Green Options » makeup

Not Too Pretty: Organic Cosmetics Make a Compact

Kelly Dunleavy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:44:11 +0000

This is a guest post by Kelly Dunleavy, a writer living in Northern California.

While we may not be using arsenic as a cosmetic anymore, the make-up we put on (almost) every day can still have punishing and dangerous chemicals. Of course, there are organic and safer versions. But, why not demand an overhaul of the industry?

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working to get rid of dangerous chemicals in the cosmetics we use.

News Alert :: Glycols Go Green And Ecocert Certified!

Emma Pezzack — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:21:41 +0000

Propylene and butylene glycol are two of the worst toxic ingredients quietly slipped into almost all of our conventional beauty products. God knows how they ever got there in the first place! Well, actually I have several opinions on that subject but another time… Just so you know, these petrochemicals are used for things like anti-freeze (in your car battery), polyurethane (plastics) and as an emollient in your moisturizer, lipstick, foundation, etc… you get the picture.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL… In collaboration with Lyle Bioproducts, DuPont have just released a new corn-sugar based glycol alternative to the petrochemical by-product currently used for cosmetics. Certified natural by French certification body Ecocert, this quantifies the ingredient has 95% natural and 10% organic composition. As well, the production of this new ingredient known as Zemea (presumably after the generic name for corn which is zea mays), leads to a 50% drop in greenhouse gas emissions as well as a 40% reduction in the use of petroleum.

One day at a time, one step at a time … what an amazing leap forward for the whole beauty industry.

Can Eyelash Extensions Really Be Safe?

Tiana Griego — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:37:13 +0000

I tend to worry more about what I put into my body than what goes on the outside. When in fact the chemicals found in lotions, makeup and hair dyes are something I need to consider when using these products on my body. Recently I have been using the eyelash extensions from “Xtreme Lashes” and I began to wonder how safe this new affection with eyelash extensions really was and was it worth any risks involved? After researching, I was able to find one of the ingredient’s in the adhesive, “formaldehyde” linked to cancer.

Spray Lotion Mist From Ola Hawaii.

Emma Pezzack — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:35:33 +0000

It could be that I’ve just returned from a holiday in the tropics but I LOVE these organic & natural Spray Lotion Mists from Ola Hawaii. The sweet, zingy, fresh smell of pineapple + lime is super delish but there are all kinds of scents to choose from if citrus isn’t your thing.

Keep it stashed in your bag during Summer heat to spritz all over as a refreshing, light, easily applied moisture solution that will leave you smelling gorgeous. Pop the top, spray and voila! A great addition to any ‘must have’ list for Summer.

What is Beauty?

Emma Pezzack — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:46:35 +0000

Beauty in all forms has been a lifelong passion for me. With an appreciation for killer aesthetic combined with substance, it doesn’t matter to me if I’m looking at something vast and humbling as the ocean; the way someone’s face lights up when they smile; the solid, magnificent way in which a great tree anchors itself to the ground and stoically provides enough oxygen for two humans for a lifetime; or it could be the incredible lines of wear and character on the face of an old Tibetan woman, totally ravaged and laid bare as a proud road map of her lifetime and how she’s lived in it.

There isn’t an ideal or perfect beauty. We are all so completely and utterly different. You can have someone drop dead gorgeous who is shallow and mean and she’ll seem like the most unattractive person on the planet. Conversely, you might meet someone not so physically attractive but with a beautiful personality and radiance that can take your breath away. Beauty can’t be separated from the personality no matter how much spritzing, spraying, waxing and killing yourself on the treadmill you think will make you beautiful.

Tip o’ the Day: Yummy Lipsticks

Rebecca Carter — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:49:38 +0000

Hungry? It's said that women "eat" or ingest 6 pounds of lipstick over their lifetime. If that's the case, then we want to make sure that we are eating the best lipstick possible!

By checking out Skin Deep, the cosmetics database, it's obvious that there are a lot of lipsticks out there that are full of very questionable ingredients. Revlon's Moon Drops & Super Lustrous lines are among the worst offenders. But no one uses them, right? In fact, Revlon says the Super Lustrous is America's #1 lipstick according to AC Nielsen data.

We have options, however. Of course you can decide to go without makeup, but that's certainly not the only choice. There are many lipsticks available from companies like Canary, Jane Iredale, CARGO, and Peacekeeper that have ingredients that we wouldn't mind eating as much. Okay, okay, so shea butter with a side of castor oil isn't our first for dinner…but it certainly beats propylene glycol ricinoleate.

Rebecca says: I'm very excited to have found Peacekeeper Cause-metics who don't use nasty ingredients and donate all profits after taxes to women's health advocacy & human rights issues. My husband will be happy, too. I haven't worn nail polish in a very long time!

Tip o’ the Day: Cosmetics That Cause Concern

Rebecca Carter — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:56:13 +0000

So many times once our concern about the environment is peaked, we become aware of so much more - our connection with the earth as well as what we put into our bodies. So how do we know "what's in" the stuff that we wash, slather, and spray our bodies with everyday? Cosmetics are not regulated by the FDA, so how do we know what's really in these things?

Well you check them on Skin Deep, the cosmetics database, of course! This database created by the Environmental Working Group claims to hold information of 1/4 of all cosmetics - over 22,000 items across almost 1,000 companies. They rank each product from 0 - 10, the higher numbers meaning more "concern" you should have about using the product.

They'll also tell you each ingredient in the item, which of those are on the sketchy side, and why (linked to cancer, reproductive issues, etc). Additionally, they let you know if that manufacturer has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and if they conduct animal testing.

So, for example, we'll look at white Dove bar soap. It's got a score of 5 (so, middle ground). Unilever has not signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and DO test on animals. The fragrance seems to be the scariest ingredient of the bunch with an individual score of 8. And apparently, 67% of bar soaps are of "less concern". Four bar soaps wound up with a score of 0 - meaning whew! very little concern. They include Kiss My Face's Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap ($3.50), Lilie De Vallee Castile Unscented ($3.99), and two soaps from NeemAura.

Take a look through your bathroom and see how your products rate. You just might decide to make a change!

Rebecca says: This is something I've had growing concern about and will definitely be looking into our products at home. I'm a little nervous to find out the answers, but I guess ignorance is not bliss…