Annual Clean Beauty Awards: Judging, Winners and Migraine-Safe Tips
I’m super excited to share that I’ve been chosen as a judge for the Clean Beauty Awards. The awards are organized by CertClean, the go-to certification for safer skincare in North America. They got a whopping 455 entries across 24 categories this year! I am very honored to be chosen to judge the best clean beauty products.
Just a bit about me – I battle migraine, which makes me particularly sensitive to smells and have sensitive skin. My body tends to ‘overreact’ to chemicals and clean products keep me healthier. These days, I’ve got combo oily/dry skin, with some cheek redness and irritation. I love clean beauty products and they are a part of my self-care routine.
Clean Beauty Awards
The Clean Beauty Awards have been going strong since 2015, recognizing the best in clean beauty products worldwide. Entries from all over – Canada, the US, Asia Pacific, and Europe. CertClean really does its homework. They comb through ingredient lists for over 1400 chemicals that could be bad news for your health. When you see that CertClean seal, you know it’s free from over 1400 potentially iffy chemicals.
As a judge, I’ll be sharing my testing adventures on Instagram, thanks for joining me!
A judging panel of 100+ green beauty advocates and experts test the products to determine the best-performing products in 24 product categories. The Clean Beauty Awards are not just about recognition; it is a celebration of brands dedicated to creating clean, safe, and sustainable beauty products and spreading awareness about clean beauty lifestyles.
Note: Not all participants of the Awards program are certified by CertClean.
As a judge, I am given the products and asked to judge. While I will not give you my score, here is what I consider.
- Ease of Use: How easy was the process? Were the instructions clear?
- User Experience: Think about your senses. How was the look, touch, feel, smell, etc. How did the product interact with your body?
- Would Recommend: Would you recommend this product to others?
- Overall Performance: Did this product do what it said it would do? Did the product achieve the desired result?
Why Clean Beauty is Important for People Living with Migraine
For people living with migraine, everyday choices can impact their well-being, including the beauty products they use. Clean beauty products, free from harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and other potential irritants, are especially beneficial for those prone to migraine attacks. Here’s why:
Fragrance-Free to Avoid Triggers
Many conventional beauty products contain synthetic fragrances, a common migraine trigger. These artificial scents can lead to nausea, headaches, and even full-blown migraine attacks for sensitive individuals. Clean beauty brands prioritize natural or fragrance-free formulations, making them safer options.
Gentler on the Skin and Body
People living with migraine often have heightened sensitivities—not just to smells but also to textures and chemicals. Products with parabens, phthalates, and sulfates can irritate sensitive skin and exacerbate symptoms. Clean beauty emphasizes gentle, non-toxic ingredients that are less likely to cause reactions.
Mind-Body Connection
Migraine management involves reducing stress and promoting overall health. Clean beauty aligns with this goal by providing safer, more natural products that enhance self-care without compromising well-being.
Migraine-Friendly Clean Beauty Brands
Switching to clean beauty is a proactive step toward reducing potential migraine triggers while promoting healthier skin and overall well-being. By incorporating products from migraine-friendly brands you can build a beauty routine that supports your health and lifestyle. The clean beauty products I judge are not all migraine-friendly. The products I find triggering and not triggering are all individual to my own needs.
How Does Fragrance Affect Migraine?
For many people living with migraine, fragrances can be a powerful and often underestimated trigger. Synthetic fragrances, which are common in conventional beauty products, can contain hundreds of chemicals hidden behind the term “fragrance” or “parfum.” These chemicals may include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are known to cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms that can escalate into a migraine attack. I’ve learned much of this through my functional doctor’s guidance.
Why Fragrances Trigger Migraine
- Sensory Overload
Fragrances can overwhelm the brain’s sensory processing systems, especially for those who are already sensitive to light, sound, or smell during a migraine. Strong scents can act as an irritant, leading to a heightened response. - Chemical Sensitivity
Many synthetic fragrances contain phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can impact hormone levels, another potential migraine trigger. - Airborne Irritants
Fragrance molecules released into the air can cause irritation in the nasal passages and respiratory system, triggering a chain reaction that results in a headache or migraine.
Tips for Choosing Migraine-Safe Products
- Look for labels that state “fragrance-free” or “unscented”. Avoid products with “parfum” listed in the ingredients.
- Opt for products scented with natural essential oils only, but test them first—some people are sensitive to even natural scents.
- Check for certifications like EWG Verified or products listed on the Think Dirty app to ensure transparency and safety.
By understanding the link between fragrance and migraines, you can make more informed choices about the products you use. Clean beauty options not only protect your health but also support a lifestyle that minimizes migraine triggers while prioritizing self-care.
Top Picks for 2024
Body Care
I was honored to try a bunch of the top winners of the body care category. Here are my top picks.
