Issue 10: Makeup
For the ladies. Gents read also. Pass on the knowledge to the women/girls in your lives.
Hello Frens! Before we dive into today's substack, I'm going to give you my opinion on makeup. Buckle up.
1. To quote our dear Fren BowTiedMermaid, "fresh faced is the best face." She said this to me in a conversation we had about toxic products and she's absolutely correct. Wear as little makeup as possible. On a basic level, it's better for your skin.
2. If you're finding that you feel the need to wear tons of makeup to cover up imperfect skin, you should be finding the root cause of your skin issues. Hormone balance, nutrition, hydration, sleep, etc. all play a part in this. Come back and read this substack after you clear up your skin. Caking your face in makeup is not the solution. My DMs are open on Twitter if you need additional help here.
3. Makeup doesn't make you prettier. If you're wearing lots of makeup to impress men, don't. They're going to see your fresh face sooner or later. The real you is better, trust me. And if you don't believe me, consider this: do you want a man who only likes the way you look when you're done up? That doesn't sound lasting, it sounds exhausting and emotionally damaging.
4. I don't personally wear a lot of makeup, as you can probably tell by now. If you have any toxic-free makeup brands you enjoy, please drop them in the comments for others!
Alright, if you're still here, I'm going to cover some basics about cosmetics and offer up some brands that I've used and have researched.
I've said this in a previous issue, but most people don't realize that our makeup and cosmetics aren't tested before being released to the market. The FDA doesn't regulate makeup and doesn't test most of it for safety. It has been 80+ years since Congress last updated the laws that regulate safety in our personal care products. So much can happen with formulas and discoveries in 80 years! And, unfortunately, many big corporations care more about making money than our safety. Luckily, there are some companies waking up to this and making safer products for us to use.
What to Avoid
As always, I recommend cross checking The Dirty Dozen before you buy any new personal care products, including makeup. However, when it comes to makeup, there are more ingredients to be aware of and to ultimately avoid.
Titanium Dioxide: some evidence of unbound particles of respirable size are a concern as this can be carcinogenic (cancer causing).
Listed on the label as: Titanium dioxide, TiO2
Carbon Black: unbound particles of respirable size are carcinogenic according to California's prop 65 and may increase the risk of lung disease for those who work with it.
Listed on the label as: Carbon black, D & C Black No. 2, acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and thermal black
Polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE): could be contaminated with perfluorooctonoic acid (PFOA) which is associated with reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption and is a known carcinogen.
Listed on the label as: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, DEA-C8-18 Perfluoroalkylethyl Phosphate, Teflon
Talc: This ingredient is commonly contaminated with asbestos, a carcinogen. In Canada, talc is restricted in the use of cosmetics. Can cause respiratory distress and organ toxicity.
Listed on the label as: Talcum powder, cosmetic talc
Aluminum: long-term exposure can lead to bone diseases, endocrine disruption, brain diseases and disorders, including Alzheimer's Disease, respiratory problems, and impaired iron absorption.
Listed in the label as: aluminum, aluminum flake, LB Pigment 5, Pigment Metal 1, A 00, A 95, A 995, A 999, AA 1099, or AA 1199.
Brands I have Personally Tried:
Burt's Bees: I like their lipstick and lip crayons. Though I haven't tried the following products, they are clean and safe: eye shadow, eyeliner, blush, foundation, mascara, and makeup remover.
Honest: I LOVE their mascara. I'll link it below. It's super clean and works really well. I have used their eyeliner and some of their other products. All are clean and toxic-free. I highly recommend them. They make almost anything you're looking for.
Bare Minerals: I've used these in the past though I don't anymore. They're pretty good and work well.
Savvy Minerals by Young Living: I have some of their aluminum free eyeshadow and I use their blush. I enjoy their makeup and it has low toxicity.
Physician's Formula: this company has an organic line. I have used their mascara and I liked it.
Some Notes:
Expect to pay more for toxic-free makeup. It's hard to find, but worth it. You get what you pay for.
A lot of the brands I'm recommending I haven't used in a while, so READ THE LABELS.
You may be looking for a makeup remover. Check Burt's Bees or Honest. I use my facial cleansing oil to remove my makeup. You can find the recipes for facial cleansing oil here.
Affiliate Links:
If you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission. It doesn't change the price for you. Thank you.
Honest Mascara
Honest Eyeliner
Honest Eyebrow Pencil
Physician's Formula Organic Mascara (This may contain aluminum)
My favorite Burt's Bees Lipsticks
Thanks for reading! Ladies, if you have any other brands you like, PLEASE drop them in the comments!
Next week will focus on personal care products for ladies again. I'm going to cover products for periods and lady parts. But, gents, this is all good information for you to read as well. Especially if you have a lady in your life or daughters.
See you then!
-Angel
Issue 10: Makeup
My goal is to just use the stuff I already have. I wear makeup maybe 2x a year. My face wash, toners, moisturizers are either made for me or Skin Script (checking them against your list now)
My shave butter has titanium dioxide in it. Bah