Switching to Natural Makeup: For You and for the Environment

It’s not something you want to hear, but your beauty products may be rife with hidden ingredients you would prefer to avoid. You expect the companies making your skin care products to use the safest ingredients possible. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Some popular cosmetic products that line drugstore shelves and department store displays contain ingredients ranked poorly by the Environmental Working Group.

Thankfully not all skin care products contain these ingredients, so it’s best to be armed with knowledge. Now there’s an abundance of great quality natural makeup and skin care on the market. Below is the lowdown on natural cosmetics that make switching to a more natural routine possible.

The Movement

Natural makeup and makeup made with naturally derived ingredients are viable alternatives to popular, conventional cosmetics. Gone are the days of chalky powders, inadequate mascaras, and greasy lipsticks that don’t last. No more wasting money on face creams that simply don’t match the results of their nonnatural counterparts. Modern-day natural makeup and skin care formulas are quite comparable to, and in many cases exceed, the quality and effectiveness of mainstream cosmetics.

You can also choose from a variety of plant-based and cruelty-free cosmetics if you are looking to avoid those with animal ingredients or animal testing. For the added bonus of knowing your products are easier on the environment, look for products with certified organic ingredients, for example, to ensure the growers didn’t use pesticides. Many brands are taking advantage of earth-friendly packaging as well. Of course, label reading is important, as there are some companies that may use sustainable looking packaging as a way to distract you from their ingredient lists. When verifying natural skin care products, research is key.

Why Go Green?

Many natural skincare products avoid synthetic fragrances, artificial dyes, and parabens. Products that contain botanical fragrances, natural pigments, and herbal extracts are great alternatives. Mineral makeup, for example, is an ideal option because it doesn’t require the synthetic fillers that typical cosmetics use.

When you spot a suspicious name on an ingredient list, look it up on the product’s website to see if it’s naturally sourced. Remember, there’s no regulation around the world “natural.” It’s best to take a good look at the ingredients and see if they align with your own definition, instead of relying simply on a generic moniker.

Ways to Green Your Beauty Routine

If all this ingredient talk is overwhelming, you can start to green your beauty routine by focusing on the tools you use. Opt for brushes made from sustainable materials, such as bamboo, not plastic. Use a face cloth to wipe your makeup off instead of a bunch of cotton balls, and look into recycling options for your empty beauty-product containers.

Whatever you decide, here’s a good rule of thumb: if the list of ingredients confuses you with its length and d1ifficult-to-pronounce items, you may want to consider a different product. It’s important to note, however, that even many natural ingredients may be listed with their more complicated scientific names, but oftentimes the common name is also listed. For more information or to search for your favorite products to see their safety ratings, visit EWG’s Skin Deep Database or the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

What are your favorite natural beauty products? What ingredients do you like to avoid? Tell us on Twitter!

Image source: Pixabay

This article was brought to you by Tom’s of Maine. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of Tom’s of Maine