As you might know (depending on how long you’ve been reading this blog!), I’ve been trying to replace all of my cosmetics/sundries with all natural ones.
Here’s a quick skinny on the “why”, taken from the awesome store, Belly Sprout, in downtown Fullerton,CA.
Ingredients found in most cosmetics:
Parabens:(methyl, ethyl, propyl, isobutyl and butyl) skin irritants, hormone disrupter and have been linked to breast cancer
D&C and FD&C colors: coal derivative linked to cancer
PEGS: Synthetic polymers of ethylene oxide (propylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol) and is so toxic the Environmental Working Group says workers need to wear protective clothing when handling.It is the same chemical as anti-freeze.
Phthalates:(dibutyl and diethylhexyl) used as plasticizers, human reproductive disrupter. Banned in Europe.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): a skin and eye irritant, may cause dry skin and eczema. It’s what makes most bubble bath soaps bubbly. Used as car engine degreaser.
Lead: neuro-toxin and found in over 60% of lipsticks in the U.S.in 2007. The FDA does not have a safety limit of lead in lipstick, so research to see if and how much lead your lipstick has. It is not listed in ingredients.
Mercury: labeled as thimerasol and found in mascaras. Can cause brain damage.
I can personally attest to the harmful effects of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate– I used to get the worst canker sores in my mouth. Seriously. At one point, I had over 50 of them, all up and down my throat. When I approached my dentist about the problem, he suggested I find toothpaste without this ingredient. There are only a few (I now use Burt’s Bees Peppermint), but ever since, the problem has virtually gone away! When we got married, Jesse started using the toothpaste, and his canker sores also went away. They only recently returned when he started using Sensodyne toothpaste, which, of course, contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Coincidence?
It’s too expensive to just throw everything out and start over. I don’t think being “green” means being wasteful– quite the opposite, in fact.
I also don’t think it necessarily means “expensive”, either. As more and more consumers demand that the products they use every day be safe for their bodies, companies will start supplying them. The more suppliers, the lower the prices. Yay for Capitalism!
Plus, I kind of like it when things cost just a *tad* more. It encourages me not to buy much, which reduces clutter and brings about thankfulness and appreciation for the few things I do have!
So, here are a few of the things I’ve bought over this past week, mainly because I need to replace my old ones. I did some research and tried to settle for a healthy compromise– 99-100% natural, no more than double the $ I’m used to paying, and readily purchasable (ie. no online shopping– I like to buy things I know I can return if they don’t pan out).
Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Action Mascara, part of their “high-performance naturals” line:
Tarte’s “Rest Assured” Brightening Wand (seems like a must-have for this sleep-deprived Mom!)
Say, “Yes” to Cucumbers Face Wash, Eye Cream and Face Lotion. Got this at Target! Received between 1-2 out of 10 on the toxicity reports. Oh, and it smells AMAZING. And came with the rad/nerdy headband you see in the picture. I’m totally rockin’ it right now.
And, of course, Bare Minerals makeup. I’ve stopped bothering with anything else– it’s a waste of money. A small tin of this stuff will last for 6 months, so it’s pretty cost effective. Ever since I started using it 3 years ago, my face has cleared up. I can even forget to take it off at night, and it still doesn’t make my skin break out. You can also mix colors to get your exact perfect shade!
Also, for all the MOMS out there, I recently received this little number in the mail. For many reasons, most nursing tanks/camis don’t work well on me (mostly because the ones that are big enough in…certain areas end up looking like maternity shirts around the belly).
This “Under-Cover Mama” clip on shirt works really well, however!
Related postsBelly Sprout |
Natural and Safe Makeup |
Cosmetics Catalog |
10 Organic Foods That Are Worth The $ |
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