Why is Organic Makeup Better for You?
You may be looking for a healthy alternative to conventional makeup, an alternative that uses organic ingredients, but you may ask yourself, why is organic makeup better? Organic is a common term thrown around, especially when it comes to food products, but makeup is also going through some “organic” changes.
Thank goodness for these changes, since the health and wellness of your skin relies on the quality and effectiveness of a makeup’s ingredients.
Why is Organic Makeup Better for You?
Organic makeup uses organic ingredients instead of possibly toxic and highly processed ingredients that can cause long-term damage to not only your skin but also the rest of your body. Since makeup can be a daily use item, you may be introducing toxic ingredients daily onto your skin and around delicate areas like your eyes.
Long-term use can lead to various health concerns, but with organic makeup, it’s more likely that you will be introducing ingredients to your skin that don’t have negative effects and instead nourish and aid in your health.
What Dangerous Ingredients Are in Makeup?
Conventional makeup can be made of a plethora of ingredients that can affect your health. Your skin is your body’s largest organ and it is also extremely porous, which means that it can quickly and effectively absorb materials. This means that toxic ingredients in makeup, or any skincare product for that matter, will leach into the body.
Your skin is the first thing to be affected by toxic ingredients; the pores of the skin can become clogged, trapping dirt, debris, or oil resulting in breakouts. Once absorbed, ingredients can enter the bloodstream, spreading throughout the body to various organs and systems.
Makeup Ingredients to Avoid
- Artificial Fragrances: The stuff that gives your makeup or personal care item that special scent, fragrances come in many different forms that may not even be disclosed since they can be labeled as “trade secrets”. Depending on what type of fragrance is used, some can be linked to skin irritation, reproductive issues, and even certain cancers.
- Parabens: These types of ingredients can be found in makeup, and their primary purpose is as a preservative that fights off the growth of mold or bacteria. However, they are also linked to multiple health issues, such as irritation to the skin, disruption to the production of hormones, and cancers.
- Phthalates: Normally put into cosmetics to help preserve the fragrance and color, phthalates are connected to numerous issues to the brain, such as autism; issues to reproduction, such as testosterone development for men; and children’s immune health, such as allergic diseases.
- Formaldehyde: This is typically released from preservatives that are used in cosmetics that contain water in order to prevent any kind of microbial growth. It is a known carcinogen and has been linked to cancers and skin allergies.
- Sulfates: The foaming reaction from soaps and cleansers is caused by sulfates, which serve as a detergent to strip off debris and dead skin cells. However, this ingredient can dry and damage skin, and it’s linked to issues with hormone disruption and damage to kidneys.
- Talc: Short for talcum powder, talc is used typically to absorb moisture, which is why you are likely to find it in foundation and eyeshadow. Although talc is a naturally occurring mineral, the biggest issue is that sites it’s mined from can also have asbestos, resulting in the talcum powder harvest containing the dangerous mineral that can cause mesothelioma, among other diseases.
- Palm Oil: This is not so much a health concern as it is a concern for the environment. The harvesting of palm oil is an unsustainable practice as it requires large swaths of land and can even cut into precious rainforests. Steering clear of this ingredient is for the well-being of the environment to ensure that you aren’t supporting such an unethical practice.
The Benefits of Organic Makeup
Regulation
Cosmetics and beauty products don’t need to go through FDA approval in order to go on the shelves, though the FDA does regulate labeling and ensures products are safe. What is “safe” can be up for debate, as many ingredients that are at risk of being unsafe are still allowed by the FDA in cosmetics.
Certified USDA Organic products can only be certified if they meet specific requirements, so you may see it as a second tier of regulation. In this case, you know that the ingredients in your product are sourced in more ethical and health-focused ways.
Healthy for your Skin
Since organic makeup contains natural ingredients such as plants and natural oils, it also provides more holistic and rich access to the nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals that can benefit your skin.
Makeup that uses ingredients such as Coal Tar or various oils can cause damage to the skin by clogging the pores, trapping dirt and debris, and leading to breakouts. Other ingredients can dry out the skin, destroying the skin’s natural barrier.
Organic ingredients, on the other hand, can help to effectively apply to the skin without being abrasive or harmful. They can also provide important nourishment or moisturizing properties.
