“Joy is the best makeup. But a little lipstick
is a close runner-up.” — Anne Lamott, via @simplyhealthy
.
“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness,
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.“
-Audrey Hepburn
NurtureNatureProject’s Safe Cosmetics Agents YouTube Channel.
If you are like me your first question is “Can I trust the information in this post?” There is so much bull out there, which is part of the point! I just want to let readers know that I make NO money from any of the brands or companies I write about on this site. A member of my family was hurt by company deception and I am pissed off. I am a woman on a mission to protect others, including my own family. I believe the lack of precaution and the present deception by companies when it comes to ingredients in our products is deeply wrong. I like to know the truth and I want to share it with people I care about.
Have you used any of the products on this list? Please share your experience with us in the comment section below!
Think of how great it would be if everyone shared what products actually work! Sharing supports change and helps us make a better world. So, please comment at the bottom if you have tried any of the following products! We all want to know about your experience!
PDF Unmasked Nine Ugly Truths Behind the Myth of Cosmetic Safety
Beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran. This may seem cliche but it is absolutely true. It is healthy to want to look good until it takes priority over who you are inside and your true strengths and talents. Strengths, talents, and self acceptance are sexy! When you are happy with yourself and at peace with who you are it shows on your face. When you are confident and accomplished in your strengths it shows. Loving oneself as is and accepting ourselves human flaws and all is an amazingly powerful thing. Being supermodel beautiful does not bring more love or respect. From what I have seen it can be a trap, bringing in a lot of superficial people who are there for the wrong reasons. Many of the super-beautiful end up more insecure than others because they have gotten a huge amount of attention by a vast number of sharks for something that is not going to stick around. Being happy with who you are creates a kind of beauty linked with integrity that never goes away. It illuminates a face from within.
That being said, we all like to put our best face forward and many of us like to have a little flirtatious fun, when the cosmetics are safe of course!
All of the cosmetic brands in this list have signed the Safe Cosmetics Act and have a minimum of 75% of their cosmetic products rated 2 or below in the EWG cosmetic database. A few brands have 100% of their products rated 2 or below.
NOTE: This is 1 of 6 Top Safety and Prevention posts:
- Top 16 Safe and Effective SPF Skin + Makeup Products in U.S. – EWG Recommended
- Top 24 USDA Certified Organic Skin Care Lines
- Homemade Moisturizer Recipes from the Skin Care Resource Center
- Top 12 Products with Carcinogens – The “Dirty Dozen” consumer products
- Best of Organic Page
EWG Shopper’s Guide to Safe Cosmetics (PDF)
EWG Skin Deep Database :
Ratings, from 0-2, are in the parentheses after the specific product. 0-2 is the safe range, 0 being completely non-toxic. The EWG rating system is not perfect and it is important to review the ingredients on products. However, it is a fantastic starting place for learning about ingredients and possible toxicity. Some companies have been known to not send in the full listing and thus rate higher than they should and some ingredients have been entered into the system in such a manner as to come out in the toxic range when it is not at all toxic. See the Misinformation of “Skin Deep” and the Update on EWG on the Sukipure website, The Cosmetics Database Not the End-All Source on Bubble and Bee’s fantastic blog, and/or My Guide to the Skin Deep Database on the Nature of Beauty’s blog if you are interested in knowing more about the strengths and weaknesses of the EWG skin deep database. Overall I am a huge believer in the work of the Environmental Working Group and this incredible database. No one can expect it to be perfect. People just have to be aware. To learn more about cosmetic ingredients and breast cancer bcaction.org. Also see the note about breast cancer and lifestyle factors at the bottom of this post.
(for beauty from within – FOOD FOR HEALTHY SKIN – MAYO CLINIC and RADIANT SKIN 101 – Talia Fuhrman)
Scroll to the bottom for more details about each company.
1. Coastal Classic Creations
(First Place! 145 total products rated 0! 15 products rated 1)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
Top EWG ratings (0) for everything!!! lipstick, lipliner, eyeshadow, eyeliner, body powder, blush, bronzer, concealer
If you want to learn about cosmetic ingredients. Visit their
website. They are not just offering products they are offering
the truth! So rare! I simply cannot say enough about them.
