our ethos
begins with
feeling connected
spend time being cared for in our space among the plants, crystals, and centering vibes
…looking good feels good
and feeling good looks even better…
It's embodiment
There’s something magical about refreshing your look. It illuminates your aura! This is where aligning your five bodies – physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual – begins. Alignment opens to acceptance which opens to unconditional love. And that is peace.
Your inner glow and outer glow are so inextricably linked that tending to one blooms the other.
why clean beauty?
it’s about using plant-derived, effective ingredients
Conventional beauty products frequently contain inflammatory ingredients that have been linked to disrupting the skin’s natural barrier and speeding up the aging process.
“Clean beauty” is an unregulated term in response to a widely unregulated industry. It does not mean the exclusion of synthetic ingredients or synthetic versus natural.
The beauty industry generally uses the term “clean beauty” to define products free from ingredients that have known health concerns or cause cellular inflammation. But it can include other definitions for cruelty-free, green sustainability for the environment, and fair trade labor practices, among others.
When you find a clean beauty brand, read about what it means to them.
clean beauty is in our name
so what does it mean to us?
…for our curated skin care products:
– Building youthful, glowing skin through the use of plant-derived anti-inflammatory products
– Avoiding ingredients with widely accepted health concerns that arise when the ingredient is used in the appropriate amount for skincare
– When opinions on safety diverge trusting scientific research and recognizing fear and alarmist misconceptions around ingredients with buzz
…for brow tinting:
– Selecting the best options available, given that products for lifting and dyeing lashes and brows continue to use conventional ingredients. Unfortunately hair treatments are behind when it comes to clean beauty. We avoid particular ingredients, including: formaldehyde, ammonia, and coal tar.
we prioritize…
…and love(!) products that include organic designations and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Some of our favorites are: beta glucan, niacinamide, grape stem cells, licorice root extract, willow bark extract, calendula, mangosteen, vitamin C, CBD, and turmeric.
we recognize…
…that some ingredients with risks can fit into a clean beauty regimen with the right approach… like retinol (wrinkle reducer), disodium EDTA (preservative + chelating ingredient), and phenoxyethanol (preservative).
Retinol (vitamin A derivatives) is not recommended for pregnant women and can be very irritating to the skin if it’s not paired properly with hydrators and skin conditioners. Nonetheless, it remains an incredible agent for youth building and we do not yet have a non-irritating substitute. We love the #skincycling trend coined by Dr. Whitney Bowe. It’s a 4 to 5 night routine that rotates products strategically.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating ingredient used to bind and deactivate mineral ions that may be present in a product, also making it a preservative. It helps to disrupt the skin’s surface so ingredients may be better absorbed. If the product has additional ingredients that have health concerns then it could be problematic to be paired with disodium EDTA. More information: thedermreview.com
Phenoxyethanol prevents microbial growth, stabilizes products, and enhances their shelf life. In restricted quantities it is considered safe in skincare by the FDA, CIR, and European Commission on Health and Food Safety. However, the safety concern increases if the product is intended to be inhaled or used on the lips and digested. The lip masks and balms we use do not contain phenoxyethanol. More information: mindbodygreen.com
we refrain from using…
…the following common ingredients in our curated skincare products due to skin irritation and / or health concerns:
parabens, phthalates, SLS / SLES, fragrance, parfum, chemical sunscreens, resorcinol, talc, petrolatum, DMAE, PEGs, hydroquinone, lanolin, siloxane, ammonium lauryl sulfate, DMDM hydantoin, ethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, ethanolamines (DEA, MEA, TEA), butylated hydroxyanisole / hydroxytoluene (BHA / BHT, not to be confused with betahydroxy acids), FD&C, D&C
…the following ingredients that are suspected to cause or worsen acne break outs: dimethicone, rose hip oil, unrefined coconut oil, beef tallow
…the following animal and allergen ingredients: animal fats, collagen, bee’s wax, honey, royal jelly, propolis, nut shells and nut oils including argan (We do allow mandelic acid which is derived from almonds. Please inform us if you have an allergy prior to receiving a service.)
Please note: our brow tints contain ingredients we exclude from skincare. The product is removed upon completion of the service.
Don't worry -
we don't have a purity complex
truly don’t feel like you need to already have the perfect routine to come to Holiday. we support you wherever you are!
resources we love
education on ingredients:
Environmental Working Group – Creators of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen. This is a place to start when learning about an ingredient you don’t recognize. Keep in mind, it’s just research information. They don’t give a full perspective on skincare applications. If an ingredient has a high rating then turn to other publications like mindbodygreen for the scoop
Credo – They offer extensive information explaining ingredients and what meets their clean beauty standard. It is an ever-evolving list
…and our brand partners!
Hylunia – Learn about the most nourishing ingredients and their benefits for skin
Blissoma – Love their blog: thoughtful trending topics, deep dives, and how-to’s
easy peasy clean beauty shopping:
Holiday Clean Beauty Spa – Yes! We retail the brands we use in our facials and a few other gems. Most importantly we’ll put esthetician eyes on your skin and get the right products / ingredients into your routine. Book a facial for the full experience
Cambridge Naturals, Boston – For all corporeal wonders: bulk herbs, tea, tinctures, bath bombs, chocolate, vitamins, body care, and more. Our favorite is the Porter Square location
Credo, Boston – They love to shop with you! It’s our favorite place for new makeup and just to pop by to feel their sunshine