Avoiding Toxins – Examining a Make-Up Label
For years I could use nothing but Clinique foundation, everything else broke me out. One of my cousins, who has the same skin issues I do, told me she’d started using L’Oreal and it wasn’t breaking her out. When I originally compared ingredients, the Clinique and L’Oreal ingredients fell into the six of one – half a dozen of the other category. They used different ingredients, but each did basically the same thing and had similar levels of toxicity – not great but nothing that was on my definitely not list. I didn’t keep a list of the ingredients from back then, though I wish I had.
A while back I looked through the ingredients once again for L’Oreal Visible Lift 
Active Ingredients
Octinoxate – 1 % , Titanium Dioxide – 6.7 %
I am fine with the titanium dioxide., but remember the sunscreen post, where we talked about octinoxate? I was not thrilled to have it in my makeup, which is worn just about every day. Granted, most sunscreens have around 7.5% octinoxate, and this is one percent of a one ounce bottle. But still… Every.Day.
Inactive Ingredients:
Water ,Isododecane – the good news is that the first two ingredients, the things that take up the most volume, are perfectly 100% safe.
Cyclopentasiloxane – EWG doesn’t like this one, but I’m not so bad with it. I understand why it’s being used – it is basically a silicone, and it’s what is used to make oil free makeups glide on. Also, because of its evaporative properties, it helps the makeup dry on your skin in an acceptable fashion – not too fast and not too slow. So, I’m not thrilled with it, but it wasn’t a deal-breaker for me.
Glycerin , Cyclohexasiloxane , PEG-10 Dimethicone , Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer , Butylene Glycol , Dimethicone Isoeicosane , Ascorbyl Glucoside , Disteardimonium Hectorite , Cetyl PEG , PPG-10 , 1 Dimethicone , Phenoxyethanol , Sodium Chloride , C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate , Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate , Hexyl Laurate , Caprylyl Glycol , Isostearyl Neopentanoate — I don’t have any major problems with the next 18 ingredients. There are a few minor issues, but the majority of these should be as safe as water… or table salt (yeah, it’s in there).
Alumina – The 22nd ingredient is a problem, however. This one has developmental and reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, it is bio-accumulative, and it enhances skin absorption.
Methylparaben - I do not like parabens. I want them to just go away. Sooner rather than later.
Calcium Panitethene Sulfonate , Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine , Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol , Pisum Sativum Extract (Pea) – These are all fine. And yes, the latin name of the pea plant, like the kind you eat, is Pisum Sativum. It’s not another word for urea, which does come from the other kind of pee, and a synthetic form of which is sometimes used in make-up. Just not this one.
Retinyl Palmitate - We talked about this one on the sunscreen post, too. It may be way down on the ingredient list, but I don’t care how much or how little, I don’t want to put it on my face.
Hydrolyzed Elastin , Silica Dimethyl Silylate , Polycaprolactone , Soluble Collagen , Sodium Hyaluronate , May Contain: Titanium Dioxide , Iron Oxides , Mica — I’m good with all of these, too.
So, the alumina, methylparaben, retinyl palmitate, and cyclopentasiloxane all combined made me decide not to use L’Oreal any longer. But what to use instead? Not expecting much, I looked up my old makeup – Clinique Superbalanced. As it turns out, the compact form isn’t so great, but the liquid form of it is much better. Here are the ingredients for the liquid version:
Cyclomethicone, Water, Butylene Glycol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone Copolyol, Isotetracosane, Dimethicone, Sodium C8-16 Isoalkylsuccinyl Lactoglobulin Sulfonate, Matricaria (Chamomilla Recutita) Extract, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Cetyl Dimethicone Copolyol, Hexyl Laurate, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Laureth-7, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Quaternium-18 Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphates, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Polyethylene, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, [ /- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]
I’m obviously not happy about the last two ingredients, the methylparaben and propylparaben, but I’m fine with the rest of the them.
Price wise, the Clinique costs around three times what I was paying for the L’Oreal, but a bottle lasts me around six or seven months and when you figure it out – an extra $14 every seven months is only an extra $2 per month.
