Is Your Makeup Toxic? Mine Was!
When I first began living the natural lifestyle over a decade ago what I knew about natural living was only the tip of the iceberg. I understood that aerosol hairspray was probably bad, that I needed to use natural deodorant and that petroleum-based products weren’t great, but I really had no idea just how junky and toxic most cosmetics were.While I was wary of many popular bath and body products, it didn’t occur to me for years to question the ingredients in my lipstick and foundation. When I finally started digging into the information on makeup ingredients, I was shocked and really bummed. While I’ve never been a girly girl who likes experimenting with makeup, I do enjoy creating a natural look that enhances what I was born with.
I sought out more natural brands of cosmetics, but as I researched further I found that many of them still contained ingredients that I didn’t want to put on my skin (or ingest, as is the case with lipstick). I began making my own personal care products like body wash and facial moisturizer, but by then I was a busy mom and I didn’t have the time to make all of my own makeup, too. Finally, a couple of years ago, I stopped wearing makeup at all.
A few months ago, a friend of mine, who is also into natural living, introduced me to Beauty Counter. Now I am restocking my cosmetics bag with beautiful, non-toxic makeup. I’ll tell you more about Beauty Counter, but first let’s talk about the toxins in makeup and the risks they pose to you and your family.
What’s in Your Makeup?
Did you know that the United States has not passed a law to regulate the ingredients in personal care products since 1938. It is incomprehensible when the European Union has protected its citizens by banning more than 1300 ingredients over the past two decades while the US has only banned 11.
American cosmetics companies create products that contain ingredients that are known to be carcinogens, hormone-disruptors, skin irritants, toxic to organs and body systems and allergenic.
If your makeup or personal care items contain any of the follow ingredients, it’s time to start using better products:
Benzalkonium chloride,
Benzophenone and derivatives,
Bisphenol A (BPA),
Butoxyethanol,
BHA and BHT,
1,4-dioxane,
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),
Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA),
Formaldehyde, Hydroquinone,
Methyl cellosolve,
Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone,
Mercury and mercury compounds (also listed as Thimerosal),
Mineral Oil (also listed as liquid paraffin; liquid petrolatum; paraffin oil),
Oxybenzone, Parabens (methyl-, isobutyl-, proply- and others),
Phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP and others),
Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds),
Retinyl palmitate and Retinol (Vitamin A),
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES),
Synthetic flavor or fragrance,
Toluene,
Triclosan and Triclocarban.
Beauty Counter to the Rescue!
When my friend introduced me to Beauty Counter I was naturally skeptical. I use homemade personal care products and Young Living products because I know I can trust them. I’d been burned (once quite literally) by other “natural” cosmetics before.
As I began to research the company, however, I was pleasantly surprised time and again by their standards. Once I began using Beauty Counter products, I knew I had something worth sharing you guys.
Beauty Counter’s mission is to get safe products into the hands of everyone. It’s simple, right? Thank goodness someone has stepped up to provide us with a safe, natural option for cosmetics. Beauty Counter has the strictest ingredient selection process in the industry.
Beauty Counter has stepped up when other cosmetic companies have not. They’ve created safe, beautiful personal care and makeup products for those of us who are seeking better, safer beauty.
Do Beauty Counter Products Work?
Yes! Beauty Counter products work . . . well . . . beautifully! The true test for me was using their lovely Tint Skin Foundation and Mattify Skin Finishing Powder. It has made my skin look as a flawless as my favorite department store products once did — except without all of the nasty ingredients, of course!
Beauty Counter has a full line of cosmetics for face, eyes, cheeks and lips and a range of application tools. Beauty Counter also offers many personal care items for adults and children. Their collection of natural cosmetics and personal care products is growing, as well. I’m so excited to see what they add next.
So, ditch your toxic beauty routine and go check out Beauty Counter!
