The Clean Nectarine, Clean Beauty NO List
The Clean Nectarine NO List began in 2011 as a clean beauty ingredient definition, developed through my work with the National Toxics Network and on Global GreenTag's National Advisory Committee, alongside cosmetic chemists, academics, environmental scientists and Bill Statham, author of The Chemical Maze. It was the blueprint that decided which products I would and wouldn't sell in my first clean beauty store.
Today the NO List builds on the research behind that original matrix, and on fifteen years of selling toxin-free products and speaking to thousands of customers. It assesses ingredients in skincare, personal care and wellness products against global organic and natural certification standards and industry chemical and toxicology databases. It also draws on the experts I have interviewed and consultation with formulators, holistic dentists, naturopaths and nutritionists. Each ingredient is banned, allowed, or allowed with a lower Nectarine Rating.
We ban hundreds of chemicals
The hundreds of chemicals that even the mainstream brands are moving away from. We ban all of these. That's a given.
What we ban that other "clean" stores don't
Ingredients still found in products marketed as natural and sold in other clean beauty and health stores, including phenoxyethanol, dimethicone and propylene glycol.
The Clean Nectarine Rating
Products that pass the NO List are then rated out of three nectarines, based on the ingredients in that formula, so you can shop by what matters most to you.
A typical clean beauty ban list
Standard clean beauty criteria ban 80+ ingredients like the ones below, which you may have seen in other clean standards, but for us, they're only the starting point.
Parabens, phthalates, methylisothiazolinone (MIT), methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin, chemical sunscreen filters (oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, benzophenone), antiperspirant aluminium (aluminium chlorohydrate, aluminium zirconium, aluminium sesquichlorohydrate), Quaternium-15, phthalates, triclosan and some silicones (cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, cyclotetrasiloxane and cyclomethicone).
The ingredients we ban that other clean stores don't
This is what makes Clean Nectarine different
1. Phenoxyethanol
A debated synthetic preservative that is not permitted under COSMOS organic and natural certification.
2. Chlorphenesin
A synthetic preservative that is not permitted under COSMOS organic and natural certification, and is restricted in the EU to a lower concentration than phenoxyethanol.
3. All Silicones
Other clean standards often ban only volatile silicones. We ban all silicones, including dimethicone, dimethiconol and amodimethicone. Not permitted under COSMOS organic and natural certification.
4. PVP, VP/VA copolymer and other polyvinyl compounds
Synthetic vinyl polymers classed as microplastics, including VP/eicosene copolymer and polyvinyl alcohol. Not permitted under COSMOS organic and natural certification.
5. Crystal deodorants (potassium alum and ammonium alum)
Aluminium compounds used in crystal and natural deodorants, also sold as "mineral salts" or "natural mineral salts".
6. Fluoride
No added fluoride, including sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, stannous fluoride and amine fluoride.
7. Talc
Talc is still permitted under natural certification standards and can still be found in natural cosmetics. We ban it in all categories, as corn starch and rice powder are available alternatives.
8. Propylene glycol
Still found in popular "clean" beauty products. With plant-based alternatives like glycerin and propanediol available, we exclude it entirely. Not permitted under COSMOS organic and natural certification.
9. Ethanolamines (TEA, DEA and MEA)
Triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine are not permitted under COSMOS organic and natural certification, and DEA is prohibited in cosmetics in the EU.
10. Artificial sweeteners
Sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame K and neotame. Not permitted under COSMOS organic and natural certification, and we don't stock products containing them.
11. High-hazard quats
Quats are conditioning and preservative ingredients, and their hazard ratings vary widely. We ban the high-hazard quats, including stearalkonium chloride and steartrimonium chloride, as well as benzalkonium chloride.
12. Activated alumina Water Filters
A processed form of aluminium oxide used in many popular water filters. We don't sell water filters that use this method.
13. Calcium Sulphite Shower Filters
Calcium sulphite is used in many popular shower filters to neutralise chlorine, (Sulphites are a declared allergen). Instead we only sell shower filters that use Vitamin C to neutralise chlorine.
14. PFAS
PFAS, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon), PFOA, PFOS and petrochemical waxes found in dental floss.
The Clean Nectarine Rating
Products that pass the full Clean Nectarine NO List, including the 80+ standard bans and the ingredients other clean stores still allow, are then rated one, two or three nectarines, based on the ingredients in that formula. Click the plus sign below to see what each rating means.
What do three nectarines mean?
What does it mean?
Three nectarines is our highest rating, and it's where every product starts. It has passed the Clean Nectarine NO List, and there is nothing else on its label that loses a nectarine.
What do two nectarines mean?
What does it mean?
Two nectarines means a product has passed the Clean Nectarine NO List, but contains an ingredient that loses a nectarine.
Examples include Makeup, skincare, or sunscreens with titanium dioxide (in a cream or liquid form), some anti-dandruff actives in haircare, synthetic or isolated nutrients in supplements and products containing some ethoxylated emulsifiers.
What does one nectarine mean?
What does it mean?
One nectarine means a product has passed the Clean Nectarine NO List, but contains ingredients that lose two nectarines.
Examples include makeup with titanium dioxide in powder form, makeup or haircare with synthetic colours, nail polish, and products containing some polymers or (phthalates free) synthetic fragrance.
The Clean Nectarine NO List Q&A
What is the Clean Nectarine NO List?
The ingredient ban list every product at Clean Nectarine is checked against before it's stocked. It was created by founder Irene Falcone, who built and sold Nourished Life, and covers the 80+ ingredients the industry already avoids plus 13 more ingredient groups other "clean" stores still allow.
Does Nourished Life still have the same ingredient standard as when Irene owned it?
No. Irene Falcone founded Nourished Life in 2012 and sold it to BWX in 2017. She left the business in 2020, when the ingredient policy was expanded beyond her strict standard. Irene does not endorse its current ingredient standard.
How does the Clean Nectarine NO List compare to ingredient scanning apps?
We love these apps, but some score each ingredient by name alone. Natural components of essential oils declared on a label, such as limonene and linalool, can mark a product down, and so can the words "parfum" or "perfume". We look at the whole product: whether it is certified natural or organic, whether an ingredient is a component of an essential oil, and whether a parfum is natural or synthetic. We also draw on fifteen years of daily conversations with customers, naturopaths, formulators and experts.
Where can I find the Nectarine Ratings on products?
Rated products show their nectarine rating under the photos, and you can also use the filters on every collection page to shop only 1, 2 or 3 nectarines. For example, if you want to avoid all titanium dioxide in makeup and citric acid in supplements, you can filter by 3 nectarines only.
Other Considerations
Always Cruelty-Free
We do not sell any products or work with any brands that conduct animal testing of any kind. Every brand we partner with shares our commitment to ethical sourcing, ingredient integrity and sustainability.
Packaging & Shipping
All orders are packed in recyclable cardboard boxes with Australian-made compostable void fill made from natural corn starch. It’s 100% biodegradable, water-soluble and non-toxic.
Sunscreens
We sell mineral-based sunscreen made with zinc oxide. We don't sell sunscreens containing chemical UV filters, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate or benzophenone.
Colourants
We only allow synthetic colourants when needed for functionality, such as colour cosmetics or purple shampoo. We don’t allow these in skincare, body care or supplements.