How Safe is Your Makeup?

For as long as I can remember I've had a love affair with makeup. In fact, I've pretty much worn makeup every day of my life since I was 13 years old. Now, I'm 30 years old, but the relationship between makeup and I is still going strong.

So as I've begun to make changes in all aspects of my life to healthier and safer products, I decided it was time to give my makeup bag an overhaul. Surely this didn't mean that I would have to give up all makeup... did it?

Luckily I knew just where to go. Upon the recommendation of some very good friends at OGD, I headed straight to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database (or just Skin Deep Database for short).

The Skin Deep Database gives cosmetics and personal care products a safety rating based on the level of toxic/harmful ingredients found in that particular product. The rating key is pretty simple:

Green 0-2 rating is a low hazard
Yellow 3-6 rating is a moderate hazard
Red 7-10 rating is a high hazard

The first cosmetic I plugged in was Cover Girl Continuous Wear makeup which is the foundation that I regularly use. I found out that it had a rating of 4 which is a moderate rating. The Skin Deep Database then goes on to list each ingredient found in that makeup and its individual rating as well.

The most toxic ingredient found in my foundation was Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate which had a rating of 9! This ingredient can cause developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity and organ system toxicity (non-reproductive). And to think that I've been putting this on my face every morning.

What I loved most about the Skin Deep Database is that it also let me search for better products. Just one click and suddenly I was viewing an entire list of products with a much lower rating. I jotted down some options and tucked it into my purse to refer to on my next shopping trip.

My experience with the Skin Deep Database was incredibly eye-opening. I love that I can plug in everything from makeup, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo even perfume and find out how safe (or unsafe) it is for my body.

Anyone who is interested in knowing more about your healthy & beauty products would definitely benefit from checking out the Skin Deep Database for themselves.