Makeup

Is “Natural” Mineral Makeup Hazardous To Your Health? mineral make up.jpg 2 Every month, I receive hundreds of emails and comments from women around the globe. I read them all with interest and they are often what inspire new research, articles and posts. It is my honor to be able to share my passion and interests with you in support of your healing journey. I received a very good question recently about mineral makeup and whether or not it’s the best choice. There are over 10,000 chemicals used in the personal care products and only 13% of those have been tested for safety. It makes sense then to take a closer look at cosmetics. Keep in mind that what you put ON your skin is quickly absorbed into your blood stream. Mineral makeup has been marketed as “more natural” than conventional makeup since it was launched in the mid-1970s. We often associate “more natural” with “safe” and “pure” so it has seemed like the practical makeup choice for those of us who are mindful about what we put on our bodies. But take a look at that label: What are those ingredients? Most ingredients occur naturally but… are they naturally good for you?mineral make up Mineral makeup is generally built on these ingredients: Mica: Used for its light-reflecting quality. Iron oxide: Adds color to makeup Titanium dioxide: Offers a matte finish and UV protection. Possible carcinogen. Zinc oxide: Used for colorant and UV protection. Moderate organ system toxicity. Other ingredients that may also be found in a brand’s formulation: Boron nitride: A man made chemical that helps mineral foundation stick to your skin and masks fine lines Silica: A natural form of silicon, it absorbs perspiration and oils from the skin Allantoin: A natural chemical compound that acts as a skin protectant and may help stimulate tissue growth Dimethicone: A man made silicon oil that gives glide. Classified as a toxin and its use should be limited Rice powder: A cosmetic grade food starch used in place of talc for smoothing purposes EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which is a great source of information about the ingredients in your cosmetics, gives most of these elements an overall health hazard rating of “no to low.” However, you may come to different conclusions when you do your research because a “no to low” rating isn’t always based on a perfect record. More on mica and titanium dioxide: Nano is a no-no Two ingredients that have moved mineral makeup into the “hot seat” lately are mica and titanium dioxide. They are found in just about every mineral makeup and the jury is out as to whether they are harmful in cosmetics. Both are delivered in makeup as coarse, fine or ultrafine powders. It matters to your health to find out which one is used in your makeup because you want to avoid nanoparticles (also known as micronized particles. What defines coarse, fine and ultrafine Particle Size Measurement Coarse Less than 10 microns Fine Less than 2.5 microns Ultrafine (nanoparticles) Less than 0.1 microns or 100 nanometres Source: etcgroup.org Studies have shown that nano particles can penetrate the skin and can cause pulmonary issues. Here’s how they are defined:In fact, scientists have found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can induce DNA damage and cause lung irritation, inflammation and, possibly, cancer. While there are no studies that indicate direct damage from makeup use, you should be aware of the potential harm to your wellbeing. It comes down to choosing wisely Knowing that the cosmetic industry is self-regulated and has no real standards, you have to create your own standards where you are the priority. Here are some pointers: Read labels and research the ingredients if you are not familiar with them Be informed about whether your mineral makeup uses nanoparticles or micronized particles Reduce airborne dust when putting on your makeup and put it on in a well-ventilated area One of the web sites that offers clean cosmetics as well as clean house cleaning products is Ava Anderson Non Toxic. I have used their products for a few years and have been very satisfied with the quality.