Target, a favorite megaretailer of the Shopping Reader, launched Target Clean in 2019, focusing on household necessities and baby goods, and expanding into beauty products months later. Fast forward two years and Target now sells more than 4,000 products with the green and white hexagonal Target Clean seal that helps retailers distinguish products that meet Target’s definition of neatness.
SLEEP IN ADVANCE Best clean beauty products at Target
Purposeful: Ingredients You Will Avoid
What does Target Clean mean? The definition of the retailer varies according to product categories, such as cleaning products and pet food. However, it’s just about the ingredients listed and whether it excludes components that Target wants to avoid. Here’s a quick look at the various category specific ingredients that Target Clean items should avoid:
Purpose clean in beauty products
Beauty products, ranging from skin care and hair care to makeup, plus personal care items for baby, such as diaper rash cream and wipes, should contain 14 ingredients.
- Propyl paraben and Butylparaben are parabens (preservatives) and endocrine (hormone) disruptors, according to the ingredient database of the National Organization for Environmental Work (EEC). The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that endocrine disruptors are generally linked to problems with immune, reproductive and developmental health.
- Phthalate is usually found in synthetic fragrances and can disrupt your hormones according to the EEC.
- Beauty-wise, formaldehyde commonly found in keratin and Brazilian Blowouts, two hair treatments that use heat to straighten your hair. According to the National Cancer Institute, it can cause watery eyes, cough, skin irritation, wheezing and burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat.
- Formalities donors according to Unilever, the manufacturer of Dove and Ax, are preservatives that help prolong the expiration date of a product.
- Non-phenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are detergents such as substances that can negatively affect marine life, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Oxybenzone is a chemical sunscreen that can damage coral and get into your bloodstream, although the adverse effects are not completely known, NBC News reported earlier in 2019.
- Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are cleansers that can cause skin irritation.
- Retinyl palmitate is a skin conditioner of vitamin A and palmitic acid that can cause skin irritation.
- Hydroquinone is a skin lightening agent that helps reduce dark spots. However, it can cause dryness and irritation. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, prolonged use can cause your skin to turn black and blue.
- Triclosan (TCS) is typically found in antibacterial products, although the FDA decided in 2017 to remove triclosan from antibacterial soaps. It is still found in mouthwashes and toothpaste, according to the EPA. According to the FDA, there is no significant evidence of adverse effects on humans in the long run.
- Triclocarban is another antibacterial agent that can be found in soap, according to the EPA. Science Direct, an online database of medical research, has noted that triclocarbons can cope with testosterone levels and cause PCOS, a hormonal imbalance in women, which includes side effects that include irregular menstrual cycles, hair loss, breakouts, weight gain and fertility issues.
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a synthetic antioxidant commonly found in skin care and color cosmetics, according to a study in the National Library of Medicine. It can cause skin reactions and possibly interact with your hormones.
- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is an antioxidant and preservative found in skin care products and foods, according to the EEC. The organization added that BHT can cause moderate irritation and disrupt hormones.
Target Clean in other products
Cleaning products such as hand soap, detergent and dish soap should be free of almost the same ingredients as listed above for beauty products, with the exception of retinyl palmitate and propyl paraben. Deodorant must be aluminum-free, while oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, it should be free of artificial sweeteners. Diapers must be chlorine and odor free, just as approved by Target Clean female care products. The first ingredient in clean pet food for dogs and cats must be meat, seafood or poultry, and may not contain artificial flavors, dyes and preservatives.
The best beauty products on Target 2021
Store readers have focused their attention on beauty and wellness items, such as under masks, pimple stickers, sunscreen for children and the best hair supplies such as dry scalp shampoo. To help you sort through the abundance of beauty products from Clean Target, we put together a quick list of seven top sellers, ranging from skin care and hairstyle products to an eye shadow palette of ten pieces that work day and night.
