What makeup products are making you sick?

Even though the brand you use has words like “all-natural” and “organic” on its bottle, the product can be loaded with chemicals, parabens, phthalates, nitrosamines, lead, and other harmful ingredients that are absorbed into your body. I can’t tell you how many times someone has called me asking to compare my lines with such and such products, and with rare exceptions, when I checked the ingredient list of their products, I found that they were far from organic or all-natural. If fact, while there might be a few herbal ingredients listed, there were plenty of unhealthy toxic ingredients.

There are no regulations in the beauty industry, so manufacturers can use any ingredients they want. And when you make products for mass consumption, you need those products to have a long shelf life. This means lots of chemicals and preservatives are added that are harmful to your health.

Before I decide to recommend a product line, the first thing I look at is the ingredient list. I also verify the products with the  Environmental Working Group’s online safety profiles for cosmetics and personal care products. They rate products based on the ingredients, and have three scoring ranges, the lower the score the safer the product:

• 0-2 GREEN are the safest products
• 3-6 ORANGE for moderately safe products
• 7-10 RED for hazardous products

All beauty and hygiene products carried by InspiredLiving.com fall within the 0-2 GREEN zone (except lip gloss, which is a 3) So, if you’re looking for a high quality makeup brand that won’t make you more sick, you might try theirs.

Aricle from latest Carol James of Inspired Living newsletter.

In recent years, there have been concerns about potentially harmful chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products sold in the United States, including heavy metals, phthalates, formaldehyde, and other chemicals.

Some of these toxic chemicals have been found in makeup products sold by well-known brands, including products marketed toward children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates cosmetics in the United States, but it does not require pre-market approval or testing for safety. Instead, companies are responsible for ensuring the safety of their own products, and the FDA can take action if there are reports of adverse reactions or if a product is found to be misbranded or adulterated.

It is important for consumers to be informed about the potential risks associated with cosmetics and personal care products, and to take steps to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals. This may include reading product labels, choosing products that are free from known toxic chemicals, and advocating for stronger regulations to ensure the safety of these products.

Here are 15 ingredients found in your makeup products making you sick that you want to avoid:

1. Parabens: are commonly used as a preservative, but some studies have suggested that they may disrupt hormones and contribute to cancer.
2. Phthalates: used as a plasticizer and fragrance enhancer, but may interfere with hormone function and have been linked to reproductive and developmental issues.
3. Formaldehyde: a known carcinogen that may be present in some hair smoothing treatments and nail polishes.
4. Toluene: a solvent that can cause neurological damage and has been linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity.
5. Lead: a heavy metal that may be present in some lipsticks and eyeliners, and has been linked to neurological damage.
6. Mercury: another heavy metal that may be present in some cosmetics, and can cause neurological and developmental damage.
7. Triclosan: an antibacterial agent that has been linked to hormone disruption and may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
8. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS): a foaming agent that may irritate the skin and eyes.
9. Fragrance: may contain phthalates and other undisclosed chemicals that can irritate the skin and disrupt hormones.
10. Mineral oil: (see talc below) a petroleum byproduct that can clog pores and may be contaminated with toxic impurities.
11. Polyethylene glycol (PEG): a petroleum-based ingredient that can be contaminated with impurities and may cause skin irritation.
12. Retinyl palmitate: a form of vitamin A that may increase sensitivity to sunlight and contribute to skin damage.
13. Oxybenzone: a chemical sunscreen ingredient that has been linked to hormone disruption and may contribute to coral reef damage.
14. Coal tar: a byproduct of coal processing that may be present in some hair dyes, and has been linked to cancer.
15. BHA/BHT: preservatives that have been linked to endocrine disruption and may contribute to cancer.

BONUS: To expand a little more on #10 above, Mineral Oil, I can’t miss Talc. Talc is a soft mineral and another ingredient to avoid in beauty products making you sick. Talc is a mineral that is often used in cosmetic products such as baby powder, face powder, eyeshadow, and blush, and it has been linked to cancer and respiratory problems.

Talc is sometimes found to be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen, which can be inhaled when talc-containing products are used. In addition to the risk of asbestos contamination, some studies have suggested that talc itself may increase the risk of ovarian cancer when used in the genital area.

Due to these concerns, some people choose to avoid talc in their beauty products and opt for alternatives such as cornstarch or arrowroot powder. However, it’s worth noting that not all talc-containing products are necessarily unsafe and that the risk can depend on factors such as the amount and duration of exposure.

Since the body’s immune system and ability to regenerate properly depends on the volume of toxins you’ve accumulated, it’s best practice to do everything in your power to reduce or eliminate altogether, the toxins we have the ability to avoid. Over time, these makeup products are making you sick.

Be a DETOX DETECTIVE

and find out what makeup products are making you sick in your home.

Check out this article about how to be your own detox detective to remove those beauty products making you sick. Having a strategy, applying due diligence, and patience with yourself to remove the toxins over time helps that cumulative affect toxinns have on the body.

Get Organized and detox your environment, then detox your body. Find out more about The Elevate Institute’s detox program called REVEAL.