MAKEUP BAG DETOX WEEK 3: Foundation

Think about your daily beauty routine. After you cleanse, possibly tone, and hopefully moisturize, one of the first products that lands on your face is foundation. That foundation will also become one of the last products you take off at the end of the day.  As your foundation is in contact with your skin, its ingredients are slowly being absorbed into your skin and eventually enter your blood stream. It’s been said that women who wear makeup everyday will absorb 5 pounds of chemicals from that makeup into their bodies each year (we couldn't believe it either! Check out this link).

Knowing this, do you know what ingredients you are exposing yourself to?

If you're not already using a non-toxic makeup, you are more than likely exposing yourself to a toxic soup of ingredients, including Parabens, petroleum products, and formaldehyde producing ingredients. Parabens are an inexpensive and effective preservative used to inhibit bacteria growth and extend the shelf life of a product. Even though they are known to be toxic and potentially cause allergic reactions and skin rashes, they are still widely used in skincare and personal care products. Parabens are considered to be hormone disruptors and have been found to mimic hormones in the body, which can be linked to breast cancer.

A known carcinogen and a petroleum byproduct, mineral oil is also commonly used in makeup and skincare products. According to John Hopkins University, it is the number 2 cause of aging. Mineral Oil dehydrates the skin and slows the rate of cell reproduction, which damages collagen, elastin, and connective tissues. This can lead to pesky fine lines and wrinkles. A scary and telling visual: soak one cracker in a glass of mineral oil and one in a glass of water. You'll notice that the cracker soaking in oil will remain crunchy, while the one in water will become soggy (check out our video demonstration here). The same goes for your skin. Mineral oil creates a barrier on your skin just like the cracker, blocking pores and the skin’s natural respiration, while, at the same time, trapping dirt and bacteria. 

For your health and the appearance of your skin, it is important that you avoid these toxic chemicals whenever possible.

PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD THE HEALTHY WAY:

• Avoid products that use Parabens. You can spot them on an ingredient label by looking for ingredients with the prefixes Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl.  IE Methylparaben
• Avoid products that use dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM), diazolidinyl urea, 1.3-diol and imidazolidinyl urea as they are formaldehyde-releasing agents, meaning they aren't applied as formaldehyde, but do become it once on the skin. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. 
  
• Avoid products that use Bismuth, which is a byproduct of heavy metal processing. It is a skin irritant, is known to clog pores, and can affect the respiratory system. Learn more about the dangers of Bismuth Oxychloride here.
  
• Be careful with products that use added SPF.  Avoid products that use oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting chemical linked with endocrine disruption and cell damage. We understand how important SPF is to the health of your skin, so use mineral makeups made with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, which are physical blocks to the sun.
• Avoid makeup containing artificial fragrance.  

For many, foundation is a must-have product for covering skin imperfections and helping to even out skin tone. Using a chemical-rich product may make your skin look instantly flawless, but its effects are short term. Once you take your makeup off, the same skin woes exist. Our customers have found that using non-toxic makeup not only provides a great look, but also improves their skin health so it looks just as stunning with or without makeup.