What Does 'Clean Beauty' Actually Mean — And Where Does Handcrafted Soap Fit?
Around 2009, during a conversation about caring for my 2 young daughters' natural hair, a cosmetology friend of mine said "if you can't pronounce it, don't put it on your skin" — excellent advice. Little did I know, at the time, how powerful that simple statement would become. In fact, by 2015, there was something gaining momentum based on that very idea and became what we know today as "Clean Beauty."
What is Clean Beauty?
First off, "clean" beauty is a marketing slogan. There is no legal definition, FDA standard or universal ingredient list. That being said, as your humble handcrafted soap artisan, it's a standard the entire H-SynEb team and I hold ourselves to every single day. So, where do handcrafted soaps fit into this popular and very opinionated conversation about clean beauty? Where did this notion even come from?
The clean beauty movement actually started because consumers (you and I) were becoming more and more concerned about the increasing amounts of synthetic ingredients in our food and personal care items. You know:
- 🔹 Parabens — preservatives that keep products shelf-stable for months, sometimes years (they don't just sit on our skin's surface — they are actually absorbed)
- 🔹 Surfactants — detergent-like agents that remove oil and dirt (and sometimes our skin's natural moisture along with it)
- 🔹 Phthalates — plastic-softening compounds that sneak into fragrances and packaging (and nobody fully understands their long-term effect, but they are in a lot of our products)
- 🔹 …and much more
Then there was the pandemic, so by 2023, everybody is reading labels and asking harder questions. Not just "what's NOT in this?" but "what IS in this," "where did it come from" and "how was it made?"
On the topic of ingredients, some of the most popular include beef tallow, cherry blossom and plum blossom. Why?
Beef Tallow
Before the mid-19th century, beef tallow was a household staple, right up there with milk and eggs. Not only did we cook with it, we put it on our skin. Of course, we didn't know all the sciency stuff at that time. But we understood that it protected our skin, our skin didn't feel as dry after washing, and it didn't leave a greasy residue. So what happened? We discovered petroleum — and that became the industry standard for the 20th century.
Some of the benefits of beef tallow:
- 🔹 Closely mirrors human sebum, our skin's own natural oil
- 🔹 Supports the natural skin barrier to keep beneficial elements in and harmful ones out
- 🔹 Promotes moisture retention
- 🔹 Minimally processed and anhydrous (no water) formulations require no synthetic preservatives
- 🔹 …and much more
Gentle Power of Cherry and Plum Blossom
Among the most celebrated botanicals in clean beauty right now, cherry and plum blossom have long been used in Japanese and Korean skincare traditions for their elegance, antioxidant and soothing benefits. At H-SynEb, you'll find both as additives in our clay collection and available as a special request in our other products.
Some of the benefits of cherry and plum blossoms:
- 🔹 Inflammation reduction (calm, comfortable skin starts with less irritation)
- 🔹 Brightness and clarity support (a more even, luminous complexion over time)
- 🔹 Gentle hydration (moisture that supports without overwhelming)
- 🔹 Calming reactive or stressed skin (especially valuable for sensitive skin)
- 🔹 …and much more
These ancestral ingredients work together to provide a beautiful counterbalance — light, calming, and naturally compatible with other traditional ingredients. They create a harmony of nourishment and refinement: the grounding of tradition with the softness of luxury.
Where Do Handcrafted Soap Artisans Fit?
Now, here we all are in 2026 and we are all about transparency, provenance and intentionality. We know our ingredients, understand why they are there and look for people we can trust to use them responsibly to make our products.
And handcrafted soap artisans? We are thrilled that consumers have become educated and involved in this process. We enjoy discussing and recommending ingredients, as well as sharing their sources and benefits from use. We also cherish the trust that consumers place in our formulas for use with their families. Finally, we are proud to see the impact of all our hard work on the personal care industry as a whole. Because of this consumer-driven, clean beauty movement, many of the mass producers have been compelled to update some of their formulas.
Now What?
Ready to experience clean beauty for yourself? Browse the full Handcrafted Soaps by SynEb line — bars, body wash, body butters, lotion and balms, and beard and shaving essentials.
[See New Floral Handcrafted Bars]
Have questions about our ingredients or formulations? Learn more on our [About Us] and [FAQs] pages or [Contact Us 📩]
Melinda Ebron Davis is the founder and formulator behind Handcrafted Soaps by SynEb, a small-batch skincare brand based in the United States. Every product is handcrafted with intentional ingredients and a commitment to transparency.