Natural Makeup: The Answer to Your Concerns about Health and Beauty Ingredients
Let's take a look at what's new.
Organic makeup
Organic beauty products are the big new trend. Given the wide variety on the shelves, it can be difficult to make sense of it all. Here are the basics.To be recognized as organic, makeup must be:
- Made from natural ingredients, mostly sourced from organic farming.
- Environmentally and health friendly
- Free of animal ingredients (no honey, milk, wax, etc.)
- Cruelty-free (no animal testing)
- Labelled with an organic certification that guarantees compliance with frameworks defining which ingredients are prohibited and which are authorized, as well as the minimum percentages of ingredients that must be naturally sourced and from organic farming.
Good to know!
Similar products that do not have an organic label are called natural makeup.
Organic makeup is mainly made of plant extracts, vegetable oils and essential oils. Unlike traditional makeup, organic products do not contain harmful chemical components (parabens or other endocrine disruptors, silicones, sulfates, synthetic dyes or perfumes).
Gluten-free makeup
Yes! Gluten is everywhere, even in your makeup! Do you have an intolerance or an allergy to this plant protein? You should know that your lipstick or gloss may contain gluten. Since both are applied to the mouth, they can easily be ingested and enter the digestive system. Over time, this can damage your intestinal lining and cause serious health problems, including cancer.
Did you know?
Over their lifetime, some women will have swallowed and absorbed an average four pounds of lipstick.
Concerned about the health of their users, some companies have created gluten-free cosmetics. Maybelline New York, for example, has several gluten-free lipsticks and lip glosses in its collection.
- Color Sensational lipsticks
- Color Sensational lip glosses
- SuperStay 2-Step 24 liquid lipstick s
- Shine Sensational lip glosses
Other companies, like Marcelle, specialize in hypoallergenic products. Recommended by allergy specialists, general practitioners and dermatologists, this brand has actually built its reputation on this particular trait. An online guide helps users identify the most common allergens. The Marcelle website also provides a search engine to help consumers find the best Marcelle products for them.
Good to know!
Companies can change the composition of their products without notice. Before buying, always double-check the list of ingredients, even if you have been using the product for a long time.
Non-toxic makeup
Did you know that Canada prohibits more than 600 ingredients in Canadian-made cosmetics? The European Union bans 1,330 such ingredients, while the United States prohibits only about 30. The difference can be explained by the fact that the European Union studies substances individually, while in Canada, they are grouped by product class.
Rest assured: it is perfectly possible to find non-toxic makeup made entirely from natural ingredients. That said, if a cosmetics product isn’t certified organic, you should read the list of ingredients carefully!
What’s a good starting point? The top 10 ingredients the David Suzuki Foundation lists as harmful or controversial. It's a great way to learn more about the ingredients in cosmetics and why you should avoid some of them.
|
Ingredients |
Use |
Why avoid them? |
|
BHA and BHT |
Preservative |
Endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic, harmful to wildlife (fish) |
|
Formaldehyde |
Preservative | Carcirogenic |
|
Phtalates |
Improve malleability |
Endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic, harmful to wildlife (fish) |
|
Fragrances |
Purely sensory function |
Companies are not required to disclose the composition of fragrances, as they are a trade secret. However, fragrances contain phthalates. |
|
PEG |
Texture enhancer |
Carcinogenic |
|
Parabens |
Preservative |
Endocrine disruptors |
|
Carbon black/ D&C Black #2 |
Coal-based black pigment (mascara) |
Carcinogenic, may contain heavy metals that are toxic to the brain |
|
Talcum powder |
Pressed powders and eye shadows |
Not purified, may be contaminated with asbestos (carcinogenic) |
|
Siloxane |
Smoothing properties (makeup bases and foundations) |
Endocrine disruptor, harmful to wildlife (fish) |
Watch out for greenwashing!
Have you ever bought a moisturizer because its packaging claimed it to be “natural”? Then, back at home, you realized that you probably should have read the list of ingredients first? Oh no, your cream contains allergens, irritants and endocrine disruptors!
You just experienced greenwashing! This phenomenon occurs when a company uses advertising and marketing to send a false message: it hides its polluting activities and tries to present itself as environmentally responsible.
Good to know!
Without standards, cosmetic brands are getting creative about what they consider organic, natural, healthy and “green.”
Beware!
The following greenwashing terms are commonly seen on the packaging of certain beauty products:
- Green
- 100% natural
- Free of toxins or chemicals
- Hypoallergenic
- Cruelty-free
Pharmacy Services
Do you need help finding healthy, natural or organic makeup options that fit your lifestyle? Come meet our beauty consultants, who can advise you!
The pharmacy services presented in this section are offered by pharmacist owners who are affiliated with Uniprix. The pharmacists are solely responsible for the professional activities carried out during the practice of pharmacy. These services are offered in participating pharmacies only. Certain fees and conditions may apply.
* The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide complete information on the subject matter or to replace the advice of a health professional. This information does not constitute medical consultation, diagnosis or opinion and should not be interpreted as such. Please consult your health care provider if you have any questions about your health, medications or treatment.