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Want beauty that’s more than skin deep? Then it could be time to ditch that cosmetic counter foundation and drugstore mascara for all-natural options that don’t just hide flaws and highlight your features, they also promote healthy skin. “Many women are afraid to make the switch to natural makeup because they fear they won’t get professional results,” says Eva Scrivo, host of “Beauty Talk with Eva Scrivo” on Sirius Satellite Radio. “But natural products will enhance your skin’s health and bring out your beauty.” Cosmetics that have eliminated skin-irritating allergens and replaced potentially harmful ingredients with beneficial ones derived from minerals and plant extracts are the best bet for getting a healthy glow from your brows to your bottom lip. Read on to find out our favorites.
Lips
why switch
Lip gloss and lipstick can include ingredients like these:
- Polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG), a liquid used to soften cream-like cosmetics. Products with PEGs may include 1,4-dioxane, an ingredient that has been documented as dangerous by the Food and Drug Administration.
- Synthetic dyes and perfumes, which can cause cheilitis, an inflammation and cracking of the lips.
- Petrolatum, a moisturizer similar to mineral oil, which forms a coating over the skin, clogging pores and trapping toxins inside. “Since we ingest a fair amount of lipstick when we eat, I think this is a great place to start making the switch to natural makeup,” says Scrivo.
- Alba TerraGloss gives your kisser a shimmery finish and keeps it soft and supple with natural moisturizers like shea butter and vitamin E.
$6.
800.227.5120; albabotanica.com
- Not only is Cargo PlantLove Lipstick formulated from natural ingredients like mango seed oil, but the tube is made from corn (yes, corn!), so it’s biodegradable. You can plant the outer carton for fresh blooms—it’s created from flower paper—and $2 from the sale of each lipstick goes to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
$20.
877.737.4672; sephora.com
Eyes
why switch
Many brands of eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara contain the following:
- Parabens, preservatives that can cause allergic reactions—like puffy, red eyes. Paraben absorption was linked to breast cancer in a 2004 study that was published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.
- Lanolin, a fat from the oil glands of sheep that can cause skin irritation.
- Animal pigments: “Avoid carmine or cochineal, which is made from beetle wings,” advises Hema Sundaram, MD, a Washington-based cosmetic surgeon, dermatologist and author of Face Value: The Truth about Beauty—and a Guilt-Free Guide to Finding It.
- Suncoat Natural Mascara replaces synthetic chemicals with a sugar-based formula that keeps it from clumping and running.
$15.
519.820.5468; suncoatproducts.com
- Beeswax and jojoba oils give The Alchemist’s Apprentice Alchemy of Color Eyeliner a hydrating base so you won’t have to pull on your eyelids to spread color.
$11.50.
770.992.2121; alchemistsapprentice.com
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Expert Tips
“You’re going to experience a different texture, smell and even longevity with natural makeup,” says makeup artist Eva Scrivo, who educates clients at her eponymous salon in New York on how to get professional results at home. “But the key to beautiful makeup is always in technique.”
- When trying a new foundation, apply a layer and let it dry to compare the amount of coverage to the product you’ve been using. “Some natural products are a bit thinner than conventional brands,” says Scrivo.
- Don’t let mascara dry completely before you put on another coat, Scrivo advises. Building on a wet surface prevents lashes from clumping.
- Use the right tools for the task and you’ll get professional results no matter what kind of makeup you’re applying, Scrivo says. Vegan companies Urban Decay (urbandecay.com) and Sevi Cosmetics (sevicosmetics.com) offer a variety of cruelty-free brushes made from taklon, a synthetic alternative to animal hair.
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Face
why switch
Conventional foundation, concealer and blush could be exposing you to the following ingredients:
- Talc, a drying powder from talc rocks, which can cause lung problems. Talc can also contain asbestos, a cancer-causing ingredient.
- Mineral oil, a petroleum derivative that doesn’t allow the skin to breathe and can cause acne, says Sundaram.
- Isopropyl myristate, an absorption aid in cream-based products, which clogs pores.
