"Clean" is a marketing word, not a regulatory one. That does not make it useless — it makes it something you have to define for yourself, ingredient by ingredient.
Four worth knowing by name
- Niacinamide — evens tone and supports the barrier; forgiving at low percentages
- Glycerin — an unfashionable humectant that outperforms most fashionable ones
- Zinc oxide — mineral UV filter, reliable and visible on the label
- Squalane — a light emollient that suits skin that dislikes heavier oils
Two questions that replace a hundred claims
Is the active present at a concentration that has been studied? And is it in a formula that stays stable once opened? A brand that answers both plainly is telling you more than any certification badge on the carton.