Are Ingredients Important?
Lip gloss and lipstick can include ingredients like these:
Polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG), a liquid used to soften cream-like cosmetics. Products with PEGs may include 1.4-dioxane, an ingredient that has been documented as dangerous by the Food and Drug Administration.
Synthetic dyes and perfumes, which can cause cheilitis, an inflammation and cracking of the lips.
Petrolatum, a moisturizer similar to mineral oil, which forms a coating over the skin, clogging pores and trapping toxins inside. (We ingest a fair amount of lipstick when we eat).
Eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara can contain the following:
Parabens, preservatives that can cause allergic reactions—like puffy, red eyes.
Lanolin, a fat from the oil glands of sheep that can cause skin irritation.
Animal pigments. Avoid carmine or cochineal, which is made from beetle wings.
Foundation, concealer and blush could be exposing you to the following ingredients:
Talc, a drying powder from talc rocks, which can cause lung problems. Talc can also contain asbestos, a cancer-causing ingredient.
Mineral oil, a petroleum derivative that doesn’t allow the skin to breathe and can cause acne.
Isopropyl myristate, an absorption aid in cream-based products, which clogs pores.
Cosmetic cleansers may contain the following:
Acetone, a flammable liquid that can cause skin rashes and may irritate lungs.
Perfumes, which can induce allergic reactions in sensitive skin.
