Mineral Cosmetics-Pros and Cons
Mineral Cosmetics--Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. Many brands of mineral cosmetics contain no talc, oil, artificial colors, chemical dyes, petroleum products, or parabens.
2. Allergic reactions to mineral cosmetics are relatively rare due to the lack of fragrances, dyes, and preservatives.
3. Mineral cosmetics are non-comedogenic, a characteristic that allows the skin to breathe and does not exacerbate skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, or dryness.
4. Mineral cosmetics are also good for the environment because potentially toxic chemicals are not used in manufacturing, nor are they introduced onto your skin and, as a result, into the water system when you wash it off. They are also not reliant on nonrenewable resources such as petroleum.
Cons:
Many companies include potentially harmful additives in their mineral formulations (advertised as 'natural') to cut costs or to improve the makeup’s performance. These additives include:
1. Talc –a suspected carcinogen used as a base filler to weigh down the product so the price can be marked up.
2. Bismuth Oxychloride – Routinely added to mineral makeup as a texture-enhancing product. It is a skin irritant that can cause redness, itchiness, dryness, flakiness, or other symptoms of irritation.
3. Parabens (i.e. Methylparaben and Propylparaben) – Used unnecessarily as preservatives (inert minerals cannot support bacteria), parabens have been found in tissue samples from human breast tumors and the estrogenic activity of parabens may be linked to the development of breast cancer.
4. Synthetic Dyes and FD&C Colors – Used to create makeup shades and colors, FD&C colorants frequently contain coal-tar chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic and have been causally linked with cancer.
5. Titanium Dioxide (sometimes listed as Ti02) is a primary ingredient in most mineral-based makeup—in fact, it is a common ingredient in many natural skin care products sold in health food stores. Recent studies have advised of strong health risks associated with using Titanium Dioxide because, when inhaled, Titanium Dioxide nano-particles had a similar effect as asbestos and could cause lung cancer.
You must read the labels and know what to look for in order to really know whether the makeup you wear is a good choice for you and the environment.
What kinds of cosmetics do you use? What brands are the safest, purest, and contain the least amount of chemicals in your opinion?
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