If you have tried their lipstick let me know what you think.
EWG Rating (0) blush, Coastal classic creations blush
stargazer
EWG Rating (0) blush (creme), Coastal classic creations creme blush
seascape, driftwood
EWG Rating (0) bronzer, Coastal classic creations bronzer
secluded cove, beach tan
EWG Rating (0) brow liner, Coastal classic creations brow liner
montara mountain brown/blond
EWG Rating (0) concealer, Coastal classic creations concealer .
Refreshing Mist concealer
EWG Rating (0) eyeliner, Coastal Classic Creations
Coastal Evenings Eyeliner
EWG Rating (0) eyeshadow
EWG Rating (0) Lipliner, Coastal Classic Creations lipliner
Canyon (copper),
Shell (chocolate-brown),
sparkling seas (indigo plum),
seacliff (wine),
ida’s rose (dark rose),
EWG Rating (0) Lipsticks, Coastal Classic Creations Lipstick
Canyon (copper),
Inland Seas (brick red),
Wetlands (red),
Sand (coral),
Golden Sun (cinnamon),
Marine Reserve (light rose),
Whitecaps (nude),
Shell (light mocha),
Ida Rose (dark rose),
Sparkling Seas (indigo plum),
Seacoast (red-orange),
Seacliff (wine),
Coastal Desert (goldenrod),
EWG Rating (0) Liptint, Coastal Classic Creations Liptint
EWG Rating (0) Mascara, Coastal Classic Creations
Whispering Seas Mascara
EWG Rating (0) Powder (Body) , Coastal Classic Creations Wave Crest Body Powder
EWG Rating (0) Powder (loose), Coastal Classic Creations
Refreshing Mist
Tan & Umber
beige & Ivory
From their website:
What makes Coastal Classic Creations unique is our careful and deliberate omission of carcinogenic toxicants from our ingredient deck. We also strive to eliminate chemical irritants from our products by choosing not to use ingredients which are known or strongly suspected of causing harm to all forms of life. Our products contain no nano-sized particles, mica metallic oxides, bismuth oxychloride, ferric ammonium ferrocyanide, zinc oxide, dimethicone, or titanium dioxide. They also do not contain carmine, synthetic fragrance oils, parabens, Germaben II, FD&C or Lake colorants, propylene glycol, stearalkonium chloride, phthalates, alpha lipoic acid, formaldehyde, urea, alcohol, copolymers, lead or its mineral compounds, placenta, mercury, dioxane, lanolin, sulfates, hydroquinone, or petrochemicals. We use no genetically modified ingredients.
2. Zosimos Botanicals
(33 total products rated 0, 126 rated 1, 35 rated 2)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
Top EWG ratings (1) for their concealers, foundations, eyeshadow, shimmer dust, eye liner pencils, blush, lip & cheek tint, shadow sticks, lip liners, lip gloss, lipsticks
Here is a youtube review of some of their products and their customer service.