1. Milani Make It Last Prime + Correct + Set Makeup Setting Spray
“It’s about thin, thoughtful layers of skin care and makeup, so there is less maintenance during the day,” Lisa Aharon, a celebrity makeup artist, previously advised us to wear long-lasting makeup while wearing a face mask. Aharon recommended missing a scattering spray to powder, wearing the makeup, fading imperfections and leaving the skin moderate. Milani claims that this spray lasts up to 16 hours. The brand noted that the scattering spray is also a face paint.
2. Honest Beauty Get It Together Palette Eyeshadow
Jessica Alba’s Honest Beauty range cleans cosmetics and skin care products, while her Honest Company brand manufactures baby and cleaning products, all available at Target. Her best-ranked eyeshadow palette contains a blend of ten matte and glossy shades that can be easily applied with fingers and blended with your makeup brushes. This palette is also versatile – you can create soft, Zoom-ready makeup or get a dramatic smoky eye. The shadows range from Strobed Champagne, a copper; Gilded Mauve, a deep brown; Sunlight copper, reddish-brown with gold spots and magnetic ink, rich black.
Indigenous coconut and vanilla deodorant
This deodorant really smells like vanilla and coconut and slips on and dries clean – no annoying white marks are transferred to your clothes here. It is made with natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, shea butter and tapioca starch, which absorb sweat. It is available in various flavors including Eucalyptus & Mint, Lavender & Rose Deodorant and Sea Salt & Cedar.
4. Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 primer
Before grasping your hair dryer, iron, or curling iron, use this heat shield to make it easier to design and prevent damage. Argan oil is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins A and E, which help nourish your strands, while sunflower seed oil softens, gives shine and curls tame. It is also gentle enough for those with color and chemical hair, such as Brazilian Blowouts and keratin treatment, to miss the spray on their strands.
5. Versed Press Restart Soft Retinol Serum
This highly rated green face serum – the pigmentation is derived from chlorophyll – is designed for first-time users of retinol and those with sensitive skin. It contains bakuchiol, a plant-based natural alternative to retinol that can improve the signs of aging, skin texture and dark spots. Unlike traditional retinol, this creamy serum is plant-based and does not cause dryness. Versed claims that its serum is certified by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which means that the harvest of bakuchiol does not interfere with its natural survival in the wild.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50 Mineral ultra-light liquid
Patricia Wexler, MD, a certified dermatologist and founder of Wexler Dermatology, previously recommended this paraben- and fragrance-free sunscreen for acne-prone skin. The mineral sunscreen is non-comedogenic, which means it is oil-free and can not clog your pores – an added benefit for those with oily skin. It is a non-greasy formula and is water resistant to 80 minutes, according to La Roche-Posay. In addition, it contains Cell-Ox Shield, the brand’s own blend of sunscreens, which helps prevent environmental damage to the skin.
7. Body Wash Pure Peace Method
Method does not just make natural cleansers. The brand offers bath and body products, including this highly acclaimed shower gel, the second best-selling clean body wash at the retailer. The vegetable body wash – with cleansers derived from coconut and palm oil – is safe for sensitive skin and smells like peony, rose and sea salt. According to Method, the 18-ounce bottle is made from 65 percent recycled plastic.
Popular brands approved by Target Clean
You can buy the Target Clean page by categories or by brands. Here’s a look at 16 popular brands in different categories that have earned the Target Clean seal. Just because one product has earned a Clean Target seal does not mean that the other products of the same brand can boast the same. For example, Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals has the Clean Target logo, but other Purell products like this hand sanitizer and these wipes are not Target Clean. This is your safest way to look at the product description pages and look for the green and white logo.
Having said that, you can keep in mind a few preferred brands (I like to buy by brand, for example), especially when it comes to skin care, wellness and other intimate genres. For this are a few brands preferred by the store, with products that have earned the coveted Clean Target seal.
- Aveno
- Blue Buffalo
- Burt’s Bees
- CeraVe
- Dove
- Dr. Bronner’s
- Honest beauty and honest company
- Mega Babe
- Mrs. Meyer’s
- Spoil
- Purina
- Rachel Ray Nutrish
- Seventh generation
- Vaseline
- Gety
- Touchland
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