For many people, makeup is just a part of life.
It’s something to put on during your morning routine and take off after a night out on the town. It’s written down next to “eggs” and “socks” on the list of things you need to pick up. You head to the shops, pick up what you need, and go about your daily business.
Most people don’t stop to consider the ingredients and chemicals that go into everyday makeup products. On the other hand, many aren’t aware that a growing number of producers and companies are going all natural with their products—working hard to ensure that the makeup products they offer are safe for the skin, cruelty-free, and environmentally conscious.
If you’re interested in ditching the chemicals and looking into alternatives for your makeup routine, consider these 4 reasons why it’s worth the switch to all natural makeup.
- Your Current Makeup May Be Damaging The Environment
Most of us know that some crazy concoction of chemicals goes into beauty products in order to obtain a desired look or texture. But what most don’t realize is just how damaging these chemicals are to the world’s ecosystem.
Recent research is showing that many makeup products include “microbeads.” These tiny plastic particles—commonly found in liquid and gel-based products—aren’t able to decompose in the natural environment. The United States has banned the use of microbeads in recent years, but the offending products can still be purchased from online retailers such as Amazon.
Microbeads aren’t the only offending ingredient found in makeup. In fact, a host of harmful and destructive chemicals can be lurking in many of the products sitting in the beauty aisle: Titanium dioxide has been shown to harm marine wildlife. Diethanolamine can form into carcinogens over time. Some products can even cause breast cancer.
Instead of running the risk of environmental and personal harm by using everyday beauty products, consider switching to products based solely on naturally occurring substances.
Most producers of all natural makeup focus on using natural earthen ingredients, so there’s little to worry about in terms of long-term damage. Just be sure to do your research beforehand—you never know what’s in your makeup bag.
- Many Types of All Natural Makeup Are Cruelty-Free
It’s no secret that many of the products we use have to be tested in some way before commercial release. Testing is an important part of ensuring that a product is safe and effective for everyone to use. But that testing doesn’t have to come at the cost of the well-being of animals—and oftentimes, it does.
The Humane Society’s Fact Sheet on cosmetics testing is a horrifying reminder of the reality that is animal testing. Skin and eye irritation tests involve rubbing chemicals on bare skin and onto the eyes of animals.
All natural makeup comes from naturally occurring clays in the earth—no testing required, and no torture needed. The purchase and support of these products does more than simply aid in the appearance of your skin. Switching over to cruelty-free products creates less of a demand for animal testing in the long-term.
- Your Skin Will Thank You
Typical makeup products are composed of thousands of preservatives and other chemicals that are not natural for your skin to be exposed to.
Many of these chemicals are well-known for the damage they can inflict: Sulfates strip moisture from your skin and hair. Silicones clog pores and entrap dirt and sweat particle. These damage your skin over time, and actually make it so you need to use the offending products even more often.
All natural makeup products are based on items found in nature and not those made in a lab. Most all natural makeup producers are focused on ensuring that their products are organic, high in antioxidants, and filled with essential oils that your body can truly benefit from.
These products don’t harm your skin—if anything, they help retain elasticity, moisture, and cleanliness alongside their intended use of enhancing your natural beauty.
- You Can Make Them From Home
A small but vocal niche within the all natural makeup crowd are the DIYers, or people dedicated to using natural ingredients and crafting their own makeup.
Those who are genuinely interested in what goes into their makeup products no longer have to wonder, as they can begin to follow instructions online and build their beauty products at home.
By building off of commonly found household items, such as baking soda, cornstarch, and coconut oil, any product from deodorant to eye shadow can be made without the need of any harsh chemicals, silicones, or sulfates.
Keep in mind that not everyone is up to the task of building their own makeup kit. The DIY community spends hours trying to concoct alternatives to makeup products, and the results may vary. But, if you’re the kind of person that enjoys a good challenge, looking into assembling your own makeup products from home may be a viable option for you.
There is no shortage of drawbacks to everyday makeup and cosmetics—from the rampant animal cruelty in their development, to the harmful chemicals applied to your skin. Many people are searching for better ways to look vibrant and be smarter about what they purchase.
All natural makeup is focused on transparency and sustainability. Producers work hard to ensure that the materials in their products occur naturally in the environment and require no chemical reactions to work. They come cruelty-free and minimize their harm to the ecosystem.
If you’re looking for an alternative to your current makeup products, or if you’re simply looking to eliminate environmentally damaging products from your bag, we hope that you consider these 4 reasons why all natural makeup may be a great option for you.