Top EWG rating (2) for their new formula mineral foundations, mineral blushes, & mineral eyeshadows
EWG Rating (0) brow stabilizer -vegan
EWG Rating (0) lip Balm
EWG Rating (0) mineral makeup setting mist
EWG Rating (1) blush (powder)
EWG Rating (1) blush (creme)
EWG Rating (1) bronzer butternut
EWG Rating (1) concealer stick
EWG Rating (1) eyeliner – Eye Pencil
EWG Rating (1) eyeshadow mineral
EWG Rating (1) foundation – Primer prep
Flax, bamboo, cashmere,
gazelle, chestnut, beige linen,
antique lace, chamois and more
EWG Rating (1) lip and/or cheek tint
EWG Rating (1) lipgloss -
EWG Rating (1) Lipliner
Lilac, Peachfuzz, Rosebud,
Burgundy, Fushia, raspberry
EWG Rating (1) Lipsticks
EWG Rating (1) Powder (Body) Shimmer Dust Body Powder
Cherry Blossom, Cocoa, Sunflower
EWG Rating (2) Powder (loose-facial)
No Brow Liner
No Mascara
3. Maia’s Mineral Galaxy
(28 total products rated 0, 135 products rated 1)
EWG Rating (0) foundation – powder
dark tan, coconut cream, english white, flawless
oasis, sandy brown, spicy brown, egg shell
honey cream, sea shell, swiss coffee, antique white
earth brown
EWG Rating (0) lipgloss, transparent
EWG Rating (1) blush (powder)
sweet pink, persian plum, rosy brown
brink pink, classic rose, lavender
misty rose, french rose, chestnut rose
crimson kiss, rose bud
EWG Rating (1) concealer
egg shell, sandy brown, spicy brown, flawless
sweet almond, dark tan, sea shell, honey cream,
swiss coffee
EWG Rating (1) eyeliner- Eye Pencil, dramatic
bronze, black pearl, forest green
magic, pearl white, silversand,
smoky blue, starry night
EWG Rating (1) eyeshadow powder
black pearl, infinite violet, old rose
dark magenta, forest green, apricot
smashing strike, smashing hit, silver sand,
blue haze, autumn green, smokey blue
fern, golden chiffon, dramatic, white pearl
peachpuff, copper, indigo, pink flare
turkish rose, starry night, electric violet
blushing pink, sunset whisper, pomegranate
paradise pink, magic, iced Pink, steel blue
EWG Rating (1) foundation (liquid, primer) Flawless Liquid Primer
honey cream, sweet almond, egg shell,
english white, spicy brown, dark tan
sandy brown, oasis, swiss coffee, sea shell
earth brown coconut cream
EWG Rating (1) foundation, cream
sandy brown
EWG Rating (1) Lipgloss, diamond
copper canyon, velvet plum, pink crystal, expectation
fool’s paradise, sunrise whisper, temptation, mauve
soft touch
EWG Rating (1) Lip liner pencil
French Rose
EWG Rating (1) Lipsticks
fiery orange, paradise pink, lusty pink, ruby red
sunset whisper, old rose, sienna, orchid, velvet plum
espresso, soft touch, french rose, mauve touch
EWG Rating (1) Powder (Body) glitter
illusion, lava, mirage
No bronzer
Only 1 Lipliner?
No Mascara
4. Jane Iredale
(2 total products rated 0, 19 products rated 1, 44 products rated 2)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
EWG Rating (1) blush (powder) 24-Karat Gold Dust-blush, bronzer/highlighter, eye shadow
(1) Gold Rose
(2) Green
(2) Aquamarine
EWG Rating (1) bronzer 24-Karat Gold Rose
EWG Rating (1) Brow Liner, Mascara & PureBrow Fix
EWG Rating (1) eyeliner – Eye Pencil
EWG Rating (1) eyeliner – Liquid
EWG Rating (1) eyeshadow gold dust
gold , bronze, silver, champagne, pink
EWG Rating (1) eyeshadow, Eye Gloss
(1) Brown, Champagne, Grey, Mauve & Wine Silks
(2) Green Silk
EWG Rating (1) Mascara & PureBrow Fix
EWG Rating (1) Powder (facial-Compact)
Powder-Me SPF 30 Dry sunscreen
EWG Rating (2) blush (creme), Touch Cream
EWG Rating (2) bronzer, HE Bronzer for men SPF 18
EWG Rating (2) Brow, Purebrow Gel
EWG Rating (2) Brow, Shape me Eyebrow kit
EWG Rating (2) concealer
active light under-eye concealer
Zap & Hide blemish concealer
EWG Rating (2) eye-highlighter pencil
EWG Rating (2) eyeliner, Cream to Powder
EWG Rating (2) eyeshadow, One for All Compact cream to Powder PurePressed
EWG Rating (2) eyeshadow, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (eye shadow kit)
EWG Rating (2) foundation, liquid minerals
EWG Rating (2) Mascara, PureLash Lengthening
EWG Rating (2) Mascara, Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening
EWG Rating (2) Mascara, PureLash Extender & Conditioner
EWG Rating (2) Powder (facial-Compact) PurePressed Base, SPF 20
No lip and/or cheek tint in the safe range
No lipgloss in the safe range
No Lipliners in the safe range
No Lipsticks in the safe range
No Powder (Body) in the safe range
No Loose Powder (facial-loose) in the safe range
.
