From lining our eyes, to coating our faces to glossing our lips, we all love our makeup… but as some of you may know makeup can pose some serious environmental and health threats. Putting loads of chemicals on our skin, some of which are absorbed and can enter our blood stream, is not always a good idea. Chemicals such as petroleum, sodium, propylene glycol and unnatural colors are not only harsh on the skin, but also unnatural. Exposure to these ingredients can cause skin rash, headache and may also be linked to other illnesses. Environmentally- speaking, a lot of make up is not very friendly and comes with excess packaging and non-recyclable containers. But does this mean we should put down our brushes and go bare? No not all… lucky for us eco-friendly makeup products are becoming more and more popular!
When choosing your makeup products, do your research before making any purchases. Find out which companies offer products that are not only natural and good for your skin but also earth-friendly. Do some trial and error with the eco friendly products, see what works with your skin and what doesn’t.
Search for locally manufactured products that are made by companies who do not test on animals, recycle their containers, and whose products are certified organic and natural. Look out for a packaging that is either recycled or recyclable, biodegradable or simply less packaging. Less stuff to throw out means less waste in landfills.
Read the labels and ingredients carefully. Find out what the main ingredients in your beauty products are. Go for vegetable-based and natural mineral-based products and try to stay away from those that have a lot of chemicals (such as aluminum, parabens, petroleums, glutene or other synthetic ingredients).
Also, eliminate excess products and keep your make up routine to a minimum. Cut out products that you don’t really need. Many makeup artists advocate fewer products for a younger, healthier glow.
Below are some easy tips to keep in mind when purchasing your beauty products (borrowed from The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen) :
Eyeliner
Buy eyeliner pencils encased in wood instead of pencils or liquids contained within plastic. Wood shavings have the potential to biodegrade, whereas most plastics do not.
Eye Shadow
If you use pressed eye shadow, choose a brand that provides a reusable compact with slots for refills.
Foundation
Opt for foundation in a simple recyclable (or reusable) glass container over one sold in a non-recyclable plastic tube or bottle.
Lipstick
Look for lip color made from plant-derived ingredients instead of from synthetic oils, paraffin waxes, and toxic coal tar dyes (look for FD&C or D&C followed by a color and number).
Mascara
Best choice for mascara is one that is made from plants and minerals instead of from petroleum products. However, if this is not a viable option for you, avoid varieties that come in plastic bubble packs on cardboard backings.
Keeps these simple tips in mind for your daily beauty routine and be easy, breezy, beautiful…. the natural way.
Sharon Kirby says:
14/08/2009 at 12 h 58 minFabulous advice on beauty products! Thank you.
Debbie Wilson says:
14/08/2009 at 13 h 13 minThese are good suggestions. I never really thought much about the make-up I put on my face. I will pay more attention to the ingredients,and I know the packaging is important also. I also know that I paint my nails,and if the colour is too bright,it cause a yellow tint to the nails after awhile. I don’t think this is good at all! Any ideas for nail polish,and a remover not too strong?
kathy says:
14/08/2009 at 13 h 48 minLook for nail polish that does not contain formaldehyde and nail polish remover that is acetone free.
Katarina says:
14/08/2009 at 14 h 21 minCould they give us some specific brand names? I can see Physician’s Formula blush on the picture, but some more tips would be nice.
naturenewt says:
14/08/2009 at 17 h 12 minTry SAffron Rouge, Dr. Hauschka, Primavera and Olivier Soaps
Margaret Reely says:
14/08/2009 at 21 h 17 minThank you for printing this information. Too many people are still uninformed. They continue to put chemicals into their system.
Myrna MacKay says:
15/08/2009 at 16 h 29 minFor anyone looking for a really nice product line check your health food store for Green Beaver products. They are all natural and Canadian.
Prabhjit Banga says:
19/08/2009 at 10 h 09 minThank you for all your wonderful comments!
There is an good online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products that you can use to look up safety ratings for many products on the market. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Here are some specific brands of eco-friendly make up to try out:
Physician’s Formula- natural origin make up, free of chemicals. http://www.physiciansformula.com
Josie Maran- produts are made from natural and organic ingredients. The website provides good information about specific ingredients and packaging: http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com Products available at Sephora.
Aveda- products are organic as the company only sources certified organic raw materials for inclusion in its production. aveda.com
Lavera- natural personal care products. Available in stores all over Canada. http://www.lavera.com/
I personally use physicians formula make up, because it uses natural ingredients and its free of harsh chemicals and synthetic preservatives. It’s relatively cheap and available at most drug stores that carry make up.
Prabhjit Banga says:
19/08/2009 at 13 h 37 minHi Debbie,
In regards to your question about nail polish removers, according to Adria Vasil, authour of Ecoholic, “No-Miss Almost Natural Polish Remover” is a chemical-free remover that uses fruit-acid solvent, a lichen-derived solvent, water and natural vanilla.
Also, Suncoat makes nailpolishes that use pigment from earthy minerals and you don’t need a remover to take it off. Just soak your nails in hot water and peal it off. They do also make remover, which is 100% soy and corn-based.
Hope these suggestions help!
Bill Bartmann says:
01/09/2009 at 18 h 36 minGreat site…keep up the good work.