Course Description and Learning Objectives
Course Description
It’s hard to escape the ever-growing popularity of ‘clean’ formulated cosmetic and personal care products emerging within the skincare market today. Initially, product labels brandished the various ingredients omitted from their formulation, alongside their inclusion of natural and organic contents. In more recent years, focus has shifted to additionally showcase not only what the topical product is ‘free from’, but to also highlight the brand’s incorporation of environmentally conscious practices, from recyclable packaging through to sustainably sourced ingredients. As health consciousness and environmental practices continue to move to the forefront of our society’s collective goals, so too will this realm of clean and green product lines.
This course is designed to provide Naturopathic Doctors and healthcare providers with an in-depth look into the world of clean skincare.
Key elements reviewed will include:
An understanding of the current regulatory statuses in North America and the European Union
The elements which drive demand for clean products
An examination of the primary ingredient classes common to most skincare products
A detailed, balanced, and evidence-based review of the common and current cosmetic ‘ingredients of concern’ often limited or avoided in clean skincare formulations, including parabens, phthalates, sulphates, fragrances, benzophenone UV filters, per- & polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), among others
Showcasing how clean and green cosmetic products are being formulated and manufactured; the integration and development of green ingredient alternatives; the benefits and potential challenges inherent to this; and how these tie in with sustainability efforts to support environmental and social benefits
Various resources to integrate into one’s clinical practice to provide direction for patients looking to incorporate cleaner living and skincare habits
Who might this course intrigue the most?
Quite simply, any healthcare provider looking to:
Enhance their awareness of how skincare products are typically formulated, the common concerns surrounding traditional skincare formulas, and evaluating such concerns through evidence-based research
Appreciate what role more ‘cleanly’ formulated skincare products may play in terms of health and environmental sustainability
Better answer their patients’ questions surrounding both traditional and clean formulated skincare products
Integrate clinical resources to easily identify clean formulated cosmetic & personal care products
Learning Objectives
Describe the common features of clean cosmetics and personal care products
Identify the key regulatory bodies, and understand current regulations, surrounding cosmetics in North America and the European Union
Explore and understand key statistics and market trends in relation to the sales growth of clean and green skincare product purchases
Recognize emerging trends within the clean and green marketplace
Identify the primary factors relating to clean & green product purchase behaviour
Identify and understand the key roles of the general ingredients and ingredient classes common to most cosmetics and personal care products
Identify and describe the general role, and evidence-based associated health, environmental, and sustainability concerns, and in some cases, counter-points to these concerns, for a variety of ingredient and ingredient classes commonly avoided or limited in use within clean skincare product formulation; these include parabens and other preservatives, phthalates, sulphates, fragrances/sensitizing agents, benzophenone UV filters, per- & polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), among others
Identify and describe the primary elements contributing toward sustainability in the formulation and manufacture of skincare products
Understand the main phases of a cosmetic product ‘life cycle’, including product design, manufacturing processes, packaging and distribution, and post-consumer use
Describe the differences between common ingredient classes used in clean skincare, including natural, natural derived, nature identical, and organic
Identify various certification standards for organic and natural skincare products from North America and Europe
Recognize currently-used (and theoretical) ‘clean/green’ ingredient alternatives used to replace certain ingredients of concern in skincare products; including alternatives for emollients, colorants, surfactants, fragrances and preservatives
Explore resources which provide evidence-based safety and assessment data relating to cosmetic and personal care product ingredients
Explore and become familiar in the use of resources providing for the criteria-based identification of skincare products deemed to be clean, including those considered safer for patients managing allergic or irritant contact dermatitis
Recognize and utilize governmental regulatory and cosmetic industry resources pertaining to safety assessment and selection of skincare products
Identify key results from research evaluating the effects of active exposure reduction from the use of products which have limited or restricted amounts of certain ingredients of concern
Understand non-topical routes of exposure, and methods to avoid such, for certain ingredients of concern
Explore resources which improve label ingredient transparency by providing more detailed label and ingredient information