From their website:
Substances that most commonly cause sensitivities are chemical preservatives, chemical dyes (usually labeled as FD&C), perfume and alcohol. Our makeup contains none of these sensitizers. All of our products have undergone sensitivity testing in an FDA-approved laboratory with zero sensitivity recorded.
- Non-comedogenic, will not block pores.
- Virtually no allergy risk.
- All products have been sensitivity tested.
- Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA protection – up to SPF 30. UVA tested at High.
- Anti-inflammatory, helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.
- Very water resistant rating by an FDA-approved lab.
- Complete coverage for skin conditions like acne, rosacea and redness following treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
- Contains no talc or parabens.
- Composed of inert minerals that cannot support bacteria.
- No products have been tested on animals. Vegans click here for product information.
ELLE, 2008 Beauty Green Stars, Best Bronzer - Sunbeam
ELLE, 2008 Beauty Green Stars, Best Eye Shadow
Allure, 2008
Best of Beauty Award,
Best Natural Selection, Circle\Delete Concealer
Platinum sponsor of Teens for Safe Cosmetics “Green Spa” events
Products never tested on animals. Member of PETA.
Proud supporter of Global Green, the American Arm of Green Cross
5. Miessence – From Australia,
(62 total products rated 0, 28 rated 1, 15 rated 2)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
Top EWG Rating
(0-1) lip creme
(1) for their blush
(1) face powder
(1) concealer
(1)bronzer/highlighter
(1) shimmer creme blush/lipstick and
(1) lip balm
6. Rejuva Minerals
(16 total products rated 0, 34 products rated 1, 1 product rated 2)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
Top EWG ratings .
(0) Purely Basic foundation powder
(0) Purely Basic blush
(0) Mineral makeup organic botanicals foundation
(1) eyeshadow
(1) for bronzer Purely Basic in Golden Glow & Bronze Glow
From their website:
Rejuva Minerals are 100% free from Parabens, harsh chemicals or toxins, synthetic preservatives or fragrances, nanoparticles, micronized minerals and GMO’s. We have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, are members of PETA’s Cruelty Free Program and do no animal testing. Rejuva Minerals loose powders are developed in the USA in an FDA Certified lab.
As an ongoing effort to provide safer products, we use as many organic ingredients as possible. We are now using Certified Organic Botanicals and Eco Certified Organic Rice Powder in many of our products! Our ingredients are high quality ingredients sourced from leaders in the industry. Our minerals contain no *nanoparticles!
About nanoparticles: Nano-size (in the cosmetic field) means any particulate that has at least one dimension that is < 100 nm (100 nm is one tenth of one micron). None of our mineral powders fall within this range. Examples of nano-sized material are some of the Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide materials used for physical UV blocking (sunscreen
7. Terra Firma
(4 products rated 0, 10 rated 1, 14 rated 2)
cosmeticsdatabase.comLook up the exact colors and products in the database
Top EWG ratings (1) for their bronzers, blush, lip stains, lip gloss, finishing powder
8. Gourmet Body Treats
(26 products rated 0, 6 products rated 1, 8 products rated 2)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
Top EWG ratings (1) for their liquid eyeliner,
(1) Vegan eye pencil
(1) Anti-aging lipstick
(1) glossy lip plumper
(1) GBT liquid eyeliner
(1)Vegan lipliner
All of our products are 100% vegan.
Member of The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) – Campaigning for Health, Justice, and Sustainability.
.
9. RMS Beauty
(11 products rated 1, 5 products rated 2)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
Top EWG ratings
(1) for their un cover up, GREAT PRODUCT!!!
(1) eye shadow- living luminizer GREAT PRODUCT!!!
(1) lip2cheek blush/lipstick, and GREAT PRODUCT!!!
(1) lip & skin balm.
.