The biggest PITA is having to go to the mall to buy it, instead of having it on an automatic six month subscription through Amazon. But, again, it’s once every six or seven months and that’s not going to kill me. Amazon doesn’t carry Clinique, but they have some Marketplace Vendors who sometimes have the Clinique Superbalanced
Have you looked to see what is in your make-up? Have you found a make-up with ingredients you are comfortable with? Are you aware of a makeup that’s fine for sensitive skin and uses actual all-natural ingredients?
Previous posts in this series:
- Pollution in China (prequel to the series, sort of)
- High Fructose Corn Syrup – why it is bad
- Avoiding Toxins – Non Stick Pans
- Avoiding Toxins – Petroleum Products in lotions and make-up
- Avoiding Toxins – Flame Resistant Pajamas
- Avoiding Toxins – Fingernail Polish
- Avoiding Toxins – Sunscreen
- Avoiding Toxins – Bisphenol-A (BPA) in canned goods and other products
- Avoiding Toxins – Examining a Make-Up Label
February 12th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Have you researched mineral makeup? I only use Bare Minerals. Supposedly it’s good for your skin. I use it because I like the results. Just wondering if you looked at the ingredients or did any research on any of the mineral makeup brands.
February 12th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Bare Minerals is the only thing I use on my skin. I also like that it is dry, so I’m not rubbing anything into my skin.
February 12th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
I have never before in my 40+ years found that I was allergic to anything UNTIL I used some L’Oreal moistuiser. It made me really itchy. I stopped using it and then a couple of years later bought some more (because I had forgotten about the previous time) and the same happened. Skin as touch as old boots but this line makes it tender and raw – something bad in there.
February 12th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
I tried one of the powder mineral lines, and still have one of the bronzers I use under my blush for more definition when I’m dressing for a fancy evening. But the powder stuff didn’t work for me as a foundation. By 3:00 in the afternoon it didn’t look like I’d used anything at all.
They say you are supposed to put their moisturizer base on first, and I guess the power is supposed to stick to that. But there was something in their base moisturizer that broke me out. So, it didn’t work.
I don’t think your skin cares whether things are brushed on as a powder or rubbed on as a liquid, if there are any toxins then they are going to soak into your skin either way.
In fact, with a powder, you run the risk of getting it into your lungs, and with some of the toxins out there, that is much worse than them only soaking into your skin.
When I researched the various mineral lines several of them did have some pretty bad stuff – various aluminum elements, and some of them used sunscreen elements I don’t want on my face. I’m pretty sure there were some other elements that made me wonder what they were thinking, but I don’t remember off the top of my head.
The bronzer I use is Raw Minerals, or maybe Raw Natural Minerals – something like that. IIRC, a few of their colors have things I wasn’t as happy with, but the color I use is perfectly fine. Their base moisturizer had good stuff in it too, I’ve just got a sensitive face and it broke me out. I’ve still got the color that is right for my skin, and if I need extra coverage I might use it over my regular make-up occasionally, once every couple of months – not often. When it runs out I doubt I’ll buy more.
February 12th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
LOVE my bare minerals….although I do not like their mascara or eyeliner. I use their foundation (I put the powder over my natural coconut moisturizer), their blush, their eyeshade (which I only wear when going out). Mascara is Lancome and eyeliner is L’oreal. Lip Gloss is Black Honey Clinique…same for 20 years now. Hope that is safe…haven’t checked it out but 20 years with it is now making me nervous….
February 12th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Ok a Bare Minerals girl.
Please don’t break my heart
Ingredients
All shades contain:
Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Iron Oxides, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide.
February 12th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Yeah, I don’t use their moisturizer. I just use Burt’s Bees, then put on the makeup. And yeah, good point about the lung thing but I don’t wear it every day. I guess I should. LOL.
