Is Saltair A Clean Brand? An Honest Look At The Ingredients
If you’re wondering, “is Saltair a clean brand?,” you’ve come to the right place. I think the term “clean beauty” has been passed around a lot in the last decade, and something that has “clean ingredients” doesn’t mean it can’t irritate your skin in some way.
Below, I’m going to answer all your burning question on is Saltair a clean brand, so you can make an informed decision about whether to purchase beauty products from this popular line.
Is Saltair A Clean Brand?
First of all, it’s important to note that the term “clean” is not a regulated term. It really depends on the ingredient standards, brand transparency, and personal preference. For example, Sephora has a “Clean at Sephora” label for a lot of the brands they carry that they consider are less harmful than others. But some of those same brands wouldn’t pass regulations in the EU for sale to consumers.
I like to reference EWG’s Skin Deep database to see how “clean” skincare, makeup, and haircare products are. Below, I will go into more detail about how “clean” Saltair actually is (or isn’t!).
What Is Saltair?
Saltair is a body and haircare brand that’s best known for their scented, sensorial products like body wash, deodorant (I love this Saltair deodorant), and lotions. This brand leans heavily on its beautiful scents, and fits the modern body care category that blends skincare ingredients with fragrance-driven products.
Saltair is sold at Target and offers affordable and accessible pricing. I love the sleek packaging and branding, and the formulas are pretty amazing as well.
What Does Clean Beauty Mean?
Like I mentioned previously, “clean beauty” can mean just about anything these days. It’s a marketing term with no single regulatory definition, and is usually tied to ingredient-avoidance lists. Generally, “clean beauty” is meant to convey a message that the products are not harmful for your skin and contain ingredients closer to nature, rather than man-made or synthetic ingredients. That being said, I always like to say that poison ivy is “natural,” but you wouldn’t want to rub that shit on your skin!
Clean beauty standards across brands
Different brands will call themselves “clean,” but that doesn’t mean that they all avoid the same list of ingredients. Unlike regulations in the EU, which have strict guidelines on what you can and cannot include in personal care products, there aren’t many regulations in the United States for personal care products. Meaning, any brand can include ingredients that might be harmful to human health.
Why ingredient lists matter more than labels
Rather than relying on a brand to claim that they carry “clean beauty” products, it’s best to look at the ingredients list of each product to determine how “clean” or “non-toxic” the formula actually is. Below, we will cover some of the ingredients that Saltair uses in their formulations.
Saltair Ingredients Explained
Before I dive in, I want to flag that brands reformulate regularly. So you’ll always want to cross-reference this breakdown against the current ingredient list on the product you’re purchasing before making any decisions. Here’s a general breakdown of the main ingredient categories you’ll find across Saltair’s formulations.
Cleansing agents and surfactants
- Sodium cocoyl isethionate—This is a coconut-derived cleanser that produces a creamy, skin-softening lather without being overly stripping. Plus, it rates fairly well on EWG’s Skin Deep database.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine—This is an amphoteric surfactant that helps boost lather and reduce irritation. Though it’s worth noting for people with sensitive skin as it can occasionally cause allergic reactions in some folks.
Hydration and skin barrier support ingredients
- Sodium hyaluronate—The salt form of hyaluronic acid, this ingredient draws moisture into the skin and helps keep it hydrated long after you step out of the shower.
- Olea europaea—This is an olive-derived oil that nourishes and supports the skin barrier.
- Seed butters—These work alongside the other hydrating ingredients to soften and condition the skin, and help elevate the formula beyond just a basic cleanser.
Botanical and functional ingredients
- Helianthus annuus (sunflower seed oil)—This is a lightweight, non-comedogenic oil that softens and conditions the skin without feeling heavy or greasy.
- Zinc PCA—This helps regulate sebum production and has antimicrobial properties, making it a great inclusion for anyone who deals with body acne.
- Ascorbyl glucoside—This is a stable form of vitamin C that can help brighten the skin over time with consistent use.
- Fruit extracts—These help round out the formula with antioxidant benefits and contribute to the overall skin health angle of the brand.
Is Saltair Clean?