From their website:
Formulated with raw, food grade, organic ingredients in their natural state. All products are free of harmful chemicals, synthetic preservatives, synthetic vitamins, and genetically altered ingredients. The minerals in RMS beauty products are guaranteed to be in their raw, uncorrupted form, without silicone, paraben preservatives, or other chemical coatings. Minerals in nanoparticle form have been avoided as they are small enough to penetrate cells in the lungs, and studies have shown them to be toxic to animals. The vitamin E used has not been genetically modified. Rosemary extract is used for the preservative. packaged in recyclable glass.
.
A Few More For Good Measure
.
10. Earth’s Beauty
(1 product rated 0, 2 products rated 1, 5 products rated 2)
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
(0) Mineral colours foundation powder
(1) Lipstick
(1) face concealer
(2) Mineral Colours Blush
(2) Earth’s Beauty Mascara
(2) Mineral Colors Eyeshadow
.
From their website:
- We do not use ingredients that are known health hazards for humans or the environment.
- No ingredients used are tested on animals.
- No finished products are tested on animals.
- No ingredients are obtained from killed animals, exotic animals, or endangered animals.
- We do not use FD&C colorings.
Developed for those who are sensitive or allergic to traditional cosmetics. Because we use minimal ingredients, the products are in the loose powder form. We use ingredients such as arrowroot and iron oxides. To achieve an SPF face powder we add such ingredients as kaolin clay, magnesium stearate, and zinc oxide. There is no titanium dioxide in our products which can be drying to the skin in a powder form.
11. Cosmic Tree Essentials
3(11) products rated 0, 2(5) products rated 1, 3(4) products rated 2
Look up the exact colors and products in the database
(0) Essentials lip care confection
Apricot Truffle, Turkish Delight
(1) Essentials lip gloss
(1) Lip Care confections lipstick
(2) Semi matte eye liner eyeshadow
(2) Essentials blush
From their website:
Cruelty-free cosmetics hand crafted with your general well-being and the Earth’s sustainability in mind. Our cosmetics feature raw, organic and fair trade botanicals that have been used through the ages and stood the test of time. We’re proud to see many of our products ranked in the top 10 per cent in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetic safety database.
12. 100 Percent Pure
Not rated by Skin Deep yet.
Great lip stains/glosses and lip and cheek tints!! See the bronzers, blushes, mascara, face powders, foundations, concealers, and lip palette
-
-
- no synthetic chemicals
- no parabens or other toxic preservatives
- no sulfates or other harsh detergents
- no artificial fragrances or colors
- no alcohol
- no phthalates
- no petro-chemicals
- no propylene glycol or PEGs
- no animal by-products
- no toxins
- no fillers – never watered down with water,
- thickeners, emulsifiers or other fillers
-
13. Beauty with a Cause
Look up the exact colors and products in the database. Has not signed the SAFE COSMETICS COMPACT…Don’t know why!
(1) Lip sheers
(1) Lip gloss
(1) Lip shimmers
(1) Lip brilliant
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
ColoreScience
Has not signed the SAFE COSMETICS COMPACT &
Does not give full ingredients on website
Cleure Cosmetics
Has not signed the SAFE COSMETICS COMPACT
Their mineral mascara and concealer are in the EWG safe range, HOWEVER
THE “safe” high impact mineral lipstick entered by them in EWG database which got the great rating IS NOT ON THEIR WEBSITE.
THEIR PRODUCT FACT SHEET WON’T OPEN
THEIR MOTTO What Goes On, Goes In.” HOWEVER
THEIR ONLY LIPSTICK is the Deep Moisturizing Lipstick and it contains POLYETHYLENE , RETINYL PALMITATE , & TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
Their eyeshadows contain RETINYL PALMITATE , & TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
They are on the right path which is what made the above such a dissappointment…from their website:
Most cosmetic products contain salicylates, mineral oil, petroleum by-products and other potentially harmful ingredients. On the other hand, many mineral makeup use the micronized form of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which can pose health risks. According to the Environmental Working Group, exposure to the micronized form of these ingredients can cause neurotoxicity and allergies that you certainly do not want from your mineral makeup.
