How to Find Non-Toxic Makeup

Whether you have a serious health issue or not, you might want to pay attention to what your body is absorbing through your skin when you wear makeup. Most readily-available makeup is loaded with chemicals that are either untested for long-term effects on your health, or that may already be proven to have potentially harmful qualities. It can be quite a challenge for someone who is concerned about potentially damaging ingredients to find good makeup that doesn't contain toxins. What toxins do you look for on the label? Where can you find a list of manufacturers that produce non-toxic makeup? Learn how, right here!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with internet access.
• (Optional)Credit card for shopping online, if you wish to purchase makeup online.

1. A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter First, get informed about ingredients used in makeup. A great resource is A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients (Paperback)
   by Ruth Winter, available online at Amazon or in local health-food stores. Some ingredients to research and learn about include: parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). Another good resource is the website for The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org).
2. Second, check your current makeup for potentially harmful ingredients. Throw away the ones you decide aren't the best quality for your health, or phase them out if you choose, by planning to replace them with non-toxic products. Most department store brand ingredients are not regulated, so watch out; even the brand Origins is not completely non-toxic (however, check each product to know for sure as they have added some organic products to their line).
3. To find non-toxic makeup, the best source I have found is at www.safecosmetics.org. The list is at: http://www.safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.cfm
   I know it's a long list, but the good news is that there are a lot of choices! I've had lots of fun going through these sites hunting for safer makeup, and I think you will too! In fact, some offer samples at a lower price so that you can try the items first. Alternatively, local health-food stores sometimes have a selection of non-toxic makeup as well, but watch out, as many still contain some questionable ingredients. I have found that prices for non-toxic makeup are often the same or less than the big department store brands, even though the ingredients can be of better quality (you aren't paying for ad campaigns and fancy packaging).
4. Beautiful and Safer Nail Polish from Anise Cosmetics If you love getting your nails done, please also consider the potentially harmful effects of nail polish, nail polish remover, and artificial nails such as acrylic ones. There is a reason nail techs wear masks! The good news is that there are safer options. For example, check out this website: www.anisecosmetics.com. You can also do an internet search for water-based nail polish. Or even better, go natural! I have gotten many compliments on natural, buffed nails!

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a Whole Foods store near you, they tend to stock a large amount of safer makeup and skin/bodycare products. The staff of this section of the store tend to be very knowledgeable about ingredients and products, and have given me some great recommendations! Another benefit of buying from most health-food stores is that they are good with returns if you have any reaction to the product.
• A website I just ordered from is: http://www.econveybeauty.com/; they have really pure non-toxic makeup, and have a decent selection of products.
• Be creative... if you find a great non-toxic lipstick, you can use it as a blush or mix it with a clear gloss to make it a lip gloss. Find a neutral white shimmer to highlight eyes, cheeks, and lips (many mineral makeup brands carry one).
• Mineral makeup does not automatically mean non-toxic. Read all the ingredients! BareEssentuals is one brand that I have used and found to have pure mineral makeup foundation, but some of their other products, such as lip makeup, have chemical ingredients.
• Some brands carry products that are non-toxic together with ones that have potentially harmful chemicals in the ingredients. Always check!
• Watch out for allergies, even in non-toxic makeup. These companies are doing the best they can to produce and sell safer cosmetics, but sometimes one can have an allergy to natural ingredients. Usually it is the other way around, however. You may find that now you can start wearing makeup/skincare/fragrances that you always thought you were allergic to!