Is your makeup toxic?

How often do you think about the ingredients in your make up? The foods we eat and the skincare products we use seem to be our major concerns (and rightfully so) but what about the makeup we apply every day?

A recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) report found that each day women use an average of 12 cosmetic products totalling around 168 ingredients, while men use an average of 6 products totalling 85 ingredients. These figures are startling, because most of us are unfamiliar with what these ingredients are and the potential ill-effects they can have on our bodies.

When it comes to ingredients, less is best, which is why Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics avoid unnecessary chemicals that put your skin and body at risk.

Not all makeup brands are created equal though, so here’s a list of ingredients you may find in your makeup bag that are best avoided.

Parabens

Most widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, parabens have no trouble penetrating your skin and have been detected in human breast cancer tissue. In the body they can mimic estrogen and interfere with your reproductive, nervous and immune systems—all things we’d like to keep in well-working order!

What to look for on the label: Butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, and any ingredients ending in “paraben”.

Heavy metals

Ever wondered where the music genre got its name? Well, now you know! Heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, arsenic and aluminum are found in many different beauty products, particularly coloured make up products like lipsticks, blushes and eyeshadows. Their effects on the body range from issues such as chronic fatigue, digestive discomfort and brain fog to immunity problems, headaches, achy joints and rashes, so give these nasties a wide berth!

What to look for on the label: Chromium, lead acetate, hydrogenated cotton seed oil, thimerosal, sodium hexametaphosphate. Please note that heavy metals can be difficult to avoid as they are not always listed on the label.

Octinoxate

Found in foundations, lipsticks, sunscreens and nail polish, octinoxate (also called octyl methoxycinnamate or OMC), is an unstable chemical that’s absorbed rapidly through skin. A known endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function, it’s been detected in human urine, blood and breast milk - indicating that humans are systemically exposed to this compound.

What to look for on the label: 2-ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate , omethoxycinnamate (OMC), escalol , parsol, parsol MOX, parsol MCX.

Carbon black

A dark black powder used as a pigment in eyeliner, mascara and lipstick, carbon black is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-based products such as coal tar, and has been linked to increased incidence of cancer and organ toxicity. An ingredient found in eyeliners, it’s linked to cancer and organ toxicity.

What to look for on the label: Acetylene black, carbon black, channel black, D & C black no. 2, lamp black, thermal black and furnace black.

Siloxanes

Synthetically manufactured chemical compounds used in cosmetics to soften, smooth, and moisten, siloxanes disrupt the endocrine system and are toxic to the reproductive system.

What to look for on the label: Ingredients that end in “-siloxane” or “-methicone”.

BHA/BHT

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are chemical compounds that are used as preservatives and antioxidants in lipsticks, sunscreens and moisturizes are have been linked to several health concerns including endocrine disruption, organ-system toxicity and cancer.

What to look for on the label: BHA, BHT.

Petrolatum

A byproduct of petroleum refining, petrolatum (or petroleum jelly) is often used in personal care products as a moisturising agent. When properly refined, petrolatum has no known health concerns but unrefined or ill-refined petrolatum may be contaminated with with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are linked to cancer, allergies and skin irritation, so it’s best avoided altogether.

What to look for on the label: Petrolatum, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, paraffin oil, and white petrolatum.

Mineral oils

Mineral oils are derived from petroleum and are mainly used in cosmetics as preservatives and lubricating agents that help retain moisture. Because mineral oils are petroleum derived they may be contaminated with cancer-causing PAHs and long term use of can suffocate the layers of the skin, leading to inefficient cell turnover rates and signs of premature ageing.

What to look for on the label: Baby oil, paraffin oil, liquid paraffin, white oil, paraffinum liquidum, and liquid petroleum.

Why does it matter?

What we put onto our skin is absorbed into our body and bloodstream, and wearing makeup that contains the ingredients listed above gives chemicals and toxins permission to penetrate your skin and potentially cause a range of health issues, from the annoying (allergic reactions) to the life-threatening (cancer).

Formulated from the finest natural ingredients Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics products are free from harmful chemical and toxins so you can wear all the makeup you like, without the risk of unwanted side-effects or damage to your body. And it doesn’t stop there! Our mineral makeup is not only great for your skin and health but it also feels amazing - like you’re wearing nothing at all!

Here at Youngblood we want you to live your best and healthiest life, and that starts with what you put in and on your body! Make the switch to toxin-free makeup today and shop our full range of foundations, concealers, lipsticks, eyeshadows and more!