I’m not a huge makeup-wearer. I definitely don’t know all the contouring tricks. As a lady that was giving me a pedicure once said, I am very “natural”. Lol!
I do like to wear makeup sometimes, though. I also have 2 daughters that like to use makeup. And I have been in the health and wellness world long enough to know that there is a lot of toxic makeup out there.
I’m writing this during the holiday season which means holiday parties are coming up and if you’re like me - you’ll be wearing makeup more than usual. In stores, I’m seeing the little makeup gift boxes popping up on the shelves. They are so cute and colorful… but are they a good choice for our girls? (hint: no!)
Mayhem of the Makeup World
According to the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 personal care products a day containing 168 unique ingredients every day. This includes makeup. Anything that touches our skin can absorb into our bloodstream in just 26 seconds. Makeup isn’t just ON you, it’s IN you.
Unfortunately, there is almost zero federal regulation of the cosmetics industry in the United States. A product can go straight from manufacturing to store shelves without any type of approval or mandatory safety testing. The Food and Drug Administration only regulates false advertising or misbranding on packages—not what actually goes inside the packages.
Did you know? - There are over 1,300 chemicals banned for use in cosmetics in the European Union due to questions over their safety. In comparison, the U.S. has only banned 11. Ugh.
Try and wrap your mind around this. If a product is sold in stores and consumers (like me and you) report problems—like a makeup that caused a severe reaction—the company does not have to report the complaint to the FDA. That’s crazy! And when the FDA is alerted of the complaint? The FDA has no authority to issue a recall of cosmetic products. Companies must self regulate with essentially no accountability.
5 ingredients to avoid in makeup:
Parabens - they are known endocrine disruptors, terrible for girls and women! They mimic estrogen, wreak havoc on your hormones and can even cause cancer. Check out this scary study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14745841/
Parfum or Artificial Fragrance - when you see this, just know it could be almost anything because manufacturers aren’t required to tell us what is in their fragrances. Grrr.
Formaldehyde - as you might guess, this is used as a preservative. It’s a known carcinogen that is linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. It can be found in preservatives such as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, and imidazolidinyl urea.
Triclosan - this ingredient was banned from soap in health-care settings, but is still allowed in personal use cosmetics. Make it make sense! It’s another endocrine disruptor and can cause gut issues. https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-triclosan-cancer-risk-20180531-story.html
BHA and BHT - can induce allergic reactions in the skin, classified as a possible human carcinogen and yet another endocrine disruptor.
My Two Cents
Okay. I guess it's actually three cents:
One, I think what the cosmetic industry is doing is criminal.
Two, we have to take responsibility for our own health. Do our own research. And keep our bodies safe.
Three, there are good options now, so why not use them? When I first started to think about the ingredients in the products I was using, good and clean makeup brands were few and far between. But, thankfully, that isn’t the case now! I learn about ethical brands with products that work great pretty frequently these days, and I just love that!
My Makeup Recommendations
I would recommend trying a few items from a couple different clean companies and seeing what you like best. Do that initial research to know that it’s a brand you can trust and then you won’t have to research each individual product as you shop.
Brands to try:
Root Pretty is a brand that I use a lot! (Link for 10% off your first purchase)
Beauty Counter
Please leave a comment if you have another brand that you recommend - one that you can trust to make non toxic makeup that works great!
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