Is Make-Up Toxic? 

Using make up is a standard beauty practice for most women. But are the ingredients in traditional beauty products safe for daily use? Do we really know what the foundation, powder, eyeliner and lipsticks we use contain?

Traditional make- up products can contain the following concerning chemicals:

Phthalates are ingredients used in many cosmetics and other products to soften solvents. These chemicals have shown the possibility of damaging human health. Phthalates are typically added to products as a “solubulizer” which in laymen’s terms, is a compound that something else can be dissolved into.

The most frequently used phthalate compound in cosmetics and personal care products is diethyl phthalate (DEP). A study[1] published by Environment International revealed shocking data that suggests DEP exposure may induce androgen-independent reproductive toxicity as well as developmental toxicity and hepatic effects, with some evidence of female reproductive toxicity.

Parabens are a type of preservative used in many beauty and skincare products. The danger with these chemicals is that they can mimic estrogen in the body. When applied to the skin, they can seep into the bloodstream and create hormone imbalances and disrupt the body’s homeostasis.

Fragrance. The FDA does not mandate that chemicals listed as “fragrance” must be revealed on labeling or disclosed to consumers. Any given fragrance mixture can contain up to 3,000 chemicals.

To safely use make up products, the first step is to read every label of every product that you purchase. It is important to know what the chemical composition is of products that go onto your body. If you discover your make up contains toxins, you then need to replace concerning products with natural, nontoxic solutions. Natural make up products are available and you can also create your own!  Check out the recipe of our website for free DIY make up recipes.   

[1] James A. Weaver, Brandiese E.J. Beverly, Nagalakshmi Keshava, Anuradha Mudipalli, Xabier Arzuaga, Christine Cai, Andrew K. Hotchkiss, Susan L. Makris, Erin E. Yost, Hazards of diethyl phthalate (DEP) exposure: A systematic review of animal toxicology studies, Environment International, Volume 145,2020,105848, ISSN 0160-4120. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105848. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020318031)