Natural Makeup or Toxic Makeup? What are the toxins in makeup, toxins in our cosmetics, and skincare products?
Why more women are turning to more organic and natural makeup, more natural skincare products.
Over 25 years ago I started to ditch many different types of cosmetics and skin care products for health reasons. During this period a wide range of extreme health challenges led me to become not just more educated about what we eat but we actually consume. I started to get more insight and information about products I had been using on my body and in the environment that was highly toxic. I remember when studying singing at college how I kept getting really ill in the recording studio I actually nearly passed out on more than one occasion. It wasn’t till years later did I discover that the isopropyl alcohol we used to clean the studio, was also used in makeup and was actually highly toxic. Especially for someone with my health challenges.
So I started on a journey for more natural makeup, more natural skincare products. Initially, it was very difficult to get natural makeup until mineral makeup came along. It was a lot easier to get natural skin care products or even make your own. I eventually took training in natural cosmetic making and could make up my own face creams and skin balms. It complemented my knowledge as an aromatherapist. I also stopped using normal deodorant sprays and normal roll deodorants that were also highly toxic.
Some Of The Toxic Ingredients In Make-Up and Skincare PRODUCTS
- Aminophenol, Diaminobenzene, Phenylenediamine (Coal Tar) …
- BHA
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Parabens. …
- Petroleum distillates.
- Polyethylene/PEGs. …
- Retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate. …
- Sodium lauryl sulfate. …
- Triclosan and triclocarban. …
Aminophenols are on the hazardous substances list even though they are used in hair dyes. And are known in some cases to cause asthma-type allergies and kidney issues when absorbed or breathed in. It is suggested aminophenols may cause genetic changes, (mutation) with increases cancer-causing risk. According to the State of New Jersey Government Website
BHA Butylated Hydroxyanisole, according to The National Toxicology Program it classifies butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” Even the EU has deemed it unsafe as a fragrant. “In animal studies, BHA produces liver damage and causes stomach cancers such as papillomas and carcinomas and interferes with normal reproductive system development and thyroid hormone levels.”
Isopropyl Alchohol is actually considered toxic to humans even though it is widely used in cleaning, cosmetics, and other personal care products, eye, hair and nail products, aftershave lotions, and body care products. It is extremely absorbable through the skin and inhalation. MSDS Online
Parabens are commonly found in deodorants, makeup, moisturizer, shaving gel, shampoo, spray tan products. But according to Tasha Stoiber, PhD, Senior Scientist “scientific studies suggest that parabens can disrupt hormones in the body and harm fertility and reproductive organs, affect birth outcomes, and increase the risk of cancer. They can also cause skin irritation. Moreover, studies have detected parabens in nearly all urine samples taken from adults in the U.S., regardless of demographic (Ye 2006).”
“Given the endocrine disruption capacity and documented female and male reproductive harm, coupled with the potential for repeated lifelong exposure, it is clear that long-chain parabens (isobutyl-, butyl-, isopropyl- and propylparaben) should not be used in personal care or cosmetic products. Further, products can be made without these chemicals.” The Environmental Working Grou
Petroleum Distillates are manufactured in oil refineries commonly used in the production of mascara. Petroleum extracted skincare and cosmetics ingredients not only have a reputation of having “cancer-causing impurities” but are associated with some skin irritations and conditions such as dermatitis. Consider a petroleum-free mascara such as
Retinyl Products are found in many anti-aging and sunscreen products, lip products, and moisturisers. Also reputed to be possibly cancer-causing at certain levels and skin issues.
Retinyl Acetate found in sunscreen products, according to research in certain does “skin tumor-induction, adverse effect reports of skin irritation, and even death have been associated with topical RA therapy (Fischer et al.,1985; McCormick et al., 1987; Samuel et al., 2005; Weinstock et al., 2009)”. Both Bakuchiol and Frankincense are regarded as natural alternatives for retinol.
SLS Sodium lauryl sulfate is found in baby wash, facewash, foundation, mouthwash, shampoo, and toothpaste. It has been linked to being a contributor to acne particularly cystic acne., canker sores, eye, and skin irritation. There are now a lot of natural body wash and shampoo alternatives and chemical-free toothpaste. I use dOTERRA’s On Guard Toothpaste
Triclosan was in many antibacterial products that became very fashionable in the 1990’s. Triclosan and triclocarban are reputed to be linked to muscle and immune function issues, allergies, hormonal issues. Tea-tree has become a more natural and healthier option in antibacterial skincare products,
Common Natural Makeup Ingredients Include
Aloe Juice, bio-retinol, bisabolol, cocoa butter, coconut, fruit enzymes, jojoba oil, olive squaline, plant peptides, resveratrol, shea butter, white tea leaf, black tea leaf, green tea leaf.
And various essential oils such as Chamomile, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Mandarin, Rose, Rosemary
Natural Makeup Options
Recently on my search for natural make-up, natural foundations, and a new natural lipstick, I decided to try out Tropica’s range of natural makeup and natural skincare. For a while, I had been hearing a lot of positive things about not just their natural skincare range and natural makeup but the ethics and values of the company. They use a lot of natural ingredients in their products which are commonly used in both ayurvedic and herbal medicine.
At first, I purchased a Tropica natural foundation and natural lipstick, on this occasion a natural sheer foundation. I soon found myself becoming a Tropica Ambassador.
Natural Makeup – MINERAL MAKEUP
Mineral Powders and Mineral Foundations have become some of the most widely used natural makeup, mineral makeup generally contains fewer fillers than other types of makeup or foundations. Tropic has a wide range of mineral foundation shades
PORCELAIN, BARELY NUDE, WARM BEIGE, SOFT HONEY, SMOOTH CARAMEL, RICH MOCHA contains Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride, Silica, Extracts of Chamomile, Olive Leaf, Sea Buckthorn and Açaí Berry, Zinc Oxide, Colourants from Mineral Oxides
MAPLE, ESPRESSO contain Natural Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride, Silica, Extracts of Chamomile, Olive Leaf, Sea Buckthorn and Açaí Berry, Colourants from Mineral Oxides
SHEER FOUNDATION BEAUTY BOOSTER FROM TROPICA
Tropic’s sheer foundation shades include porcelain, barely nude, warm beige, soft honey, smooth caramel, rich mocha, maple, espresso
Natural Makeup Mascara
Even their mascara and eye lines are totally natural
Natural Mascara ingredients
Purified Water, Polymer, Candelilla Wax, Carnauba Wax, Stearic Acid, Plant Derived Emulsifiers, Soybean Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, Plant Glycerin, Vitamin B5, Corn Sugar Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Polypeptide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Colourants from Mineral Oxides