Clean Beauty Claims in 2025: What B2B Brands Must Know to Stay Compliant

"Clean beauty" is no longer just a consumer buzzword—it’s now a compliance and credibility issue. In 2025, beauty brands must do more than remove a few ingredients to qualify as "clean." With increasing regulatory scrutiny, ingredient transparency demands, and retailer certification systems, B2B brands must carefully navigate how they formulate and communicate clean beauty products.

At XJ BEAUTY, we help global partners develop clean formulations that are not only effective and elegant—but also fully compliant across regions. Here’s what B2B buyers and OEM clients need to know.

What Does “Clean Beauty” Mean in 2025?

There’s no universal definition of clean beauty, but several core pillars have emerged:

  • Free-from claims (no parabens, sulfates, silicones, PEGs, etc.)

  • Ingredient transparency and INCI decoding

  • Minimal risk to human health (non-toxic, non-sensitizing)

  • Sustainable sourcing and eco-safe ingredients

  • Cruelty-free and often vegan

However, making these claims requires documentation, consistency, and regulatory knowledge.

Regulatory Challenges for B2B Brands

1. Ingredient Blacklists Differ by Region

  • EU bans 1,600+ cosmetic ingredients

  • US is less restrictive but tightening FDA oversight

  • Sephora, Target, Credo each have their own restricted lists

OEM Implication: One formula might be clean in Korea but non-compliant in France or California.

2. Vague Marketing Claims Can Be Risky

  • “Toxin-free”, “chemical-free”, or “safe” can trigger regulatory action

  • Without clinical or toxicology data, these may be flagged as misleading

3. Greenwashing is Under Fire

  • EU's Green Claims Directive penalizes unsubstantiated sustainability claims

  • Social media watchdogs and NGOs are aggressively calling out vague clean claims

XJ BEAUTY’s Clean Beauty OEM/ODM Framework

We support clean beauty development with:

  • Global clean ingredient libraries (pre-filtered by region)

  • Labeling guidance for free-from, vegan, and natural percentages

  • Allergen and sensitization review with toxicology backup

  • INCI harmonization to simplify multi-region compliance

  • Challenge-tested, preservative-alternative systems

Our clean formulations span:

  • Skincare: cleansers, moisturizers, serums

  • Makeup: clean lipsticks, cream blush, natural mascaras

  • Babycare and sensitive lines

  • SPF and hybrid sun-skincare

Retailer & Marketplace Certifications We Align With

  • Sephora Clean at standards

  • Ulta Conscious Beauty platform

  • Credo Clean Standard

  • Amazon Clean Beauty Badge

  • ECOCERT/COSMOS base compatibility (upon request)

Formulation Examples

  • Silicone-free moisturizers with squalane and fermented oils

  • Natural pigment lip balms with shea and castor oil

  • Preservative-free toners using HOCL, leuconostoc, or lactobacillus ferment

  • Hybrid makeup-skincare using EWG green-rated ingredients

Final Thoughts

Clean beauty in 2025 is no longer about minimalism—it’s about smart formulation, ethical sourcing, transparent claims, and global readiness. For B2B brands, working with an experienced manufacturer who understands both science and compliance is essential.

At XJ BEAUTY, we combine ingredient innovation with cross-market regulatory support to help brands confidently launch clean products that pass scrutiny and win consumer trust.