a chemical?
The word “chemical” has developed a slightly unfortunate reputation in beauty. It's often used to mean something artificial, synthetic or potentially undesirable.
In chemistry, however, the meaning is much broader. The ingredients we think of as beautifully natural are themselves made from chemicals.
H₂O – Water
Perhaps the most familiar natural substance of all – and a chemical compound made from hydrogen and oxygen.
Rosehip oil
A natural plant oil containing a complex mixture of fatty acids, tocopherols, carotenoids, sterols and other naturally occurring chemical compounds.
Shea butter
A natural plant butter containing triglycerides, fatty acids and other naturally occurring constituents.
Lavender oil
An essential oil containing naturally occurring compounds including linalool and linalyl acetate.
So a moisturiser made entirely from naturally derived ingredients still contains chemicals. In fact, a single botanical ingredient can contain many different naturally occurring chemical compounds.
Plants are chemically complex
This is part of what makes natural beauty interesting. A plant oil isn't necessarily a single isolated substance. It can contain a complex mixture of fatty acids and naturally occurring minor components such as tocopherols, sterols, carotenoids and polyphenols.
Natural beauty isn't about escaping chemistry. It's about making intelligent use of the chemistry found in nature.
So what do people mean by “chemical-free beauty”?
Usually, something much more straightforward than the literal words suggest.
If you're searching for chemical-free skincare, you're probably looking for products formulated around natural or naturally derived ingredients and wanting to avoid particular synthetic ingredients.
You might also be looking for certified natural or organic products, cruelty-free beauty, simpler ingredient lists or brands that take a more considered approach to formulation.
Those are all perfectly reasonable things to look for. “Chemical-free” has simply become a convenient piece of shorthand for a much broader set of preferences.
If you'd rather have a clear standard than rely on a broad marketing phrase, our Purity Promise explains the approach MyPure takes to selecting the products we sell.
Natural vs synthetic: what's the difference?
| Natural ingredients | Synthetic ingredients | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Obtained from natural sources such as plants, minerals or other naturally occurring materials | Manufactured or substantially created through chemical processes |
| Examples | Plant oils, botanical extracts, clays, butters and mineral pigments | A very broad group covering many different laboratory-produced cosmetic ingredients |
| Composition | Can contain complex mixtures of naturally occurring compounds | May be individual defined substances or formulated mixtures |
| Safety | Depends on the individual ingredient, concentration and formulation | Depends on the individual ingredient, concentration and formulation |
At MyPure, we've specialised in natural and organic beauty since 2004 because we think well-formulated natural products have a great deal to offer. Our Purity Promise also sets out the principles behind the products we choose to sell.
Why choose natural beauty?
Natural beauty isn't only about what a formulation leaves out. For us, what's included matters just as much.
Plant oils, butters and botanical extracts can provide complex combinations of fatty acids, antioxidants and other naturally occurring compounds. Good natural formulation is about selecting those ingredients intelligently and combining them in ways that make sense for your skin or hair.
Plant oils
Oils such as jojoba, rosehip and argan can provide useful emollience while contributing naturally occurring fatty acids and other plant constituents.
Plant butters
Ingredients such as shea and cocoa butter can help soften skin and reduce moisture loss, making them particularly useful in richer formulations.
Botanical extracts
Plants contain a huge variety of naturally occurring compounds, allowing formulators to select botanical extracts for different cosmetic functions.
Minerals
Naturally occurring minerals have useful roles across beauty, from mineral pigments in makeup to zinc oxide in mineral sun protection.
That's the more positive case for natural beauty. It isn't simply a list of ingredients you don't want. It's about what carefully chosen natural ingredients can contribute to a well-made formulation.
Does natural automatically mean safe?
No. Safety isn't determined by whether an ingredient is natural or synthetic.
Essential oils, for example, are natural but contain potent aromatic compounds that some sensitive skins may not tolerate. Allergies can occur with natural ingredients too.
Safety depends on the ingredient, its concentration, how it's formulated, how the product is used and the individual using it.
Look beyond “chemical-free”
Instead of simply asking whether a product contains chemicals, ask: What ingredients does it contain, why are they there and is this the sort of formulation I want to use?
That's a much more useful way to assess a beauty product – and why clear ingredient standards such as the MyPure Purity Promise can help.
What should you look for instead of “chemical-free”?
If you're trying to make more considered beauty choices, the ingredient list and the standards behind the product are far more useful than a broad marketing phrase.
That's also the thinking behind the MyPure Purity Promise: rather than relying on a single label, we look at the ingredients and formulation standards behind the products we choose to sell.