Better for Sensitive Skin and Skin Irritation
Since organic makeup doesn’t contain harsh chemicals or synthetic ingredients, they are easier on the skin. Many people can have reactions from the various dyes, fragrances, and oils that are formulated in labs with a mix of chemicals.
This is typical also in soaps, shampoos, and cleansers that use ingredients like sulfates or alcohol to clean the area but result in irritation, flaking, and dryness.
Keep in mind, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any cases of allergies to organic makeup. Natural and organic ingredients can still cause irritation and allergic reactions if the user is allergic to a particular plant or natural oil.
Better for the Environment
In general, organic makeup will be better for the environment for a few reasons. One is that they use organic ingredients, which don’t use pesticides that could damage the land these crops are grown on or lead to chemical runoff that would lead to important water or wildlife sources.
Two, the byproducts of manufacturing are far less since the ingredients don’t require harsh processing that will cause damage to the environment. Many organic makeup companies also make it their mission to be more sustainable for the environment.
Three, in order to avoid the leaching of chemicals from unsafe plastics, many organic makeup companies use glass containers that are easier to recycle, or plastics that don’t contain BPAs and can be recycled.
Free of Artificial Fragrances and Colors
Synthetic fragrances and colors can be dangerous for the skin, leading to issues with dryness or irritation. These fragrances can also lead to allergic reactions or headaches since they are far more powerful and aren’t subtle compared to organic makeup.
The Negatives of Organic Makeup
Cost
With more high-quality ingredients that focus on sustainability, there is going to be a higher price. More sustainability typically means less product and the need for ingredients from farms that have a lower yield than nonorganic farms.
This means that the product is going to cost more, but if you are someone who uses makeup every day, this could be a reasonable investment.
Allergies
As we mentioned before, some natural and organic ingredients can lead to allergic reactions since they come from all-natural oils and plants. Since many of these organic ingredients aren’t processed as they would be in other makeup, their potency is higher and there is no dilution to an ingredient that some individuals may be allergic to.
It’s important to test organic makeup to see if you have any adverse reactions and read the label to ensure it doesn’t contain a plant or oil that you have allergies to.
What Makes Makeup Organic?
Makeup can be categorized in several ways, and it can be hard to tell if the labels actually meet up with the claims. “All-natural”, “Organic”, and “Cruelty-Free” are all terms you may have encountered before, especially if you’ve just begun looking for healthy alternatives to conventional makeup.
The term “organic” simply means that the product was produced using ingredients that were not treated with harmful pesticides, and are not GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture and any other field that requires the mass production of plants.
No Use of Pesticides
All plant life risks death by the invasion of pests and insects that feed on it, or bring other unwanted effects like disease that can wipe out an entire crop leaving little to no yield. It can be difficult for companies to ward off the threat of these pests without pesticides, especially when they are dealing with large crops.
The issue with pesticides is that they are essentially everywhere, and we not only use them on ingredients for cosmetics but they are also in our food and homes. We end up consuming some dosage of residue from these pesticides and, although we still don’t completely understand their effects, they may lead to cancers, reproductive issues, and other health issues.
Ingredients are not GMOs
Genetically modified organisms are designed to ward off pests and diseases by engineering the DNA, making crops more resistant to pests, or allowing them to produce their own pesticides.
This means that many seeds aren’t even organic, and growers need to ensure that what they plant has not been engineered. The bottom line is that truly organic products require more care, time, and investment, which can lead to those products being more expensive.
What are the Requirements for an Ingredient to be Organic?
The only way to know if a product is truly organic is if it has been verified by the USDA. Any organic product will have the USDA Certified stamp of approval on the product. This means that the ingredients have passed the standards of the USDA, which are stringent on the land itself and its quality, specific cultivation practices, and the origin of the seeds.
Understanding Labeling
As mentioned earlier, there are multiple ways that products are being labeled, and it’s important to decipher what those labels actually mean. Here are the labels to keep an eye out for and what they mean:
- 100% Organic: The entirety of the product is made up of ingredients that are organic
- Organic: At least 95% of the ingredients in the product are organic
- Made with Organic Ingredients: At least 70% of the ingredients in the product are organic
- Cruelty-Free: This means that at no point in the development of the product was it tested on animals.
- Non-toxic: It simply means that the product is safe to use, and this has generally been used for marketing.
