Reason #4: Mineral Makeup is Safe
While there are many reasons to make the switch to mineral makeup and safer skin care products.
The skin is your largest organ and one of the most overlooked when it comes to maintaining your health. Although it repels water from entering your body, your skin absorbs many other substances that may be present in makeup and skin care products.
Some of these ingredients are known carcinogens (cancer-causing) and/or hormone disruptors that can cause severe health problems with prolonged exposure, especially when they are used together with more than one makeup product. Harmful ingredients in makeup are known to create a ‘cocktail’ effect. While individual ingredients are not as harmful when used on their own, they become much more toxic when mixed together with chemical ingredients.
Many makeup brands in the U.S. still use traditional makeup formulas, which contain ingredients that are known to harm humans. While many countries have banned these ingredients in cosmetics due to the known health risks to women, men, fetuses and the environment, the U.S. has not. This leaves women in the U.S. especially vulnerable to makeup brands that claim to be ‘all natural’ while concealing their full list of ingredients. (link to ‘why they are allowed to do this?)
Without boring you with the details of every harmful chemical that is used in traditional makeup formulas, there are a few major categories of ingredients you should look for, and steer clear of, when making your next cosmetic purchase.
Parabens
Parabens are preservatives that help increase the shelf life of cosmetics. Parabens are known to cause disruptions in the endocrine system (hormone system) in humans, causing unforeseen health issues related to hormonal imbalances.
Parabens may be listed as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben and benzylparaben
Dyes and Perfumes
Dyes are used in many types of cosmetics and often listed as a color with an assigned number, like Blue 1. Perfumes and scents in makeup are known to cause allergic reactions in many. While there are many reasons to make the switch to mineral makeup, one stands out among the others: when you use mineral makeup, you are safe from toxic chemicals.
How to Avoid Toxic Makeup
Read cosmetics labels and pay close attention to both the ingredients and the claims on the packaging. Steer clear of makeup that claims to be “mineral enriched”. It probably contains ingredients you’d rather keep off your face.