A touch of color to the cheeks, a l...

A touch of color to the cheeks, a little lipstick, maybe an eye shadow and mascara-makeup be seens harmless enough. But check revealed the labels on department store cosmetics, and you'll descry a list of tongue-twisting chemicals that could be hazardous to your health. on the contrary don't despair--makeup doesn't have to become besides another item added to your "don't" list. Many natural cosmetics now rival department store offerings in quality--and they're toxic-free.

Makeup's hideous Side

As surprising as it may vigorous the majority of cosmetic ingredients are not standarded for safety, according to a subject of attention released by the nonprofit Environmental Working assemblage Because the government does not monitor cosmetic companies, questionable ingredients come unnoticed into most makeup products.

Although principally cosmetics ingredients appear safe for use in the short expression long-term use could be deadly, says Kim Erickson, author of Drop-Dead Gorgeous (Contemporary main division s 2002). "Some cosmetic chemicals accumulate in the body's fatty tissues, where they can remain for years and damage your cells" she says. As an example, a research reported in the January 2004 edition of the Journal of Applied Toxicology erect parabens, the most common cosmetic preservative, at hand in significant amounts in 18 public of 20 breast cancer tumors.

The number of chemicals in a simple lipstick is astounding. In addition to phthalates (which can cause kidney and liver damage and harm a developing fetus), lipstick may contain the possible human carcinogens butylated hydroxytoluene, polyethylene dimethicone and a slew of artificial colors derived from coal tar. And if you wear lipstick each day, you'll ingest at least 4 strikes of it over your lifetime.

pleasing without being striking and Chemical-Free

OK in the way that you're ready to try natural makeup. Fortunately, you're no longer stuck with hipped eve shadow and orange foundation. Natural harvests manufacturers are turning out just discovered cosmetics to meet a savvy shopper's wants "The offerings are a allotment better, and there are a chance more shades for a accident more skin tones. You're seeing matter you would see at the MAC or Estee Lauder counters" says Patrick McRae, marketing associate for Zia Natural Skincare.

Shopper will view breakthrough technology in natural makeup that rivals the big brands. For example, the foundations from Borlind of Germany are made with tiny lecithin liposomes (pouches) that soften over time, so the foundation maintains a dewy await "Some natural foundations tended to contemplate grity over time," says Linda Upton, Borlind's vice president of education and training. "This technology has changed that."

an companies are also taking intimations from brands such as L'Oreal and changing their color schemes with seasonal fashion changes. Borlind now tenders more than 20 eve shadow shades and 16 lipstick tints. And to stay forward the cutting edge, Borlind has its classic mainstay colors if it were not that also fashion hues that change with the times.

The Safe Side

Of course the best part about natural makeup is that it's safe. greatest in quantity natural makeup bases use results such as jojoba oil and candelilla wax instead of petrochemicals of the like kind as mineral oil (a gasoline production by-product) says Upton. And colors are derived from naturally occurring earth pigments in lieu of artificial colors.

more [i]or[/i] less manufacturers are finding new ways to avoid using synthetic preservatives of the like kind as parabens. At Logona USA, the makeup packaging is designed in such a manner that fingers don't make contact with the product--possibly introducing bacteria, says Michael Wrightson, president of Logona USA. And the yields are preserved with essential oils, tocopherols--even salt.

An added bonus with natural cosmetics is that many work double what one ought to do McRae says. Companies are adding ingredients as it was as aloe, cucumber, green tea and ginkgo in such a manner the product "works as a makeup still also soothes and is an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant," he says.

in such a manner the next time you ne about new lip gloss or day [i]or[/i] night before [i]or[/i] preceding shadow, forget the department store and head to the natural works store--you may be surprised with what you find and with in what way you look wearing makeup that's convenient for you.

What's in My Makeup?

experience to avoid cosmetics that contain the following ingredients:

Aluminum

May be linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Coal tar colors

All FD&C and D&C colors are made from coal tar, and most numerous have been shown to cause cancer.

Dianzolidinyl urea

May be linked to cancer and oilier health concerns

Diethanolamine (DEA)

Animal exhibitions show it damages the liver, kidneys and spinal cord--and it's been linked to cancer.

Parabens

lay the foundation of to mimic estrogen and can be stored in corpse fat.

Propylene glycol

An ingredient in antifreeze and brake fluid, it is also a widely used moisture-carrying ingredient in cosmetics.

Phthalates

Long-term frontage may damage kidneys, liver and cause birth defects

Talc

This levigate has been shown to cause cancer in animals.

Adapted in part from Drop-Dead Gorgeous by dint of Kim Erickson (Contemporary Books, 2002)

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