Chemical Makeup 101 - The True Price of Beauty

This post will be parked here, at the top of the page for a quick and easy reference guide. I plan to link back here when discussing certain products and I hope you visit as often as needed. Please feel free to contact me to discuss any questions you may have regarding information/products found on this site.

Please note that I am not a professional, nor do I claim to be. This is a collection of my extensive research and findings. I'm sharing this information in hopes of giving you a base idea of the ingredients found in common makeup, so you can research further on your own to make an informed decision that is best for yourself.

Click here for a great online database to checkout products/ingredients/reports/other findings

A general rule for all of your cosmetics and anything you plan to apply them with on your face -
Keep everything clean. Dangerous bacteria or fungi can grow in some cosmetic products, as well as their containers. Cleanliness can help prevent eye infections.


Ok. Let's talk.

Photo Credit Unknown

LIPSTICK

Rouge, peach, pink, wine, plum; we tend to pick our shade of lipstick based on our complexion or the season. What's trendy for Fall 2012? Well, let's hope it's not lead or SLS, or anything else harsh or toxic for that matter.

A couple common chemicals known as D4 and D5 siloxanes, have been linked to uterine tumors and reproductive damage in various animals. In addition to being added to lipstick, the siloxanes are found in body lotion, hair care products, baby bottle nipples, cookware and home cleaning products.


In regards to lead being found in lipstick, the FDA compiled a list of 400 types of lipstick that were found to contain lead. Apparently, it's not so much the brand we have to worry about, necessarily, but the shade instead. Here is a Top 10 List consisting of brand and shade, that the FDA found which contained the highest levels of lead.


1. Maybelline’s Color Sensation in Pink Petal. (Lead content: 7.19 ppm)
2. L’Oreal Colour Riche in Volcanic. (Lead content: 7.00 ppm)
3. NARS Semi-Matte in Red Lizard. (Lead content: 4.93 ppm)
4. Cover Girl Queen Collection Vibrant Hues Color in Ruby Remix (Lead content: 4.92 ppm)
5. NARS Semi-Matte in Funny Face. (Lead content: 4.89)
6. L’Oreal Colour Rich in Tickled Pink. (Lead content: 4.45)
7. L’Oreal Intensely Moisturizing Lipcolor in Heroic. (Lead content: 4.41)
8. Cover Girl Continuous Color in Warm Brick. (Lead content: 4.28)
9. Maybelline Color Sensational in Mauve Me. (Lead content: 4.23)
10. Stargazer lipstick in shade “c.” (Lead content: 4.12)

Is your favorite lip shade in the Top 10?


There is a lot to be said about parabens and their alleged necessity. Parabens are preservatives and are found in most cosmetics, sometimes more than one paraben will be used.

The FDA studied parabens and their effects through cosmetic applications in 1984 and found them to be safe to use in makeup, up to 25%. The case was reopened in 1995, to re-evaluate those findings after parabens had been found in breast tumors. The FDA has more to say on that and the conveniently uncanny ability for parabens to act as estrogen. Find out more on your own, here's a base link to that study FDA and the use of Parabens




Photo Courtesy of MomLogic.com

Eyeshadow 

When it comes to ANYTHING going on or near your eyes/eyelids, you have to be clean about it. Transferring bacteria is all to easy and can lead to blindness and other less-than-desirable, crusty side effects. 
Refer to the resource link below for the FDA recommended guidelines.



A common ingredient found in eyeshadows is Polyethylene Terephthalate, a synthetic plastic polymer used as a film-forming agent. 

Do you look for Cruelty Free labels? I do. 
Have you ever seen what parts of a lab test toxicology report looks like? I have.

Here's what a report with animal test subjects looks like for Polyethylene Terephthalate


government/industry list/academic studyappears on list asclassification(s)
RTECS®*- Cancer Research 1955POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE• cancer - Tumors at site of application (rat TDLo)
RTECS®*- Toxicology Letters 1979POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium )
RTECS®*- Toxicology Letters 1979POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium )

*Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS)


Talc is another ingredient found in many eyeshadows. 
"Talc is used to absorb moisture and provide a hint of sparkle. It is found in eye shadow, blush, baby powder, deodorant and soap.
Talc is known to act as a human carcinogen and has been directly linked to ovarian cancer. Talc can act similarly to asbestos when inhaled and may lead to the formation of lung tumors." - Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D."



Blush


Photo Credit Unknown

SLS is a very common ingredient in blush. You can read what I've written here about SLS previously.

Talc is also regularly found in blush makeup.

You can do yourself a great service, if you research what all the dyes are that go into making highlighting your rosy cheekbones (not to mention the millions of variations of eyeshadow colors). What color additives are creating your look?


NOT ALL COLORS ARE BAD. NOT ALL DYES ARE BAD. 
You have to read your labels and educate yourself.
The FDA is very strict on the dyes and additives they allow to maintain a safe level.

Here are the top 2 FDA advised steps to avoiding coloring additive violations:


  • Do not confuse certified colors with their uncertified counterparts. For example, FD&C Yellow No. 5 is the certified form of tartrazine, and is approved for use in cosmetics generally. But tartrazine, which has not undergone FDA analysis and received FDA certification, must not be substituted for or identified in an ingredient declaration as FD&C Yellow No. 5.
  • Do not confuse certified colors with colors identified only by a Colour Index (CI) number, or by the E number sometimes used in European color identification. You must not use a color subject to certification unless FDA has certified the batch in question [FD&C Act, sec. 721(a)(1)(A). A CI or E number does not indicate FDA certification.




Bookmark this page, as I will be updating with new information in the future.





Resources:
Lipstick Info 1
Lipstick Info 2
FDA recommended guidelines for cleanliness - eye safety 
Article By Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine on Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics
EWG Skin Deep Database


www.nontoxichammers.com