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Meet the women changing the face of clean beauty

We caught up with Found Clean Beauty’s founders, Charlie McIntosh and Zoe Bulgin, to debunk the myths around clean beauty, explore its health benefits, and discover how you can make the switch without any hassle.

What does clean beauty actually mean?

Let’s be honest – the world of beauty can be a bit of a minefield, especially when it comes to terms like ‘clean’ and ‘natural.’ So, what exactly does ‘clean beauty’ mean? As Zoe explains, “It’s about using products that avoid harmful chemicals that could affect your health. For example, Endocrine disruptors such as phthalates and certain chemical UV filters. That doesn’t mean every natural ingredient is safe, or that synthetic equals toxic.”

With so many beauty products on the market, Found Clean Beauty is on a mission to make it easier for customers to make informed decisions about the products they use and ensure every product they stock has been rigorously researched and screened for over 150 potential toxins.

How it all began

Charlie’s journey into clean beauty started with a wake-up call. Diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at 45, she reevaluated everything she was putting on her skin. “I couldn’t believe the harmful ingredients lurking in my everyday products,” she recalls. “That’s when I knew I had to find safer alternatives for myself and my family.”

Teaming up with her long-time friend Zoe, they spent over two years researching the ingredients that went into beauty products before they created Found Clean Beauty – a place where you can trust that every product is genuinely clean, safe, and effective.

So, why make the switch?

Our skin is our body’s largest organ. Toxins in the products we use on the skin can, over time, accumulate in our bodies and can cause serious health problems. The good news is everyone can take simple steps to help greatly reduce their exposure to these toxins to help reduce their body’s toxic load. Choosing clean beauty products to help avoid harmful chemicals being absorbed, ingested or inhaled into your body can make a big difference over time.

Are clean beauty products as effective?

Many of the harmful ingredients in beauty products are used for things such as preservatives or emulsifiers, or hidden under the umbrella term ‘fragrance’, which can be switched out for cleaner and just as effective alternatives. This allows the products to deliver the same excellent targeted results using the same amazing active ingredients, just without the toxins.

Ready to start your clean beauty journey?

Be realistic about what you can change straight away and have fun with it. As Zoe puts it, “It’s about choosing products that not only make you look good but also feel good about what you’re putting on your skin.” Start with the products you use most often, like your daily moisturiser or lipstick. Swap them for a clean alternative and see how much better your skin feels. Just like incorporating positive changes in your diet and exercise routine, it doesn’t have to be done all at once.

Below are some of our autumn favourites to start you on your clean beauty journey:

Moisturiser

Kora Organics Tumeric Glow moisturiser, £56

This nourishing, ultra-hydrating, and refillable moisturiser visibly smooths, plumps and firms your skin, leaving behind a radiant glow. Using a powerful blend of Turmeric, Noni Fruit and nutrient-rich oils like Desert Date and Rosehip.

Kora Organics
Tumeric Glow moisturiser

Cleanser

Madara Cleansing Milk, £18.95

A complete cleansing dream. This beautiful blush-pink lightweight facial cleansing oil effectively cleanses the skin without leaving an oily residue. It removes make-up in a flash while gently nourishing the skin.

Madara
Cleansing Milk

Lipstick

MG Naturals Organic Lip Glow Lipstick – Wild Rose, £18

MG Naturals
Organic Lip Glow Lipstick – Wild Rose

Candle

Balmy Dusky Skies Scented candle, £29

The Inspired by Nature fragrance collection is all about moments of stillness and calm made with 100% soy wax and essential oils.

Balmy
Dusky Skies Scented Candle

Body Scrub

Bramley Cranberry Seed Glow Body Scrub, £38

Gently buff away rough, dead skin with key exfoliating botanicals suspended in a beautiful blend of essential vitamins, minerals and oils to reveal a peach-like softness and smoothness to your skin.