Dangers of Makeup – And a Solution

Most makeup on the market today—foundations, powders, eye shadow, lipstick—are known to contain harmful chemicals. For example here are four of the most common ones:

1. Parabens. Used as a preservative in makeup and skin care products. Has been linked to breast cancer.

2. Formaldehyde. Used not only in makeup but skin care products as well. (This is the stuff undertakers preserve bodies with.) At the very least it can cause migraine headaches, allergies and asthma.

3. Coal tar. Found in eye shadow. Lipstick can also contain artificial colorings that are derived from coal tar. Coal tar has been linked to cancer.

4. Nitrosamine. Used as a preservative in foundations. Linked to cancer.

While the use of these and other harmful chemicals is well known, the makeup industry gets away with using them because it’s not as strictly regulated by the FDA.

As a dermatologist I find the manufacture and use of these products very disturbing, and I have an alternative to offer. Until we live in a time when au’natural is the “in” thing, we women must continue to use makeup, pure and simple.

Well, “pure and simple” is the answer to using makeup that is beautiful – and healthy.  The makeup that supports you in this is called “Mineral Makeup.” I personally recommend “GloMinerals,” but there are several other good quality mineral makeup companies, as well.

Safe Mineral Makeup

What is mineral makeup and why is it so good for you? First of all, it contains none of the above listed harmful chemicals, or others that I did not list. And secondly, what they are made of consists of a blend of milled high-pigment natural minerals.

In addition these are micro-pulverized into flat particles that form a kind of filter when applied to the face, allowing the skin to actually breathe, but at the same time protecting it from airborne pollutants.

Mineral makeup also contains elements that are active in keeping your skin healthy, including antioxidant complexes of Vitamins A, C and E; green tea extract; and natural anti-inflammatories.

Mineral makeup not only looks beautiful, but while you’re wearing it the product is busy with cell regeneration, decreasing dehydration, building collagen, and providing UV ray protection.

My best advice as a concerned physician is that you pay attention to the makeup you are putting on your face, and use mineral makeup as part of your skin care and health program.