- Gente Beauty- ByeBye Cellulite
- Proteger- Proteger Dermal Serum
- Jubel Naturals- Lavender Vanilla Repair Cream
- Rocky Mountain Soap Company- Nomad Hand Sanitizer
- Pickle’s Potions- Farm Hands. Raw Honey Hand Balm
- Hereward Farms- Ravish
Face Oil
- Esse Skincare- Protect Oil
- PureCeutical Skin Care- Kahai Oil Cleanse
- Nani Pua- Nani Pua Etnobotanical Face Oil Serum
- Kaia Skin- Calming Blue- Blue Tansy Face Oil
- The Eco Alchemist- AHA + Blue Tansy Overnight Elixir
- The Potion Masters- Bloom Smoothing Balm
- Jubel Naturals- Daily Dew Moisturing Oil Elixir
Winners Revealed 2023 Clean Beauty Awards
Eye Liner
- Marie Natie- All Natural Eyeliner Pencil
- Dome Beauty- Eyeliner Ninja
- Elate Beauty- Liquid Eyeliner
Body Care
The products I judged and loved are:
- Fyve, Inc- Green Tea Lemongrass body oil
- LaVigne Natural Skincare- Mayan Magic Balm
- Ivadore- Nourish Me, Self Tanner
- Dr. Lipp- BFF Moisturizing Balm
Face Serum and Body Care Category 2022
My body care category included:
- Proteger- Dermal Serum
- Miami Beach Bu- Bum + Body Cream
- Beautfielle Skin- Skin Rejuvenation Therapy
- Okanagan Lavender & Herb- Calendula Body Butter
- Bio-first- Self-Heal Salve
- Mangata Apothecary- Botanical Scar Balm
Face Serum category included:
- Pure Heart Essentials- Face Serum
- Fresk Skincare- Serum
- Founder’s Formula- Wild-harvested vitamin C serum
- Carolina Cosmetics- Organic & Plant-based primer
- Prisians’s Pure Indulgence- Luxe perfect-aging serum concentrate
- Jazmine Beauty- Glow Getter primer serum
- PB SKN- Glow gleam-giver
Eye Liner 2021
- Eleve Cosmetics- Luxe Gel Liner
- MarieNatie- All Natural Eyeliner
- Zuii Organic- Certified Organic Flora Eyeliner Pencil
- 100% Pure- Long Last Liquid Eye Liner
Best Clean Beauty Products of 2020
CertClean is incredibly proud to organize its 5th Clean Beauty Awards – the goal of the Awards is to celebrate the products that deliver results (while consciously formulated with healthier ingredients). Gone are the days when we sacrificed product performance to avoid harmful chemicals. This year, 371 products from across the globe entered the Awards, and an external panel of judges named the best-performing products
Clean Beauty Awards 2020 have been finalized and the face category has been announced. I was lucky enough to be a judge for the awards held through CertClean and Purpicks. The goal of the awards is to celebrate the products that deliver results while consciously formulated with healthier ingredients.
I test my products on myself, my children, and my husband. We all have different skin tones, ages, and sensitivities. My daughter is a huge fan of trying and rating each product. It’s fun that she is getting involved in the clean beauty movement at such a young age. I feel good using clean eco-friendly products that aren’t testing on animals or doing any of that yucky stuff behind the scenes. These brands are open about their ingredients and proud of how they are making the beauty industry less toxic and more transparent.
Best Face Products
I absolutely loved judging this category. We tried creams, lotions, and treatments which are perfect for our diverse needs and environment. I’m not an affiliate of these brands. I tried them without bias and am sharing them with you in case you are also on a clean beauty journey.
- Iremia Skincare Inc.-Soothing Lotion
- Iremia Skincare Inc.- Protective Cream
- Ao Skincare- Raw Nourish AM Treatment
- Leaf People Skin Care- stem cell & peptide radiance face cream
- LE PURE- Perfecting Illumination
- asap skin products- DNA renewal treatment
- Honey Sweetie Acres- Goat Milk Facial Cream
- Idunna Natural Skincare- Age Prevent Triple Mushroom Vitalizing Beta Carotene Night Cream with MultiPeptides and Fruit Stem Cells
- JAYDANCIN INC- Healing Cream
- Jenelt-Daily Renewal Intensive Antioxidant Cream
- Jenelt- Daily Renewal Intensive Antioxidant Cream
Another product I love is Birtch Babe
Best Clean Beauty Products 2018
I’d like to thank you for all of the products! I was truly amazed at your stories and how you are making safer products for all of us around the world.
MarieNatie, Zuii Organic, 100% Pure, Elevé Cosmetics, isoi, Olivarrier, Magical Tree, NENA Glacial Skincare, Chorus Supernatural, Soapstones Natural Skincare, Be Natural Organics, Edible Beauty Australia, Greenvines, Puur, Aromatica.
Face
The face category ranges from toners to serums, moisturizers, creams, toners, and dry oil. My face is sensitive. Trying various products in combination allowed me to find my favorites. Only one product had SPF, which I prefer in my daily moisturizer. I love both toners and see them tighten and balance my face. The most significant difference is in how they absorb. Everyone is so different in their opinions because everyone’s faces are so different. Some days, a thinner moisturizer works, and other days, thick cremes feel better. Time of day, weather, and conditions helped determine my favorites. These were hard to judge, and I’d recommend so many!
Eye Liner
The eyeliners range from liquid to pencil to gel. They are primarily black, my favorite with a hunter, which was very pretty. Once again, different situations, and different uses. I used the pencils and gel for work and daytime to evening time and saved the liquid for special nights and events. I love eyeliner and makeup, so this category was fun to try mainly because they are vegan, cruelty-free, recycled, and clean.
Clean Beauty Awards Results
Judging and speaking with Jenise Lee, the mastermind behind all this has made me think much more about my beauty products. I look forward to new adventures in clean green beauty. Know better. Buy Better. Live Better.
Want to hear more about these products? Follow along on Instagram for more peeks at products and green beauty.
Sarah Rathsack
Sarah tells stories of My Migraine Life. Living life through Migraine consists of advocacy, treatment, prevention, and searching for health and happiness in a positive honest way. Her kids, husband, dog, family and friends motivate her to make a difference in the Migraine World.
Great post
Thank you!
You’re the perfect choice for a judge…a real, down-to-earth person with limited time. I can relate! If a product can’t stand up to people like us, they will find a small market.
That is kind of you to say, and so true. Not everyone can be a die hard green user. I find that small changes make big differences and I think a lot of us can relate to that. Thanks for your comment!