- Natural: The product used no ingredients that were made in a lab, meaning they aren’t synthetic and came from plants.
- Vegan: Makeup that is considered vegan does not contain any ingredients that are derived from animals in any way, this includes ingredients like honey.
It’s important to remember that “organic” and “natural” are not interchangeable terms and mean different things. If you are looking for organic products, natural products will not be the proper replacement.
What Ingredients Are Better?
The common thought is that ingredient labels should contain ingredients that you can pronounce and that is should be simple. This is partially true because many lab-made ingredients that could be toxic or unhealthy have more complex and hard-to-read names. However, that’s not everything.
If you are looking for healthier cosmetics you should look for products that list plants as their main ingredients. If the product is USDA-certified, you know that those plants were grown organically. If they are labeled “natural”, you then know that it was made from ingredients that weren’t formed in a lab.
Better Ingredients:
Here are some of the more natural and healthy ingredients out there for your skin:
- Honey - Contains anti-aging and anti-microbial properties
- Green Tea - Loaded with antioxidants
- Aloe Vera - Calms and soothes skin
- Coconut Oil - Helps protect the skin
- Shea Butter - Maintains the moisture in the skin
- Carnauba Wax - Used as a natural thickening agent
- Turmeric - Naturally brightens skin tone
- Chocolate - Contains natural antioxidants for the skin
- Grapes
- Algae Extracts
Keep in mind that some ingredients, no matter how natural or how organic, can cause allergic reactions or could present certain sensitivities. Allergic reactions to certain ingredients can be normal, depending on the person, and you should always test a small amount of the product for a couple of days to see if you have a negative reaction.
Where Does Beauty Waste Go?
More sustainable and earth-friendly cosmetic companies are welcomed since the amount of beauty waste is staggering. Although many makeup containers are made of plastic, not all of it is recyclable, and of those containers that are rarely recycled with only 9 percent of the plastic that is recycled actually going through the full process of being repurposed.
This means cosmetics are a huge detriment to the planet, like many other products in our current market. Organic makeup companies attempt to limit the environmental impact of the beauty industry by utilizing more recyclable materials like glass, or they focus on making it easier to refill empty containers so the customer doesn’t need to buy a whole new product.
Even with these environmentally-friendly options, it’s difficult to avoid beauty waste, and companies continue to work on new ways to make it more sustainable and safe for the environment.
Great Organic Makeup Products of 2024
Here are some great organic makeup products that we suggest. Using these may answer the question of, why is organic makeup better for you. Some of these are made of varying amounts of organic ingredients, and come from companies that are cruelty-free and care about the environment:
Harvest Natural Beauty Store Perfecting Organic Liquid Foundation
This foundation comes in six different colors and is safe for all skin types. It is free of all of the unwanted ingredients we mentioned earlier and is certified organic. We love how well this foundation blends and how smoothly it applies to the skin.
Simplified Skin Store Rose Water Facial Toner
Using organic rose water, this facial toner is a great option for setting makeup. We love that it is alcohol-free so it won’t have any harsh effects on your skin. It refreshes and hydrates the skin, which makes it perfect for those who need some revitalization of their skin.
This can be used to set your makeup in the morning or remove it at night so your face can feel clean and fresh.
Honey Girl Organics Face and Eye Cream
This face and eye cream has a 95% organic blend and is rich in honey, beeswax, and bee propolis to help hydrate the skin and naturally build its protective barrier. We love the light scent of this cream, which comes from essential oils.
This is a great product for damaged skin as it naturally repairs and replenishes to leave your skin softer and more radiant.
ASPACES Organic Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
Made of 100% bamboo cotton, these makeup pads are a great choice for those who want to remove makeup in a natural and effective way while supporting more sustainable measures. We love that the cotton easily absorbs makeup and that these pads can be washed and reused; they even come with a small cotton laundry bag.
Products like these limit waste and since it is made of cotton, it is friendly to your skin and won’t cause damage as it cleans.
ONLYBETTER Vegan Eyeshadow Palette
We love this eyeshadow palette since it comes in three different palette shades and each palette contains 16 shades. It is 88% organic and vegan, and it is waterproof. We also find it to be a great gift idea since it has a built-in mirror and vibrant colors that are easily blendable.
This story was originally published March 20, 2024 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Why is Organic Makeup Better for You?."
