Make-Up Bag Monday – Building on a Healthy Foundation

Preparing the Make-Up Bag Monday articles each week has been a really interesting exercise.  But, it’s also a little frustrating and a little disappointing.  I’m quickly learning that affordable, mainstream products that are truly safe and healthy for us are tough to find.  In most cases, you have to be willing to shop around and choose carry a selection of products from different manufactures.  Demand for natural/organic products is increasing everyday and in many areas there are plenty of affordable options.  But it seems that oddly enough, the beauty industry hasn’t quite gotten there.  So if anyone is looking for a new business ideas I have one for you.  A natural/organic makeup line that is affordable and easy to access.  If you can’t sell it through Target shoot for home parties like Mary Kay…look how well she did! 

But on to the details.  Two weeks ago I went through all of my make-up and found the health and safety ratings for them on the Cosmetics Database.    I’ve slowly been working on replacing the biggest offenders, which were my cleanser and my moisturizers.  This week, I went out in search of actual make-up to replace the products I planned to throw away (those that rated 5 or higher).  I hoped to offer specific brand suggestions today to make shopping easier, but if you run your make-up through the cosmetics database you’ll see that many of the brands have a wide range of ratings depending on the product.  Eye shadows with a low rating are harder to find than blush or powder foundation.  So below I’ve included a list of products from a variety of manufacturers that meet my goal of creating a make-up that averages or a 3 or lower on the risk scale.  These are common brands that are reasonably priced and can be found in many retail stores. 

Foundation/Powder/Blush:

• bare Escentuals all over face color – the various colors rate a 3, which really isn’t too bad.  I really like how the mineral powder foundations cover. (I already use this and don’t feel like I HAVE to replace it right now since it’s rating is pretty good.)
• bare Escentuals blush – rates a 2.  This is another product I was already using and I’m not going to replace.  Two is about as good as it gets when it comes to affordable, easy to find blushes.

Eyes:

• I was using bare Escentuals and Mary Kay eye shadows.  bare Escentuals all rate a 5 and I was hoping to do better than this.   Mary Kay eye shadows rate and 8 so I threw all of these away. 
• Burt’s Bees has a pretty big selection of eyeshadow colors that all rate a 2.  Their products are affordable and easy to find so I’m replacing my favorite colors with Burt’s Bees shadows.  I’m also holding onto to some of the funkier bare Escentuals colors for special nights when I want a little more glam.
• Burt’s Bees also has a descent selection of eye liners (and brow liners) that rate a 2 as does MAC if you choose their eye pencils not their eye kohls, which rate a 4. 
• We went through cleansers last week, but this week I discovered the Maybelline makes a moisturizing waterproof mascara remover that rates a 2.  Mascara can be tough to simply wash off so I thought this was worth mentioning. 
• I couldn’t find any mascara options sold at regular make-up counters or Target type stores that rate below a 3.  So for mascara I’d recommend Revlon Fabulash in all colors, Physicians Formula Retro Glow Ultra Dramatic Formula in Black, Prescriptives Lash Builder or Smashbox Bionic Mascara.  They all rate a 3.

Lips:

• Burt’s Bees, MAC and Elizabeth Arden all have lip pencils that rate a 2. 
• Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any common brands with lipsticks that rate below a 3.  Check out the brands I list below for options that rate a 1 or 2.  If you can accept a 3 here are your best bets.  Burt’s Bees lipstick with vitamin E, MAC Pro Longwear, MAC Satin and MAC Creme lipsticks, Stila Lipcolor compact, DuWop Shades of Venom lip color and Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Lipcolor.
• For the finishing shine, try Burt’s Bees lip gloss (a 1), MAC Lipglass (a 2) or Burt’s Bees flavored glosses (also a 2).

If you are committed to choosing all natural/organic options, below is information on two brands that meet the highest standards for health and purity.  Both have signed the Contract for Safe Cosmetics and are committed to offering products that are free of harmful chemicals.  They aren’t available in most stores, but you can order them online. 

Rejuva Minerals:  Rejuva Minerals offers a wide range of beauty products to meet the needs of most skin types.  Their products range from make-up removers, cleansers and anti-aging creams to foundations, mascaras, lipsticks and even brush cleaners.  Rejuva uses all natural and organic ingredients, which means no Talc, Lead, Bismuth, artificial colors or preservatives.  The company does not test on animals and they are receiving rave reviews.  The products are only available online at www.rejuvaminerals.com.

Costal Classic Creations: Coastal Creations is a family owned business based in California and focused on creating products without carcinogenic toxicants or any toxicants,which are known or which are strongly suspected of causing harm to all forms of life.  Coastal Creations is upfront about the fact that their products can not, and never will, mimic or replicate those traditionally found on the market due to their omission of questionable ingredients.  But they pride themselves on their purity. With careful and deliberate filtration of metallic debris (lead, mercury, cyanide, and arsenic) from all their cosmetic pigments, and strict adherence to consistent ingredient divulgence, they are able to provide clean, alternative personal care products that minimize risk factors that contribute to disease.  They offer a wide range of bath, body and beauty products including a line for men.  Their products are only available online, but if you’re interested in testing them out you can order a sample set of six products for $25.