- Zuzu Luxe Oil Free Liquid Foundation SPF 18 is waterbased (which means it has no added oils) and glides on easily for light but longlasting coverage.
$22.50/1 oz.
800.497.6419; gabrielcosmeticsinc.com
- Nvey Eco Organic Powder Blush uses a jojoba oil base to spread smoothly into skin for allday color, and protects from free radicals—molecules in the body that can attack healthy cells—with vitamins A, C and E.
$29.
888.683.9625; econveybeauty.com
Makeup Remover
why switch
Cosmetic cleansers may contain the following:
- Acetone, a flammable liquid that can cause skin rashes and may irritate lungs.
- Perfumes, which can induce allergic reactions in sensitive skin.
- Aubrey Organics Herbessence Makeup Remover was made for all makeup, but works especially well at removing mascara and eyeliner while it conditions skin with sweet almond and avocado oils.
$7/2 oz.
800.282.7394; aubrey-organics.com
- Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads use a combination of natural astringents witch hazel and tea tree oil (an essential oil that’s also an antiseptic) to remove deepdown makeup residue without drying out your face.
$6.80/50 pads.
800.439.5506; mothernature.com
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or we could all wake up, wash our faces and see just how beautiful we really are. We don't need to make anything up. The truth is we are beautiful and perfect just the way we look naturally... besides it's free
I love the Nui body care line that can be found at Equita--Essentials for Ethical Living. The coconut oil is an amazing base and I feel like my skin is the softest its ever been. Not only is it vegan certified, but also organic and fair trade.
http://www.shopequita.com/bodycare.htm
LOVE Mary-Grace's comment about realizing how beautiful we are without makeup, but I'm afraid to be seen without it!! I highly recommend Bare Escentuals mineral makeup. It's pure, natural, actually improves skin and offers flawless coverage. Really nice products. Check it out!
I also love mineral makeup however, watch the ingredients. Bare Essentials is processed with bismuth oxychloride which (if your allergic to it like myself) can cause a horrible and painful skin rash. I switched to Larenim mineral makeup and love it. It truly is all natural and has helped me achieve the healthiest skin I've ever had.
Make up to me is fun like art - but it is hard to find safe cosmetics. I don't think I'll give it up entirely anytime soon as I don't purchase much anyway so the expense/packaging is minimal. I have really enjoyed the TerraGloss I tried after reading about it here. Also I've switched to the mineral makeup but didn't know about the brand mentioned.
It is great to have a forum to share ideas and recommendations and I love Mary-Grace's comments! Be beautiful with yourself! But some of us need a bit more help ~ so I found a wonderful skin care, color & health and wellness line in 2005 and loved it all so much that I am now sharing it with others. You all might enjoy it too ~ Arbonne is Swiss-formulated, vegan-certified, botanically-based and pure, safe & beneficial. Shopping is all online and you can even join Arbonne's wholesale network for only $29...with no obligations ~ just 35-80% off each time you shop ~ a great deal and SO convenient. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 877.752.4463. ~ Here's to everyone's wellness! Cheers.
i love almay, they have the best makeup out there that is animal safe!
I love Sevi Cosmetics, they have quality environmental friendly, vegan mineral makeup. Their makeup brushes are made with Taklon instead of animal hair and they are the best brushes I have ever used!
A great mineral make-up brand is Everyday Minerals-- their powders have great coverage, only 4 ingredients (no bismuth oxychloride) and a natural SPF. This is the only make-up I have EVER found that makes me look and feel beautiful and doesn't make my skin itchy, red, or break out. The company is also super great about helping you select colors-- just send them a photo and you get a response from a real person! (sorry if this sounds like a fake ad, I'm just so happy to have actually found something that works for my skin)
I am wondering if there is any correlation to my use of bare essentual products and my severe sinus infection over the past year. I use the product exclusively but I've had to have nasal surgery and I'm trying to find and eliminate the cause. Though like several others, I prefer to have a little help in the way of make-up.
I used to have sinus infections several times a year. Then, I was advised to use a homeopathic item called Allerplex. I've used it daily (am and pm) ever since and it has been over three years since my last sinus infection. (I use Bare Escentuals makeup before and after the sinus problem.)