I like to use EWG’s Skin Deep database to see how “clean” a cosmetic product is. There are a few Saltair products that have a rating of “1” on the EWG scale. This means they are super clean. Most of the Saltair products are rated a “3” and a “4,” and then a few are rated “5” and “6.” There is only one product, the Saltair Sunscreen Body Oil SPF 50 PA++++, that’s rated a “7.”
Based on the EWG Skin Deep ratings, I wouldn’t say that Saltair is the “cleanest” bodycare brand out there (here are some of the best non toxic body wash picks I’ve tested over the years). However, I personally feel like it’s “clean” enough for me to use regularly—even while I’m seven months pregnant!
This summer, the only deodorant I’ve been using every single day is my beloved Saltair Skincare Deodorant in Seascape. It’s aluminum-free, smells exactly like the beach, and I absolutely love it. In fact, I feel like it does a better job of keeping my pits smelling fresh than the aluminum deodorant I’ve tried a couple of times this summer.
One of the reasons that the EWG has rated a lot of Saltair’s products as “3” and “4” is because most of their products contain fragrance. According to EWG, fragrance is rated as an “8” on the “clean” scale. This means they believe that it could be harmful to your health. Besides fragrance being in many of the formulas, almost all of the other ingredients in these formulations are rated a “1” and “2.” This means that most of the ingredients in these formulas are deemed “clean” by EWG’s standards.
How Saltair defines its clean positioning
Saltair doesn’t market itself as a strictly “clean” brand in the way that some other bodycare lines do. And I actually appreciate that transparency. The brand focuses more on sensorial, skincare-forward bodycare at an accessible price point rather than making sweeping “non-toxic” or “clean” claims that can feel misleading.
Their formulas do include genuinely skin-beneficial ingredients. These include things like sodium hyaluronate, zinc PCA, and ascorbyl glucoside alongside the fragrance. This shows that real thought has gone into the formulations beyond just making them smell good.
Overall evaluation of Saltair
In my opinion, Saltair sits comfortably in the middle of the clean beauty spectrum. It’s not the most rigorously clean brand on the market, but it’s far from the most concerning either. Almost all of the individual ingredients outside of fragrance rate a “1” or “2” on EWG’s scale, which tells me the base formulas are well thought out and on the “cleaner” side.
Personally, I feel comfortable using Saltair regularly. And the fact that I’ve been reaching for their Skincare Deodorant in Seascape every single day this summer, even while pregnant, says a lot about how much I trust the brand. For the price point and the quality of the formulas, Saltair is a brand I feel good about recommending. Just go in knowing that the fragrance is there, and decide for yourself whether that works for you.
Who Saltair Is Best For?
Best for body care and fragrance-focused users
Because Saltair focuses so much on their fragrances, this is a great brand for anyone who wants an experiential skincare journey around scent. Although the brand does carry haircare, in my mind, it’s more of a bodycare brand. If you enjoy spending some extra time on pampering your body post-shower or before bed, Saltair is ideal for you.
May not suit very sensitive skin types
Because so many of the products contain fragrance, those with very sensitive skin might not do well with this brand. However, one thing I will say is that I have the most sensitive skin in the world (okay, I’m being dramatic, but it can get pretty sensitive), and I don’t have issues with Saltair. Like I mentioned, I use their highly-scented deodorant everyday with no sensitivity issues, and I also love all of their body oils that come in different scents.
Best for those who want affordable luxury
I’m really impressed by how this brand has been able to keep their prices low, even with high-quality formulations and beautiful packaging. If you want an affordable brand that feels a lot more luxe than it actually might be, this is a great option for you.
Pros And Cons Of Saltair
Pros of Saltair
- Affordable
- Gorgeous scents
- Luxe formulations
- Beautiful packaging
- Available at Target, Amazon, and on their website
- Relatively “clean,” according to EWG standards
Cons of Saltair
- Not the cleanest bodycare brand on the market
- Only offers bodycare and haircare
- Fragrances might be too strong and prominent for those with super sensitive skin
I hope this blog post helped clarify “is Saltair a clean brand?” for you! Let me know your thoughts on this brand in the comments section below!
