7 Clean Beauty Programs Making Products Safer

At Odele, we think a clean list of ingredients should be the norm, not the exception. While there’s no legal definition of “clean beauty” in the U.S., there are some pretty great programs helping brands set higher standards for the safety, impact and transparency of their products.

Beyond creating resources for brands, clean programs at everyday shopping spots like Target and Ulta are also making it easier for people to find products that meet their ingredient preferences, and we love to see it. (Because choosing a clean shampoo shouldn’t be a week-long research project.)

Get to know seven of our favorite programs helping to make beauty products healthier, safer and more sustainable.

1. The Good Face Project

What is it? The Good Face Project is a software that uses scientific data to help beauty brands build safe, transparent and effective products.

How do we use it? The Good Face Project helps us out with several aspects of product development, but mostly regulatory compliance. That’s a fancy industry term for making sure our products meet the standards of leading cosmetic safety programs, like those of Ulta and Target.

As ingredient research advances, regulations are always changing. We also use the Good Face Project Formulator to stay in the know about ingredients that may become restricted in the near future, which helps us develop new products and update existing ones accordingly.

2. Novi

What is it? Novi is an ingredient technology platform that helps beauty brands build more sustainable, transparent products. Brands can use Novi’s data and technology resources to vet existing products for regulatory compliance as well as develop new products with innovative ingredients and sustainable packaging.

How do we use it? As the vetting platform for Ulta clean beauty standards in 2023, Novi helps us verify our product claims and make sure products meet health, environment and performance standards, from ingredients to packaging and more.

3. Clear For Me

What is it? Clear For Me is a website plugin that helps consumers understand ingredients—including how they work, why they’re in products and what their stories are. Yay, transparency!

How do we use it? We’ve integrated Clear For Me into our site so you can read up on the ingredients in our products, especially the not-so-obvious ones with long-lettered, hard-to-pronounce names. You’ll find all that info under the ‘Ingredients’ tab of each product page.

4. Bluebird

What is it? Bluebird is a software platform and website plugin that helps brands measure their sustainability practices. Their mission is to decarbonize the beauty industry by giving brands ways to make and market products that have little or no carbon emissions.

How do we use it? We work with Bluebird to conduct product lifecycle assessments that measure our carbon footprint, waste impact and recyclability.

5. Ulta Conscious Beauty

What is it? Ulta launched its Conscious Beauty program in 2020 to promote better transparency around product ingredients and sustainability. The program certifies products under five pillars: clean ingredients, cruelty-free, vegan, sustainable packaging and positive impact. When you shop in Ulta stores, you can scan QR codes that link to more information on how products (like ours!) meet Conscious Beauty standards.

How do we use it? Ulta carries our full hair care collection. The Odele portfolio is Conscious Beauty certified (specifically for clean ingredients, cruelty-free, vegan and sustainable packaging).

6. Target Clean

What is it? Target created its Target Clean program to make it easier for people to find products that meet their ingredient and sustainability standards. For a beauty product to be Target Clean compliant, it has to be cruelty-free and free of propyl-parabens, butyl-parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), Oxybenzone, SLES, retinyl palmitate, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban, BHA & BHT and more (full ingredient list here).

How do we use it? You’ll find all your favorite Odele products at Target. Everything we make is Target Clean compliant.

7. Leaping Bunny

What is it? Leaping Bunny is the leading cruelty-free certification for non-animal tested products. To be Leaping Bunny certified, a company’s product has to be free of animal testing through all stages of product development.

How do we use it? All Odele products are Leaping Bunny certified, which means that we (including our suppliers and manufacturers) are cruelty-free and do not perform animal testing on ingredients, formulations or finished products.