If you have been keeping abreast of the latest updates about the cosmetics industry, you probably know by now that most of the mainstream makeup that we use daily, are full of extremely harmful chemicals. Yes – many of the products that we apply on our face can actually cause cancer and serious birth defects.
Before we pooh pooh these ideas (after all, how much can a bit of BB Cream or eyeliner hurt you?), we would do well to remember that skin is the largest organ in our body, and 1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer this year. Would you voluntarily expose this organ to cancer causing chemicals each and every day? I hope the answer is no… Yet, that is what each of us is doing on a daily basis.
Much has been made of the fact that the EU has banned about 1,400 different chemicals from cosmetics and personal care products, while the U.S. has banned a paltry 11.
Yes, we all know that we should be careful about the ingredients that go into our cosmetics and personal care products, but with so many brands flooding the market, how do we decide which products are good for us? Usually, we go for the reputed brands, assuming that such big names will never make a product that will harm our health. And yet, most of the time, these big names are also the biggest offenders. They’re all about maximizing profit, and they have lobbyists and legal teams to cover up their misdeeds.
Most of the major drugstore and department store brands fall woefully short on safety and environmental standards, even though they may be very popular. As a typical example of mainstream cosmetics brands, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics checked for the most dangerous chemicals that have already been proven to be highly toxic, and found that all of the drugstore and department store products (like Maybelline, Clinique, L’Oreal and similar brands) either openly contained these toxic ingredients, or contained them in secret (as an unlisted ‘contamination’).
The bottom line is that drugstore and department store brand makeup and cosmetics are simply not safe.
As consumers, it is both our right and duty to be mindful about the cosmetics that we use and to ensure that we shun any products which can pose a health hazard to us and our children. Once we start avoiding products that are harmful, we will hit the cosmetic giants where it hurts most –their revenues and bottom lines– forcing them to swap out the most dangerous ingredients for (hopefully) safer ones. It is up to each one of us to make that happen.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), “Nearly 90% of the 10,500 ingredients the FDA has determined are used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA or any other publicly accountable institution.”
Fortunately, there are several nonprofits that have taken it upon themselves to analyze and rate the various personal care products that are available in the market. Tools like GoodGuide and the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database provide critical health information about many consumer items including personal care products. And if you want to check how effective these products are, then sites like Beautypedia and the user reviews on Amazon provide useful information (keep in mind that there are a lot of fake consumer reviews out there!)
Here’s a great video that explains how so many toxins end up in our makeup:
So, the next time you buy any of your favorite makeup, visit a few websites like EWG Skin Deep and GoodGuide and see if they withstand the safety test… or simply purchase products from your health food store that have zero ingredients that sound like chemicals.
Well, aside from the organic products mentioned here. I just really stick to the more natural way of washing my face with plain water or using diluted apple cider vinegar as my toner and sometimes I also make my own mask and face scrubs using sugar and coconut oil. I guess it is cheaper and you are sure it is chemical free.
Wow! You just gave me bright ideas that I can follow. I am broke so I really do not have much to spend on skincare and makeup. Your suggestions are helpful and I am sure I can just grab the ingredients from our pantry.
Since Korean skincare became popular, I have seen many girls pile on different products on their faces. I get that being pretty is something everyone would like but how about getting broke from all those products?It is not good as well.
When I’m on the run, I just put on a moisturizer and sunblock and then I am ready to go. But sometimes, it still takes me time to wait until the moisturizer is fully absorbed before I can top it off with sunblock. This Devita is good because it is already a moisturizer and sunblock all in one. I just found it on Amazon, just now. Hehe!
My sunblock is sticky and takes a long time to be absorbed by my skin. I have never seen this Devita brand but I will look for it now and maybe this will work better on mine. Thanks!
I just learned recently that sunblock is very important and you have to put some every day even if you won’t go out. And so I looked for a sunblock that can work for me and there are tons in the department store. I have tried the cheapest one and unfortunately, it gave my skin red spots so I stopped it and then I saw this Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30. I was thrilled when I knew it was 100 Vegan and paraben free. And I like it mild scent too and it is really working just great on my face.
I have a lot of acne scars because my face is very sensitive since I was a teenager. I have tried a lot of products and also consulted dermatologists and they were able to at least dry up all the acne but it left so many scars. It’s been 3 months now that I am using this Acure Argan Oil and I think my scars are lightened now. And my sensitive face didn’t react poorly to the product, so I guess I will continue to use this.
I just bought my Acure Facial Cleansing Gel. I have an oily skin, and this is the best facial ash that works great on my skin so far. It has a mild scent and very gentle on skin. Ever since I use this, I rarely have breakouts and my friends noticed it. I highly recommend this brand.
Since I have a normal to dry skin, mine is the facial cleansing creme. It is from the same brand Acure and this is what my friend told me to use and when I did, it worked.
It is good that the market offers now different alternatives. Like for me, I just went Vegan recently and I can still drink milk because there are options now like Almond or Soya milk you can get from the traditional cow milk.
When I first knew about the Badgers, I got really excited. I have heard good reviews about their products and it was good to know that the company is family-owned and family-run. I have tried their soaps ad they are all good and worth the money.
I have tried these Badger soaps and they are all amazing. I like how mild they are in my face and body. They do not also have a strong scent that we like. I personally like the Rose Geranium Soap, it smells so good and it keeps my face moisturized.
My wife has very sensitive skin and we were in the hunt for good natural soap that she can use. I would tell this to her. Thanks!