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Why It’s Time To Go Green With Your Makeup
A few years ago, I learned the most shocking thing: The FDA doesn’t regulate the ingredients in makeup. It doesn’t even have the legal authority to do so. The last time there was any legislation regarding the ingredients in makeup was in 1938, and the United States currently bans only 11 toxic chemicals from being used in cosmetics (compare that with the European Union, which bans more than 1,300).
Why is this a problem? Because our skin—our largest organ—absorbs about 60% of what we put on it within seconds. This means that any toxic chemicals in our makeup aren’t just sitting on the surface until we wash them off—they’re seeping into our bodies. That’s serious cause for concern, since many common beauty ingredients are known carcinogens and endocrine (hormone) disruptors.
If you’re like me, this information probably makes you want to run to your makeup drawer and dump everything in the trash. But let’s be honest—if you use makeup, you’re probably not thrilled at the idea of going without, and replacing all your products in one fell swoop would be wildly expensive.
Instead, I recommend phasing out your stash gradually, starting with the biggest offenders. Here’s how:
- Get out your entire makeup collection out and display all together.
- Toss out anything that’s expired or seems like it’s gone bad (tell-tale clues are weird textures or funky smells).
- Make a pile of anything that’s still usable but not part of your regular routine.
- Of the remaining products, score them on EWG’s Skin Deep. Consider trashing any products that rate above a 3 on the 1-10 toxicity scale.
- Curate your non-toxic beauty collection. Start with the three items that cover the most skin: moisturizer, foundation, and an everyday lipstick.
When you’re ready to rebuild your makeup collection with non-toxic options, here are a few of my favorite online sources:
Eco Diva
Safe & Chic
The Choosy Chick
Integrity Botanicals
And be sure to check out the natural products in the skincare section of the b3 Shop!
Think of going green with your makeup routine as a marathon, not a sprint. You might not be able to overhaul your entire collection immediately, but over time you can build a healthy makeup bag you—and your skin—can feel good about.
With more than 80,000 chemicals on the market, it’s impossible to memorize all of them. Here are the top four to avoid in all beauty and personal-care products:
Parabens. Parabens are preservatives that protect products from microbial growth. However, they also happen to be carcinogenic, and they disrupt hormones. In fact, one study has shown that 99% of breast-cancer tissue biopsies show paraben esters. Sadly, this class of chemicals is used in almost every type of personal-care product! Natural products use non-toxic preservatives instead of parabens. Look for something that says “paraben -free” on the label.
Phthalates. These are preservatives, just like parabens, and they’re also added to products to give them a more plastic-like texture. A known carcinogen, phthalates are linked to organ toxicity, reproductive issues, asthma, and allergies.
Fragrance. This is actually a catch-all term for a cocktail of chemicals combined to create a particular scent. There are up to 3,100 chemicals that can be used to create fragrances, and in the United States it is not required for companies to disclose these ingredients. Fragrances can be carcinogenic, can cause organ and reproductive toxicity, contain parabens and phthalates, and are also highly allergenic. They’ve even been linked to birth defects, low-sperm motility, asthma, migraines, and more. Look for products that are unscented or are scented with pure essential oils instead.
Oxybenzone. Found in sunscreens, this is an endocrine disruptor, a known allergen, and it can cause damage at the cellular level. Swap your chemical SPF for mineral SPF products instead.
Do you have any favorite natural beauty products? Tell us about them in the comments below!
A few years ago, I learned the most shocking thing: The FDA doesn’t regulate the ingredients in makeup. It doesn’t even have the legal authority to do so. The last time there was any legislation regarding the ingredients in makeup was in 1938, and the United States currently bans only 11 toxic chemicals from being used in cosmetics (compare that with the European Union, which bans more than 1,300).
Why is this a problem? Because our skin—our largest organ—absorbs about 60% of what we put on it within seconds. This means that any toxic chemicals in our makeup aren’t just sitting on the surface until we wash them off—they’re seeping into our bodies. That’s serious cause for concern, since many common beauty ingredients are known carcinogens and endocrine (hormone) disruptors.
If you’re like me, this information probably makes you want to run to your makeup drawer and dump everything in the trash. But let’s be honest—if you use makeup, you’re probably not thrilled at the idea of going without, and replacing all your products in one fell swoop would be wildly expensive.
Instead, I recommend phasing out your stash gradually, starting with the biggest offenders. Here’s how:
- Get out your entire makeup collection out and display all together.
- Toss out anything that’s expired or seems like it’s gone bad (tell-tale clues are weird textures or funky smells).
- Make a pile of anything that’s still usable but not part of your regular routine.
- Of the remaining products, score them on EWG’s Skin Deep. Consider trashing any products that rate above a 3 on the 1-10 toxicity scale.
- Curate your non-toxic beauty collection. Start with the three items that cover the most skin: moisturizer, foundation, and an everyday lipstick.
When you’re ready to rebuild your makeup collection with non-toxic options, here are a few of my favorite online sources:
Eco Diva
Safe & Chic
The Choosy Chick
Integrity Botanicals
And be sure to check out the natural products in the skincare section of the b3 Shop!
Think of going green with your makeup routine as a marathon, not a sprint. You might not be able to overhaul your entire collection immediately, but over time you can build a healthy makeup bag you—and your skin—can feel good about.
With more than 80,000 chemicals on the market, it’s impossible to memorize all of them. Here are the top four to avoid in all beauty and personal-care products:
Parabens. Parabens are preservatives that protect products from microbial growth. However, they also happen to be carcinogenic, and they disrupt hormones. In fact, one study has shown that 99% of breast-cancer tissue biopsies show paraben esters. Sadly, this class of chemicals is used in almost every type of personal-care product! Natural products use non-toxic preservatives instead of parabens. Look for something that says “paraben -free” on the label.
Phthalates. These are preservatives, just like parabens, and they’re also added to products to give them a more plastic-like texture. A known carcinogen, phthalates are linked to organ toxicity, reproductive issues, asthma, and allergies.
Fragrance. This is actually a catch-all term for a cocktail of chemicals combined to create a particular scent. There are up to 3,100 chemicals that can be used to create fragrances, and in the United States it is not required for companies to disclose these ingredients. Fragrances can be carcinogenic, can cause organ and reproductive toxicity, contain parabens and phthalates, and are also highly allergenic. They’ve even been linked to birth defects, low-sperm motility, asthma, migraines, and more. Look for products that are unscented or are scented with pure essential oils instead.
Oxybenzone. Found in sunscreens, this is an endocrine disruptor, a known allergen, and it can cause damage at the cellular level. Swap your chemical SPF for mineral SPF products instead.
Do you have any favorite natural beauty products? Tell us about them in the comments below!
