How hard is it to find makeup free of harmful chemicals?
It’s not if you look in the right place.
How important is it to use makeup free of harmful chemicals? It can be very important and essential for a healthy skin.
One makeup product may contain several chemicals which may prevent you from having a healthy skin (on the interior and the exterior).
Going for makeup free of harmful chemicals can be a great choice. Take the chemical-free eyeliner as an example.
These products are usually a combination of healthy ingredients and amazing results.
Let me tell you more about the benefits of these products.
Benefits of using makeup free of harmful chemicals
No harsh chemicals on your face
Harmful chemicals can be harsh on your skin. Some may cause irritations, others may give you itchiness.
There may be cases when you may experience nothing. No rashes or any other unpleasant sensation.
This depends on your skin type and your body, in general.
Harmful chemicals can also have some long-term effects. Some of them have been linked to health problems.
The main idea is these chemicals may pose a threat to your health.
Avoiding them may prevent this from happening and makeup free of harmful chemicals can be a great alternative.
To make sure these makeup products are indeed free of harmful chemicals, check the ingredients list. I’ll show you later a list of commonly found chemicals you may want to avoid.
Offer wonderful results
Makeup products which are free of harmful chemicals can offer great results.
The chemicals found in many products do not define the quality of the product.
What you need to keep in mind is there may be a difference between these products and conventional ones.
Because they use different ingredients, some may last longer, others may have more intense colors.
Of course, there may be no difference, but take into consideration this aspect when buying makeup free of harmful chemicals.
Look for product reviews and ask people (you know) who have tried them about their honest opinion related to these chemical-free makeup products. This can help you pick the appropriate product for your needs.
Harmful chemicals in makeup
If you tried to look at the ingredients list of a cosmetic product, you came across a tiny list which is usually hard to read. Just think of a mascara package.
When or after you manage to read it, you realize you are dealing with ingredients you have little or no idea about.
Here are a few examples of chemicals found in many makeup products.
Parabens
Parabens are probably one of the most common chemicals found in makeup products.
They are used as preservatives and enable products to have long shelf lives.
They are pretty easy to recognize on the package. Here are a few examples:
- butylparaben
- ethylparaben
- isobutylparaben
- methylparaben
- propylparaben
The problem with parabens is they have been linked to health issues related to the reproductive, immune, and nervous system.
PEG compounds
Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are chemicals which increase the penetration of ingredients in your skin.
They are petroleum-based and can make cosmetics soft and thick.
PEG compounds can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide. Both are considered human carcinogens and can pose a threat to health.
Lead
Lead is an ingredient which is not necessarily added to makeup products. It ends up in cosmetics through contamination (of color additives and other ingredients).
The problem is that lead is a neurotoxin and it has been linked to fertility issues.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a chemical which can be released by other makeup ingredients during certain processes.
Formaldehyde can cause different health problems such as irritations, breathing problems, and a bloody nose.
If you’re interested in this topic, check out formaldehyde-free paper towels.
Petroleum distillates
These chemicals are mostly found in mascara products.
As its name says it, petroleum distillates are extracted from petroleum. They have been linked to dermatitis.
Other chemicals you may want to keep an eye open for:
- fragrances
- siloxanes
- triclosan
- octinoxate
- BHA & BHT
- quaternium-15
- carbon black