The Ugly Side of Beauty: What's Really In Your Makeup?

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I'm just gonna come out and say it. This is not a rainbows, unicorns and butterflies post. In fact, today's topic makes me incredibly sad. I just discovered that I've been a test subject for the cosmetics industry since the day I first applied lip gloss in middle school. There was no consent form, no yellow caution tape, nothing! I didn't even know I was in danger!

A few weeks ago while researching for a post I was writing for Witty + Pretty, I stumbled across the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website. Now I'd be amiss if I didn't add a disclaimer here...

DISCLAIMER: Ignorance is bliss. If you are perfectly happy applying your makeup each day, knowing nothing of its ingredients or dangers, avert your eyes now. This promises to be slightly disturbing.

Image via ewg.org

Ok... here we go!

The Skin Deep website allows you to search for any cosmetic, body product or fragrance by brand or product name and then goes on to rank the products according to their toxicity levels on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the most dangerous). In addition to the overall rankings, Skin Deep lists each ingredient separately and discloses the potential hazards of each.

Obviously, I did a hurried search for my favorite beauty basics and got an immediate stress headache when I saw the results.

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Take my favorite beauty product for example - mascara. I'm not a fancy girl. I use CoverGirl's LashBlast Waterproof Volume Mascara. Skin Deep gave it a 5 on the toxicity scale (click here for the full results) because (wait for it, wait for it) this mascara contains ingredients known for organ system toxicity, endocrine system disruption and even reproductive system dangers. Yikes!

Turns out, cosmetics are some of the least regulated products on the market. While you might think that the FDA determines which products end up on the shelves, they actually have no pre-market approval authority over cosmetics and beauty products. In fact, almost 89% of ingredients used in beauty products have not been tested for safety by any publicly accountable institution. This is frightening, especially when you consider that your skin absorbs up to 60% or more of what you paint or slather on it.

Image via beauty-obsessed.com

So.. what's a girl to do then? The way I see it, you have two choices...

1.  FORK OVER A BIT MORE FOR THE NATURAL STUFF - The good news is that there are many natural lines on the market! The bad news is that they're usually a bit more expensive! You can find them online (brands like Dr. Hauschka, Lavera, SukiColor Organic Makeup, or Faerie Organic) or there are a few in the drugstore (brands like Burt's Bees and Physicians Formula). Whole Foods even has a small natural makeup section.

2.  GET CRAFTY AND MAKE YOUR OWN - If you dig the DIY thing, why not make your own line of products? Hey, if it works out, you can even create your own label and start a small business! The advantage of this route is that you will save so much money by making your own, not to mention you'll know exactly what's in them! The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a great resource for beginners, and any quick Google search will supply you with multiple recipes to get started!

In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to re-assess our makeup bags. But since the world is far from perfect and big corporations tend to put profit over people, it's time to wise up. I personally believe that each purchase I make sends a message about my values and my beliefs. I buy products from companies I trust, and hope that if you join me in doing this, one day the cosmetics industry will be forced to whistle a different tune.

Here's to radiant, nourished, natural beauty!

An Apple a Day: Eatin' Clean, Feelin' Good!

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If a genie suddenly appeared before me and gave me three wishes, I would most definitely ask him to turn one of my female relatives into a doctor... a doctor who took up residence in my apartment and was available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CONFESSION: Even though I know it's good for me, I HATE (notice the all CAPS) going to the doctor. To me, a visit to the doctor's office is nothing short of the worst blind date ever, except for the fact that said doctor is poking and prodding your body before you've even had a drink! Talk about a red flag!

Clearly my problems would be solved by a live-in doctor/relative - someone who already knows me like a book and is not shocked or awed by any of my strange questions regarding the body (oh yeah! I've got a lot of them).

Image courtesy of tattoodonkey.com

But since no genie is knocking down my door, I have to resort to other measures. You've heard the phrase 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'. Well friends, I'm here to tell you that there's some major truth to this children's rhyme! When you take the time to put good things into your body, then you reap the benefits of good health and avoid paying an arm and a leg to see the doctor! That's what I call two birds with one stone!

Here are my top five tips for eating healthy while still watching out for your wallet...

1) Eat less meat. Now before I lose you to your favorite steakhouse and a serious case of denial, hold on! I didn't say you couldn't eat meat. I just said eat less meat. Americans in general consume much more meat than they should. If you try to eat just a little less meat each week, you'll have some extra cash in your pocket to splurge on the good stuff - the grass-fed, organic, and free-range types - so that when you do eat meat, you're getting the good stuff!

2) Eat more grains and beans. Grains and beans are so good for you... and very filling in the process. Plus, they're inexpensive and you can usually buy them in bulk. Their lengthy shelf life makes them perfect for storing long-term, in addition to saving you money long-term. And when it comes to beans, if you don't have time to deal with the dry version, just buy them in a can! No judgment here!

3) Pick and choose which organic produce you buy. Though I may come across as completely fanatical at times, I DO understand that organic is expensive and it's not always feasible. If you can't justify buying all organic, the Environmental Working Group has made your task of picking and choosing much simpler! They've created an easy guide to stick in your wallet and reference when you're shopping the produce section. The Dirty Dozen are the top 12 produce items that you should try to buy organic if possible! Then there's the Clean Fifteen, which are the 15 items lowest in pesticides. You can download or print your very own copy on their website. Here's a sneak peak...

Image courtesy of ewg.org

4) Buy local. Local farmers usually charge less for their goods because they avoid the costs accumulated from shipping their produce to faraway lands. So if you have a local farmer's market near you, by all means, take advantage! Plus local produce is higher in nutrients because it's not on the road in the back of a semi for days or weeks at a time! Local = Fresh + Nutritious!

Image courtesy of responsibletechnology.org

5) Join a CSA. This fancy little acronym stands for Community Supported Agriculture. When you join a CSA in your neighborhood, you purchase a share of fruits and vegetables (and sometimes even fresh flowers) from a local farmer. You make a bulk payment up-front but enjoy a whole season of fresh produce for much less than you'd pay at the store. You usually get so much produce that it forces you to get creative in the kitchen to use it all! If you live in New York, you can find a CSA near you on the Just Food website, and if you live outside New York, check out Local Harvest.

Eating healthy doesn't have to be a drag. If you take my advice, you'll barely notice the cost difference and your doctor will have to find someone else to poke and prod!