#18 - Chemical Free Cosmetics

Clutch or Cosmetic Bag by SimplyTrendy2 on Etsy, $22

Yesterday I was absolutely shocked to learn that mercury is used in many cosmetics! Today my quest to find mercury-free cosmetics begins!

I decided to do my research and learn about other bad chemicals that might be found in cosmetics.

Here's what I learned:

1) Talc is a listed potential carcinogen!  Though I did find an article stating there isn't enough evidence to classify cosmetic talc as carcinogenic, why take the chance? There's enough things in our environment that we can't avoid without adding to it by putting stuff on our skin!

2) Mercury is used as a preservative and anti-microbial additive, especially in eye products such as mascara. The FDA allows concentrations below 60 ppm. 

3) Lead is found in many cosmetics from Europe and is also found in many lipsticks.

4) Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben) are used as stabilizing agents in many cosmetics. Parabens penetrate the skin and can be traced in the blood minutes after application.  Parabens have also been shown to mimic estrogen which can disrupt hormonal balance.

5) Preserveatives such as formaldehyde and BHT are sometimes used in cosmetics! Would you put embalming fluid on your face? I hope not!

Here's a few chemical-free shops I found on Etsy (click on the shop name or photo to go to the individual shops):

Willow Tree Minerals 

• uses no chemicals, talc, perfume, dyes, phthalates, bismuth, parabens or micronized minerals.

Black Slate Mascara by WillowTreeMinerals on Etsy, $14.95

Eco Love Beauty

• paraben free, fragrance free, nano-particle free, talc free, dye free, bismuth free

 

Amethyst Mineral Eye Shadow by Ecolovebeauty on Etsy, $7.95

Pure Minerals Source

• NO chemically treated ingredients of any sort, dyes, lakes (artifical/chemical dyes), talc(associated to cancer), Bismuth Oxychloride, Petroleum derivatives, Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, Methylparaben, propylparaben (chemical preservatives), urea, aluminum, ferric ferrocyanide (aka Prussian Blue), mineral oil - a fuel by product

 Sahara Lipstick by PureMineralsSource on Etsy. $4.50

Anyone have brands they'd like to suggest that don't contain these bad chemicals? I'll be looking into brands more over the next few weeks and updating this post. :)