Summer 2010 issue--It is no secret that the makeup women apply can contain harmful chemicals and additives that are doing more damage than good, but it seems like we often forget. While our faces may look flawless, we are paying the price both environmentally and internally.
Until recently, organic or “green” makeup meant that women had little choice between makeup lines, or even styles of makeup. But today’s market has ushered in a plethora of new, environmentally responsible and good-for- you makeup lines. Greening your makeup routine may be easier than you think!
As we already know, not all makeup is created equal. While reading labels is one way to decipher what’s in your makeup, it can also feel like reading Greek. Cosmeticdatabase.com allows you to look at makeup lines and their specific products and gives them a rating on a scale of 0 to 10 on how environmentally hazardous they are (they even give lists of makeup to avoid because of certain toxic chemicals) – “0” means they are pristinely crafted for the environment, and “10” is a definite red flag that you may want to go with a different choice.
In looking through my own makeup collection, I was surprised at the different ratings my makeup got.
Starting with the basics
You may not be able to toss your entire makeup collection all at once, and that’s understandable. But making small changes is a great start. I recommend that you begin with the items in your makeup repertoire that you use most often. This would include foundation, blush, mascara and eye shadows.
Foundation
Many women use foundation, in either power or cream form. Today there are lots of foundations to choose from, no matter what your budget. My personal favorite is Jane Iredale’s mineral makeup line, but when I can’t afford to splurge on their all natural mineral foundation, my second choice is L’Oreal’s Bare Naturale Collection, which is about $15. It lasts forever, comes with a built in brush, and gives even (barely there) coverage. Both of these lines are endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation, and boast their exclusion of preservatives and fragrances while protecting you from harmful UV rays.
On Cometicdatabase.com, Jane Iredale shows pretty great ratings of anywhere from 0-4, with the average being about a 2. L’Oreal didn’t stack up as well by comparison, especially for their general line of products, but the Bare Naturale Collection did get a 3 or 4, depending on the pigment.
Blush/bronzer
Moving on to the cheeks, I am a huge fan of the Physician’s Formula organic line. Not only it is good for sensitive skin, but it is also environmentally friendly. They use 93 percent less plastic than other lines, and they never use genetically modified plant products, which is something we can all feel good about. I like the shimmery, natural tone it gives my cheeks, and it is easy to find because it is available in most retail stores as well as online.
They got a fairly good rating on their products from Cosmeticdatabase.com, but I was surprised to see that the blush got a 4 and 5, which isn’t horrible, but for an organic line, I felt it should be higher. However, many of their other products had lower scores, which was comforting.
Eyes
As for mascara, I take this very seriously because eyes are so important. So you want to use a high-quality product on your eyes, especially. For this reason, I would stick to organic mascara. Period. Physician’s Formula has the best deal going, for their organic mascara, at only $9.95 a tube! I also love Jane Iredale’s mascaras, as they never clump and feel feather light on my lashes.
For your eyeshadow, there are lots of choices, and one name in organic makeup making a big hit throughout the globe is Nvey Eco. Based out of Australia, their products are now more widely available. They have several wonderful shades to satisfy any palette – from a dramatic eye to a dreamy one, you can find just what you need.
Cosmeticdatabase.com only had a few Nvey Eco products listed, but they had low scores, with the highest being a 3. So these products really get my stamp of approval.
We all feel a responsibility to our environment, but sometimes we tend to forget that extends to ourselves as well. Harmful preservatives and chemicals that have been banned in Europe are still making their way into our own cosmetics in America.
The best defense we have is a good offense — and that means being a smart consumer, and voting with your dollar. By supporting environmentally sound cosmetic companies, you will not only look and feel better, but you will not be supporting the use of such elements in our makeup.
With tools like Costmeticdatabase.com, you can be sure that you are getting what you are buying, or find out surprising details about your favorite brand of makeup.
To find a list of the top 20 most common cosmetic chemicals, please visit: http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com/cosmetic-toxins.html#topten.
