Mineral makeups are a huge tendency right now, being billed as more natural and safe than traditional makeups. Let’s take a look at why is something a “mineral” makeup, compare them with conventional makeups, and appearance into the health risks associated with both. What are Mineral Makeups? There’s no legal definition of the mineral makeup.
More than anything, it’s just a marketing term. The idea of a nutrient makeup is it uses earth-derived pigments like titanium dioxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, and micas rather than artificial colors like aluminum lake and FD&C colors. However, there’s no law governing how mineral makeups are labeled, so lots of the big companies use both synthetic and mineral compounds in their products and market them as mineral.
So, like any product just, browse the elements before you buy always. Additionally, the elements may differ from brand to brand significantly. As you can see, the ingredients are very different. While the first mineral makeup doesn’t use any artificial colors, it contains plenty of other “bad stuff,” including parabens and PEGs.
The second formula, however, has a very simple elements list. The bottom line: just because it says it’s “mineral” doesn’t imply it’s safer. Always read the ingredients. What’s the problem with mineral makeups. Let’s say you found a mineral makeup that’s free from parabens and dimethicone and all the crazy-sounding ingredients. The formula was just corn starch, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and jojoba oil.
It appears like a simple ingredients list. Would there be a nagging problem with that? New technologies have enabled cosmetic suppliers to make finer particles of minerals (we’re talking iron oxides, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and micas) that apply more smoothly to the skin. Several powders contain nanoparticles, with particle sizes of significantly less than 100 nanometers. As these powders are applied, they become airborn, and have the potential to penetrate the cells of the lungs deeply, causing an inflammatory response. Source Source Micas, at full size even, can also worsen the respiratory system, and can cause internal lung scarring, and in severe instances, pneumonia.
Titanium dioxide is categorized as a course 2B possible carcinogen. This study discovered that repeated and long term publicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles through inhalation cased lung cancer. This scholarly study discovered that titanium dioxide nanoparticles caused oxidative stress when ingested by rats, and resulted in tumor foundation. Clearly, breathing in these contaminants is not good for our health and wellness.
- Clarins Booster Repair $33
- 5 May 2013
- Hand & Foot Care
- 1 tsp castile soap
- Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
- Plain Tissue (Kleenex!)
Of course I would recommend using makeup sparingly, and allowing your natural beauty show. But if you “have” to use makeup, I would recommend finding a liquid with simple elements (free from parabens, perfume, phenoxyethanol, etc). An instant clarification: Although breathing in nanoparticles are more harmful than full size particles, breathing in the full size particles of titanium dioxide and other “mineral” substances is bad either. The safest option is a liquid base.
The options that I’ve listed here aren’t perfect, either. However, they appear to be the best in the marketplace today that meet the criteria of not being airborn and not having parabens, phenoxyethanol, GSE, or honeysuckle remove. Your second-best option is always to use a pressed powder. Pressed powders aren’t as airborne as loose powders which means you breathe less dust.
