If you’ve been around the blog, my Youtube or my instagram lately, you’ve probably heard me babbling about it. It’s something I’m talking about more and more daily. It’s also something I’m constantly learning about as well. So what is that something you might be asking? Well friend, it’s non-toxic skincare but more important for today’s post, it’s non-toxic makeup.
And maybe you’re saying sure Savvy, sounds great. Glad you’re making a change. Hope it works out for you. But I realized this week the one thing I hadn’t told you. The one thing I needed to tell you for it to all make sense. I hadn’t told you why I was making the switch to non-toxic makeup.
So today I want to go a little more in depth. I want to share everything I’ve learned over the past few months, what changing my make up bag over looks like and why I’ve even gone down this rabbit hole in the first place. As always, we’ve got a lot to talk about. So let’s get started!
WHAT IS NON-TOXIC MAKEUP?
Let’s start with the big question. What the heck is non-toxic makeup? Depending on the brand, this might look a bit different which means doing a bit of your own research. Deciding what eyeliner you want to draw in your proverbial makeup bag sand is up to you. Sephora recently launched their clean branding which means these products are free of “Sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarba”. Beautycounter, known for advocating for more regulations in the beauty world, has a full list on their website called The Never List. It’s great for giving you a breakdown of why each ingredient is questionable and what it’s doing to your body, hormones, etc.
A FEW FACTS & SOME HISTORY
I did a bit of research this week so I could give you more specific facts on the matter. Honestly, I wanted to be able to give you percentages and numbers but I didn’t find as much as I thought. However, I did learn that the CDC estimates over 13 million workers in the US are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. And on the list of occupations at risk, you’ll find cosmetology (1). They also feature some very specific imagery on how things are absorbed through skin and remind you that your skin accounts for 10% of your body mass.
But that doesn’t tell you why non-toxic makeup matters. Here’s the deal. The US hasn’t passed a major federal law that regulates the safety of ingredients in personal care products since 1938. Whereas, the EU has banned close to 1,400 chemicals in their product formulas. Clearly, we are slacking because we’ve only partially banned 30. So if we aren’t setting regulations or making an effort to ban potentially harmful ingredients, do we even know what the heck we are putting on our skin?
WHY DOES NON-TOXIC MAKEUP MATTER
Now I’ll be the first to admit I love a bit of makeup. And while I’ve been diligently working on my skin, I also love how I feel when I wear makeup. It just perks me up. My red lip and mascara days are far from behind me. But if you’ve been following me for long, you’ll know that I’m on a journey to deal with my hormonal acne. It sucks and it takes time. And I’m hoping everything I learn along the way I can use to help you.
However, I also know that whatever, whether it’s non-toxic or regular makeup, I put on my skin is a contributing factor to my hormonal health. Because unfortunately, there are quite a few ingredients in products that like to affect our endocrine systems and mess everything up. And if you’re struggling with pcos, trying to get pregnant or other hormonal issues, being conscious of your chemical intake in all areas is something to consider. So when I spend a full day letting my skin absorb all of these harmful ingredients, I’m not really doing myself any favors.
WHY I’M MAKING THE SWITCH
For me, it’s all come down to looking at how much I’m really doing to make a change with my hormonal acne. Do I want to go on birth control again? No. And I’ll do a post on that one soon enough. But it’s kind of like going to the gym, working out and then coming home only to eat Krispy Kreme for every meal. It’s a bit counter productive. In my life that looks like seeing my esthetician regularly and then going home only to deter the progress with toxic makeup. If I truly want to see a change, I have to be willing to make a change. The quote I most often remind myself of in life: Nothing changes unless you do. So I needed to make the switch to non-toxic makeup.
HOW I’VE MADE THE SWITCH
Let me just go ahead and clear this up now. I haven’t finished making the switch. Yep. I’m not perfect but I’m going to talk about non-toxic makeup anyways. However, there are a few things I’ve learned along the way. Firstly, it’s incredibly helpful to have a friend who can help recommend products. I have a few whether they are Beautycounter consultants or my bestie with an obsession. If you don’t have either, I’m happy to be your friend! Secondly, I had to decide what ingredients were no-gos for me. I now read ingredient labels on products like I do food labels. And I’m twice as confused.
Lastly, take it one product at a time. I mentioned in my vlog last week that I was struggling to do a full face of makeup because my routine was just off. I didn’t have the products in my non-toxic make up routine that I do in my regular one. So instead of being truly excited about my makeup, I was frustrated because it was off. More than anything, I’ve focused on getting the base of my makeup right and going from there. Don’t be afraid to get samples, read reviews, watch videos and ask questions before buying a product. I know I have and it’s been incredibly helpful at saving me time and money.
SO WHAT NOW
I’ve set a goal over the next few months to really dive into non-toxic makeup. When I’m in Atlanta or Birmingham, I want to swatch products and grab samples. I want to build a makeup bag that I enjoy using and don’t feel deprived with. I also hope to be able to create a few guides for you gals. This way you can find the best products at the best price whether you’re shopping at Sephora or Target. I know jumping into non-toxic beauty can be a bit overwhelming. It can take time to really get into a routine. With time, you’ll find what works for you and your skin. And for now, might I suggest two of my favorites for learning more: Skin Cleanse by Adina Grigore* and Katey Denno. Both are great resources for making the non-toxic beauty life seem more approachable and I’ve learned a ton from them!
Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/default.html
http://www.beautycounter.com
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