All makeup products will include chemicals, everything contains some kind of chemical compound.
The important thing to know is, which are the harmful ones?
Our skin is our largest organ and what we put on our skin is absorbed into our systems.
On my journey to making everything I use as nasty free as possible, I have compiled a list of my top 5 to watch out for (sadly there are plenty of others).
Avoid List
1. PHTHALATES
These are hormone disrupters. They can leak into your endocrine system and cause hormone imbalances. – we definitely don’t want that?
2. PARABENS
Used as a preservative, to improve shelf life. Some products can be years old by the time you actually get to use them. These too are known to be hormone disrupters, as they can mimic oestrogen in the body.
Studies show that almost every cancerous breast tumour contains parabens https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22237600/
3. FORMALDEHYDE
Also used as a preservative. It is cariogenic and known to aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions.
4. OXYBENZONE
If your foundation or tinted moisturiser contains an SPF, it may also contain oxybenzone. This nasty can affect your thyroid and can hang about on your skin and in your blood stream for days. Increasing damage and causing disruptions all over the body.
(Also check your sunscreen!)
5. TRICLOSAN
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent once used in antibacterial soaps. In 2016, it was banned from soap in 2016 but still appears in makeup. Triclosan can contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria and gut inflammation.
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Sorry to be all doomy and gloomy. The good news is, many companies are doing their best to avoid all of the above.
Green science (blend of science and nature) is constantly finding new ways of using plant based materials to protect us from harm.
Because cosmetics are in relatively small sizes, it’s often hard to read the labels. Especially if you need glasses.
Get your magnifying glass out, or do what I did and find a brand you can completely trust!
Good luck and let me know if I can help with any product guidance.
Alison x