I loved vitamin E so much I used it topically whenever I had an opportunity.
Now I am sensitized to it and there is very little out there I can use. The University dermatologist I saw told me that vitamin E was notorious for causing skin reactions.
So if you are having problems with your skin. Might look to see that you also have had too much of a good thing.
I, too, have been suffering from a chronic sinus infection, Lynn. I've noticed that when I put on Bare Minerals, I tend to end up with some of the powder within my nostrils. I am wondering if my chronic allergies and sinusitis have anything to do with this. I have been going to an ENT for the past 6 months. We still haven't figured out the source of my problems.
Makeup can be fun - even ancient cultures enjoyed natural makeup, so I too tend to feel I won't be giving it up completely.
Quercitin 2 or 3 times a day has solved most of my allergy problems - even though I live in an area that is very problematic with all types of allergens - not to mention pollution. Also eating very little sugar has helped me greatly in that regard.
I started using Bare Escentuals about a month ago and have had sinusitis culminating in this severe sinus infection. I too am trying to rule out certain things. This morning, I did not use the BE products. I will see if there is any improvement over the next few days not using it.
Bare Minerals contains Bismuth Oxychloride, which is a heavy metal and a byproduct of lead refining. There's an article about it here: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Starner1.html. This ingredient is what causes acne, rashes, irritations, and itching in some users (myself included). I wouldn't be surprised if it causes sinus problems as well. There are many mineral makeups without Bismuth Oxychloride. Personally, I use everyday minerals, but I encourage you to shop around and try any mineral makeup without this ingredient to see if it makes a difference.
I absolutely love using eco-friendly beauty products, I have been using them for a few years now...If I put products that I know and are earth friendly IN my body, therefore I should put them ON my body...a no brainer(same applies to my house)!!!
I had to give the BE away. It was definitely the source of my allergic reaction resulting in a terrible sinus infection. It is made with corn products which I do not get along with. I was sorry to have to do this. It was an expensive mistake.
Had serious reaction to foundation powder which contained Bismuth Oxychloride. Still have the itching sensation, skin actually burned, roughened. No warning label on cosmetic by Maybelline. Going on over 2 weeks now and 2 visits to dermatologists. Nothing has been able to stop the itch/burn. Skin peeled some. Swelling under eyes. Eyes also felt itchy. Bad, Bad cosmetic by Maybelline without any warning labels re: Bismuth Oxychloride
Thanks for all the info !! There are great vegan mineral makeup sellers on ETSY.com. Check out
sobebotanicals.etsy.com she has great products.
While you are there stop by Sharrona's handcrafted
designs @ etsy.com. If you have not checked out
ETSY yet you will love it. You'll find everything there.
Check it out,.
I have recently become addicted to Aveda products. I used Bare Minerals in the past and found it too powdery, itchy, and it took too long to put on all of those layers! I now use Aveda's Inner Light Dual Foundation and I absolutely love it. I just apply it with a brush and it literally takes 15 seconds. Within a few weeks of using it, my skin cleared up. I feel like applying that makeup actually does something good for my skin. I'm now starting to slowly replace all of my cosmetics with their natural products like mascara, lip gloss, etc., which don't use petroleum based ingredients or things like carmine.
I love the comments here and I have to say that I wish all the best in the world to Mary Grace who elects to go au natural. I am just vain enough to want my skin to look its best and want to be pretty at the non-profit events I photograph. I have found that I can achieve that "glow" look by starting with a liquid foundation to even out my skin tone, then add some good powders. But I think the liquids are the source of my rash around my nose--itchy, scaly, redness. So I'm looking for a good liquid foundation that doesn't have all these terrible chemicals in it that I'm reading about. If anyone has a favorite that's tried and true, please let me know.
What a great article - thank you! Very helpful, and the comments are helpful too. In addition to being safer, natural makeup tends to be more animal-friendly, too. If anyone's interested, I keep a list of cosmetics companies that don't do animal testing, and within that list are also brands that are totally vegan. It's at www.MyMakeupMirror.com
Best,
Suzann