M is for Makeup

ABCs for healthy living are quick takes on simple strategies for creating a healthier life.

Do you know what is in your makeup?

I use makeup and personal care items every day. When I was creating strategies for healthy living, I was shocked to learn what was in products I slather on my skin.There is no one oversight board to regulate the cosmetic industry. The word "natural" can be used by anyone on any item and companies can say a product is made with "organic" ingredients if it is composed of at least 70% organically certified ingredients, even if the remaining 30 % is full of ingredients known to be toxic.

Makeup may contain BHA preservatives, coal tar, petroleum derivatives, phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, mercury, lead, and a lot of other toxic ingredients that have been linked to the onset of autoimmune diseases, disruption of the endocrine system, and some types of cancer.

Many types of makeup contain fragrance as an added ingredient. Fragrance is dangerous not because of the smell, but because volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are used to bind the fragrance to the product. VOCs damage the body on a cellular level causing a variety of symptoms including fatigue, headaches, neurological disruptions, dizziness, and irritation of the skin and eyes.

Because the cosmetics industry regulates itself, consumers need to understand how to choose safer makeup options. A good resource is The Skin Deep Database where you can look up the ingredients in your favorite cosmetics and get a numerical rating on how safe or toxic it is.

To make smart safer choices:

Read the ingredients labels.
Avoid products that contain dangerous ingredients like the ones listed above.
Choose products that contain fewer harmful ingredients.
Avoid any product with the word fragrance on the ingredient list.
When in doubt, check it out here The Skin Deep Database

Few makeup brands are completely chemical free. Safer brands include: Alima Pure,Bare Minerals, Ecco Bella, Physicians Formula, Pure and True, Zuii Organic. If you love to paint your nails, read this: Safer Nail Polish

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