February 12th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
lol chickensoup…Feeling okay about rarely wearing makeup myself. Just never got into it and don’t really know how to do it to tell the truth. I never even liked the feeling of nail polish on my nails and don’t think I’ve had any on them in 10 years. I don’t get why it is expected of women but men are just fine au naturel…
February 12th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
I know I posted this link earlier, but don’t see it now. So, here it is:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/Bareminerals/
Some of the Bare Minerals stuff is okay, but some of it has stuff in it I wouldn’t put on my face. You can check that link for your particular product and color – each color has different ingredients.
February 13th, 2012 at 1:06 am
I use a mineral makeup too that is actually all natural. It feels like nothing is on your face and it looks nice. Check out Colorevolution.com. I like the blush too. My friend likes their eye shadow stacks.
p.s. I’ve learned do much from the toxin posts…. Well the whole site. Thank you.
February 13th, 2012 at 8:47 am
I use Aveda Inner Light Mineral Dual Foundation. I love it. I haven’t checked the ingredients but I have the impression (hopefully not a false impression!) that Aveda avoids the worst of the worst when it comes to toxins and chemicals. I really like it. It gives just the right amount of coverage and is easy on my sensitive skin.
February 13th, 2012 at 9:24 am
So I guess I’m the only one that started out liking this series of posts, and ended up thinking it was over the top? Honestly, there is no way we can avoid ALL the toxins in our environment, and we could easily drive ourselves insane worrying that much about it. I agree that we need to limit certain things our kids come in contact with, and I have pretty much purged my kitchen cabinets of plastic stuff. Also, I’ve never been a fan of the flameproof pajamas, or excessive use of sunscreen. But makeup and nail polish? Why wear any at all if you’re worried about toxins? I wear both on special occasions only; on regular days (and I work in a business environment) I only wear lipstick….nothing else (well, my clothes of course :-).
February 13th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Blackjack, You sound like me.
The nail thing. I have never gotten my nails done on a regular basis. Not that I don’t enjoy it. I just don’t have the time, or patience. Not to mention, in my job it gets ruined anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I love sitting in a salon and getting pampered, I just do it very seldom.
Frankly, I’ve found that a good shower, a clean face, and a pretty scarf with a bit of moisturizer makes me look my best. I never got into hair products either. I’m a Suave girl, and that works just fine. I only blow dry if I’m going out.
My DD will be the complete opposite. She’s loves all the beauty stuff. Even from the time she was little. I like it too, but I never got “into” it.
February 13th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Another Bare Minerals! Love it and cannot bare to find something bad about it as everything else breaks my face out!!!!
February 13th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Mallmarie, I totally understand. I love learning all of this stuff but i am completely and totally overwhelmed. I look at everything now like i am poisoning my kids. and how do people without disposable income do it?? Organic is 2-3 times as expensive. Lotions, 3-4 times as expensive. Cookware, makeup…i feel like I am killing us all off slowly. The fact is, I can’t do it all. It is exhausting. To be honest, I have not even sent out my Christmas cards yet this year – so I am really behind the ball!
I think the key is if you just try to take things one at a time, make a small change here and there, and slowly absorb the differences, you will benefit in the long haul. And having the info in one spot is helpful. But yeah, definitely overwhelming!!
February 14th, 2012 at 7:00 am
The affects of nail polish on the brain have been widely documented — if all three of the “big” solvents are present there is measurable brain damage in children and adults. I don’t call avoiding that to be anywhere near over the top.
I’ve never paid anyone to do my fingernails. Ever. I have my feet done a couple times a year, but I do my nails myself on the weekend. Takes about ten minutes. No biggie timewise or costwise — but it is a big deal that I am conscious of what toxins I’m putting into my body by doing so.
If you only wear make-up once in a blue moon then I suppose the ingredients aren’t as important, but if you wear it daily then cutting out carcinogens and free radicals and chemicals that can throw off the various systems of your body (reproductive, endocrine, lymphatic, etc) is, again, pretty important. I don’t see it as being in the least bit over the top.
I also don’t let my children play with “pretend” make-up, because it is almost always full of carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. I get “free” Clinique stuff all the time when I buy my foundations, and it is rarely a color I use – so they have Clinique samples to play with. And yes, even with Clinique, I check the ingredients.