1. Look at the whole formulation
Consider the overall formula and whether it's appropriate for your skin, hair and what you want the product to do.
2. Check natural and organic credentials
If natural or organic formulation matters to you, look at the brand's standards and any recognised certification rather than relying solely on front-of-pack wording.
3. Decide what you personally want to avoid
Rather than trying to avoid the enormous category of “chemicals”, be specific about ingredients or ingredient groups that don't fit your preferences.
4. Consider your own skin
A beautifully formulated natural product still needs to suit you. If your skin is particularly sensitive, for example, fragrance and essential oils may matter more than whether an ingredient is natural or synthetic.
5. Look for clear ingredient standards
Transparency makes it easier to understand what you're buying and why particular ingredients have been selected. Our Purity Promise explains the standards MyPure uses when curating natural and organic beauty.
The MyPure Purity Promise
MyPure has specialised in natural and organic beauty since 2004. Our approach isn't based on pretending that natural products somehow exist outside chemistry.
Instead, the MyPure Purity Promise is about making considered choices about the products we sell and giving you a clearer idea of the standards behind our range.
That means looking beyond broad terms such as “chemical-free” and paying attention to ingredients, formulation and the standards of the brands we stock.
Just as importantly, our Purity Promise isn't only about what's left out. We think natural beauty should stand on what it does contain.
Plant oils, botanical extracts, natural butters, mineral ingredients and other naturally derived materials give formulators an enormous palette to work with. The best natural beauty products use that palette intelligently to create skincare, haircare and makeup that performs beautifully.
Our Purity Promise
We've been specialising in natural and organic beauty since 2004. Our Purity Promise explains the principles behind the products we choose for MyPure.
For us, the attraction of natural beauty is simple: thoughtfully selected natural and organic ingredients, good formulation and clear standards about what makes it onto MyPure.
Discover the MyPure Purity Promise
Find out more about the ingredient standards and principles behind the natural and organic beauty products we choose to sell.
Read Our Purity PromiseChemical-Free Beauty FAQs
Is chemical-free skincare possible?
Not literally. All skincare ingredients are made from chemicals, including completely natural ingredients such as water, aloe vera and plant oils. In everyday beauty language, “chemical-free” usually refers to products that favour natural ingredients and avoid particular synthetic ingredients.
Are natural ingredients chemicals?
Yes. A natural ingredient can contain many naturally occurring chemical compounds. Rosehip oil, for example, contains fatty acids alongside a variety of naturally occurring minor constituents.
Is water a chemical?
Yes. Water is the chemical compound H₂O, made from hydrogen and oxygen. Calling something a chemical therefore tells you very little about whether it's natural, synthetic, beneficial or undesirable.
Is natural skincare better than synthetic skincare?
There isn't a simple rule that makes every natural ingredient better than every synthetic one. At MyPure, we choose to specialise in natural and organic beauty because well-formulated plant oils, butters, botanical extracts and other naturally derived ingredients can offer an impressive range of cosmetic properties. The quality of the finished formulation still matters.
Does natural mean non-toxic?
No. Whether an ingredient is appropriate depends on the substance, concentration, formulation and how it's used. Natural ingredients can also cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people.
What does clean beauty mean?
There isn't one universally agreed definition of clean beauty. Different brands and retailers set their own standards, which is why it's useful to look beyond the phrase itself and understand the ingredient and formulation standards being applied.
What is the MyPure Purity Promise?
The MyPure Purity Promise explains the principles and ingredient standards behind the natural and organic beauty products we choose to sell. It gives you a clearer way to understand our approach than relying on broad terms such as “chemical-free”.
How can I choose cleaner beauty products?
Look at the full ingredient list, consider whether natural or organic certification matters to you, identify any particular ingredients you prefer to avoid and choose brands or retailers that clearly explain their formulation standards. You can also read our Purity Promise to understand the standards behind products selected for MyPure.
The bottom line
Strictly speaking, there's no such thing as chemical-free beauty. Everything from water to rosehip oil is made from chemicals.
But that doesn't make the search for more natural beauty meaningless. It simply means we need better language for what we're actually looking for.
You can choose products made predominantly with natural and organic ingredients. You can avoid particular synthetic ingredients. You can look for transparent formulations, recognised certifications and clear ingredient standards such as the MyPure Purity Promise.
And you can choose natural beauty because of what's included, not simply because of what's left out.
For us, that's the real attraction of natural beauty: not trying to escape chemistry, but making intelligent use of what nature can contribute to a formulation.
Please note: This article provides general beauty and skincare information rather than medical advice. Natural ingredients can cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people. Always follow individual product instructions and check ingredient lists if you have known sensitivities or allergies.