Baby Steps To Natural Living: Cosmetics and Nail Polish

Welcome back!


Today is the day, ladies. Today is the day we hear about what's REALLY been going on our faces. It's scary, I know... but there are some great alternatives & we can totally do this!


So, when you're a tween, the greatest thing you can imagine is the day you get to shave your legs, wear a bra and put on make up! Right? Now, WHY we all want to do these things is beyond me. WHY we want our chests to be bound, our faces to be covered and to forever be forced to shave your legs... I just don't understand. Nevertheless, most young girls want to!


Now here we all are, glowing at the young age of 25...


Wait! You don't get older either? ;)

Well, maybe not 25... but here we are. All these years later it's not for fun. We are putting on makeup to cover the imperfections, make ourselves look more awake, and possibly help us forget the wrinkles even if just for a moment. I could give some inspirational post here about loving the imperfections. I could encourage you to embrace the wrinkles and love your body because the wrinkles simply show us where we've smiled, laughed, grown, stretched. But like I said... here we are. Learning about the INGREDIENTS is what our focus is going to be on today.


When we reach for the foundation or the mascara, we probably aren't thinking about what is in it. BUT WE SHOULD. Because it's not good!


The big concern here is that toxins and metals can be absorbed through our skin. In particular, products put on lips, can then be ingested. Even fingernails are not exempt. Especially when put on little girls who might put their fingers in their mouths.


The Environmental Defense organization did a study where they tested different cosmetics for heavy metals. Why do heavy metals matter? According to Environmental Defense and numerous other articles and studies, they can build up in the body over time and are known to cause varied health problems, which can include: cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, neurological problems; memory loss; mood swings; nerve, joint and muscle disorders; cardiovascular, skeletal, blood, immune system, kidney and renal problems; headaches; vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea; lung damage; contact dermatitis; and brittle hair and hair loss. Many are suspected hormone disruptors and respiratory toxins, and for some like lead, there is no known safe blood level.

So... yeah. Bad news!

Here's what their study found:

• Seven of the eight metals of concern were found in 49 different face makeup items
• All products contained at least two metals of concern
• Some contained as many as seven of the eight in just a single product
• None of the metals were listed on the product label

This means you could be ingesting these toxic metals into your body and never even know!


The most notable part of this to me is that the products that contained the highest amounts of metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead (all of which do build in the body over time) were LIP GLOSSES, which means they are most likely getting ingested into our bodies!


No thank you!


And this is not the only study! There have been studies on cosmetics done by Contact Dermatitis, Environmental Working Group, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and the US-FDA. 


An Environmental Working Group analysis even found that at least 146 cosmetic ingredients may contain harmful impurities linked to cancer and other serious health impacts and that 80 per cent of the 9,747 personal care products studied contain these potentially contaminated ingredients, including more than 80 per cent of all lip balms (EWG, 2006). AND... lead, arsenic, heavy metals, and mercury were estimated to be potential impurities in 3.6, 3.5, 2.6, and 1.9 per cent of products. An example of ingredients that may have lead and other heavy metal impurities are D&C Red 6 and aluminum starch octenylsuccinate. 


Here's a fun fact, taken straight from the FDA's site though:
"The law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients (except for color additives not intended as coal-tar hair dyes) to have FDA approval before they go on the market..."


So, what does this mean? It means cosmetics are not regulated. It means that buying your makeup just got more complicated. So what are our options? 


First of all, we can use cosmetics less often. When you're home relaxing or just running to the grocery store... consider going makeup free. Or at least wear less. Embrace your face! 


Secondly, there are lots of DIY recipes. 
Check out the great pins for DIY cosmetics on my pinterest board!


Third, there are a couple of great companies that are making efforts to provide safe, toxin-free cosmetics. I've linked them below.

http://beautycounter.com
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
http://www.spiritbeautylounge.com/
http://www.afterglowcosmetics.com/
https://www.youniqueproducts.com/

So. That covers our faces, but what about another cosmetic that doesn't go on the face? 


NAIL POLISH


Here are a few of the chemicals in nail polish that you should be aware of:


Formaldehyde- a known carcinogen (cancer-causing)


Dibutyl Phthalate- (recognize that word?) endocrine disruptor, harmful to reproduction, linked to liver and kidney damage


Toluene- The paint thinner smell that can be found in human milk when the mother is exposed & can cause toxic developmental hazard


Formaldehyde Resins- skin irritation, dermititis, environmentally toxic


Camphor- nausea, headaches, dizziness


Luckily there are some great options that are 5-free, removing these 5 toxic chemicals:
www.pritinyc.com
Occmakeup.com
www.rgbcosmetics.com
http://www.mineralfusion.com/


There's one company I've really fallen in love with though... JAMBERRY NAILS!!!

They're non-toxic, gluten-free, latex-free, made in the USA, vegan-friendly nail wraps & 5-free nail lacquers. 

The wraps stay on my fingers for 2 weeks, on my toes for way longer. Honestly, even at 2 weeks they still look great, but my nails have grown out by then so that's why I remove & put fresh ones on. I just really love these & because they never chip or peel, I always look clean & professional. As a doula, I use my hands for my work. These help me look and feel put together, even if I am not! Haha!

As always, here are a few links to keep learning. There are links within these articles as well that could keep you researching for hours! ​


New Study Finds Major Toxins in Many Cosmetics
99% of Breast Cancer Patients Have Parabens in Their Body
Chemicals in Cosmetics