Natural skin care often gets labeled as products that just have a "little" more clean ingredients than other brands on the market.
And while that might be true in some cases, "clean" can and should go so much deeper than that.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and what you apply to it matters more than most people realize. Yes, your skin is designed to protect you, but it is not an impenetrable wall. Certain ingredients can absorb into the skin, interact with the skin barrier, or leave behind residue that your body is exposed to again and again.
And for most of us, skin care is not something we apply once in a while.
It is every single day. Sometimes twice a day. And often through multiple products layered together. That daily exposure adds up.
Commonly used skin care ingredients that are still found in a lot of personal care products today include:
Parabens - often labeled as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, or ethylparaben
Synthetic fragrance - often labeled as fragrance, parfum, natural fragrance, or sometimes not fully disclosed
Benzyl salicylate
Cyclic silicones
Surfactants such as: Alkyl benzene sulfonates (ABS), Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), Cocoyl Sarcosine, Lauryl Sarcosine, Linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, Linear alkyl sodium sulfonates, Potassium Coco Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), TEA (Triethanolamine) Laureth Sulfate, TEA (Triethanolamine) Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
And unfortunately many more
Some of these ingredients are used to preserve a formula, some are added for scent, and some help create that silky, smooth texture people associate with a "luxury" product. But the question is: at what cost to your skin's long-term health?
And summer is where this really starts to show up, because our skin is getting hit with even more exposure.
Summer usually means we are applying even more to our skin than usual. Sunscreen, aloe or "post-sun" products, body lotions, lip balms, bug sprays, shimmer oils. All the little "summer essentials" that end up living in our beach bags, bathroom counters, and car consoles—creating a daily chemical cocktail your skin has to process.
Sunscreen is one of the biggest culprits.
Oxybenzone is a chemical sunscreen filter that has been widely used for years, but it is also one of the ingredients we will never compromise on avoiding. It has been questioned for its potential hormone-disrupting activity, including the way it may interact with estrogen and thyroid-related pathways, and it is also known to absorb through the skin, with studies showing certain chemical sunscreen filters can be detected in the bloodstream after use.
We also avoid oxybenzone because once it washes off in oceans, lakes, and waterways, it harms aquatic life, including coral, which is why we choose non-nano zinc oxide instead—a choice that protects both you and the environment.
Non-nano just means the zinc particles are larger, so they are meant to sit on top of the skin rather than absorb in, creating a physical layer of mineral sun protection that actually works without the concerning side effects.
That is why we use salt+blue's BODY Sunscreen. It uses non-nano zinc oxide as the active sunscreen ingredient, so you are getting reliable everyday sun protection without chemical UV filters like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, or avobenzone.
And for our face, we use Sun Love instead. It was made with those same uncompromising ingredient standards in mind, using non-nano zinc oxide plus nourishing oils like buriti, pumpkin seed, and hemp seed oil, so it feels smooth, comfortable, and actually luxurious to use every day.
For us, clean means looking at the whole picture and never settling.
The products you use every day, the ones you reapply between beach walks and iced coffee runs, and the ones you can completely trust when your skin needs support the most.
Choosing ingredients with purpose, eliminating ingredients we refuse to compromise on, and being completely transparent about what is inside each bottle. It also means meeting a higher standard beyond our own, which is why all of our products are MADE SAFE® Certified—because third-party validation matters when it comes to your family's health.
Products made with your skin's long-term health in mind, while still thinking about the planet they eventually touch.
This is something we have believed in and stood by for almost 17 years now—no shortcuts, no exceptions.
Transparency means everything to us. So when we use the term "clean beauty," we want you to understand exactly what we mean and why it matters for your daily routine.
And right now, during our Summer Sitewide Sale Event, you can save 25% sitewide on the clean skin care and sun care you reach for all season long.
Plus, when you spend $50 or more, you will also receive a free travel size of our best-selling retinol alternative, the Activated Night Serum.
It is one of our favorite nighttime formulas for supporting the look of smoother, more renewed skin—especially after long summer days when your skin is ready for a little extra care.
Shop the Summer Sitewide Sale now and take 25% off sitewide while this event is live.
Use code ASCSUMMERHEAT at checkout.
