Hello there ladies! I hope that everyone had a great weekend and that you’re all staying warm and toasty, as the weather gets chillier. This week I’ll be letting you all know about toxins in makeup. Did you know that makeup is the FDA’s least regulated product? It’s extremely important for us to know exactly what we are applying to our faces. Either on a regular basis or just for the occasional event, we all wear makeup. Toxins in makeup have been proven to lead to organ failure, aged skin, and even cancer. I’m going to list several dangerous makeup ingredients that are used in commonly used products so that you can avoid them! Even if your makeup products say “Natural” and “Healthy” on them be sure to still make sure that they do not contain these ingredients.
Lead: Lead has been known to be poisonous. It can damage the nervous system and can cause blood and brain disorders. Lead has also been linked to miscarriage, reduced fertility in both men and women, and learning/behavioral problems. Lead builds in the body over time, and when women apply makeup every day it can have an effect on them. It has mostly been found in many different lipsticks. Besides lipsticks lead is also in sunscreens, foundation, nail colors, and whitening toothpaste.
Talc: Talc or Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide has many different uses. It is an ingredient in paints, rubber, and talcum powder (baby powder). Not only is this ingredient bad for the body itself, but when used in foundation it can also clog the pores as well as overly-dry the skin. The Cancer Prevention Coalition claims “Talc found in cosmetics is very dangerous.”
Parabens: Parabens are found in a wide variety of cosmetics besides makeup. They have been proven to penetrate the skin and can be traced in the blood stream minutes after application. Isn’t that insane? They have also been shown to lead to breast cancer. Yes, cancer! When you look at your product’s ingredients look for these parabens: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben. They’re all commonly used and they could be a great potential threat to your health.
Keep all of these ingredients in mind the next time you’re buying/applying makeup. Remember ladies; never forget to read the label! Since we absorb 60% of what we put onto our faces, it’s always a good idea to check product’s ingredients before you make your purchase. It’s the safe and smart thing to do. You can only benefit from doing so. Many women, including myself, love makeup. Don’t be discouraged about dangerous makeup, because there are alternatives! Stay tuned for next week’s blog telling you all about the toxic-free products that are out there! Keep on being beautiful and of course green!