- FREE of Talc
- FREE of Salicylates
- FREE of Fragrances
- FREE of Dyes
- FREE of Parabens
- FREE of Bismuth Oxychloride (which can clog your pores)
- Non-Comedogenic (prevents clogged pores)
CONSUMER REPORTS: BEST SKIN PROTECTION HABITS
1. Wear sunscreen daily. “Sunscreen is your power ingredient since the sun makes everything worse,” New York city dermatologist Amy Wechsler, M.D., says. Plus, the buildup of sun damage over several years can be hard to distinguish from rosacea since skin will appear redder, she says. Look for a sunscreen with zinc oxide because it is non-irritating.
2. Load up on antioxidants. Sun, smoke, pollution, and stress create skin-damaging oxidants and free radicals, and it’s a good idea to quench them with antioxidants, Wechsler says. Look on the ingredient labels of skin-care products for antioxidant-stocked green tea extract, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins B3 and E, and vitamin C ester (the non-irritating form of vitamin C).
3. Be a minimalist. “If you have sensitive skin, limit what you’re putting on your skin as much as possible to limit the likelihood of irritation,” says Lain, who recommends a simple three-step regimen of gentle cleanser, antioxidant moisturizer, and chemical-free sunscreen.
4. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. Load up on foods with omega-3 essential fatty acids to help counteract skin inflammation, says dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, M.D., author of “Ageless Face, Ageless mind” (Ballantine Books, 2007). According to Perricone, omega-3 reduces the body’s production of inflammatory compounds and blocks the production of arachidonic acid, a cause of inflammation. Foods rich in omega-3s include cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel, trout, anchovies, herring, and sardines; nuts and seeds; and flaxseed oil. eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and stay away from high-glycemic foods (such as starches and sugars like white bread, cookies, and candy), which have been shown to contribute to inflammation.
BREAST CANCER & LIFESTYLE FACTORS
Obese women are up to 60 percent more likely to develop any cancer than normal-weight women, according to a 2006 study by British researchers.
Many breast cancers are fueled by estrogen, a hormone produced in fat tissue. So experts suspect that the fatter a woman is, the more estrogen she’s likely to produce, which could in turn spark breast cancer. Even in slim women, exercise can help reduce the cancer risk by converting more of the body’s fat into muscle.
La Vecchia cited figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which estimated that 25 to 30 percent of breast cancer cases could be avoided if women were thinner and exercised more.
The American Cancer Society recommends 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week to reduce a women’s risk of breast cancer.
In one study from the Women’s Health Initiative, as little as 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week of brisk walking reduced a woman’s risk by 18%. Walking 10 hours a week reduced the risk a little more.
“It’s hard to lose weight, but it’s not impossible,” he said. “The potential benefit of preventing cancer is worth it.”
Carlo La Vecchia, head of epidemiology at the University of Milan, speaking at a European breast cancer conference in Barcelona
Fantastic article, it is so hard to find the wood because the trees. I know that I feel overwhelmed with all the information and yet with a lack of clear alternatives that are truly safe
Posted by Rowena | March 17, 2011, 7:23 amHave you ever tested Arbonne? I have been invited to a party and found that Arbonne isn’t listed on the safecosmetics.org site. They claim it is very pure but the list of ingredients is a mile long.
Posted by Nadine | March 9, 2011, 9:24 amNadine, Arbonne is loaded with toxic synthetic ingredients. They have done some reformulating recently but they still have ingredients I don’t consider safe. They also keep moving the ingredients list around on their website making it difficult to find. Sometimes I can find it and other times I can’t. It’s frustrating.
Posted by Danika @ Your Organic Life | March 14, 2011, 12:46 pmI, too, am looking for safe cosmetics. I want to try the Coastal Creations line but read about the #6 plastic container. Are all of their products in that kind of container? It is hard to get a reply on email from them. Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by pat gladden | February 16, 2011, 11:45 amOnly in the last couple of years have I become interested in safe cosmetics. I have purchased a number of skin care items from Miessence in Australia and love all of them with the exception of the outdoor balm which I found gritty. All the facial moisturizers, cleansers and body wash have been fantastic and my favourites so far. I was not at all impressed with Coastal Classics as I found their moisturizers were hard to apply and dried out in the pots. As for their customer service, it was non-existent – I would not consider purchasing from them again.
Thank you SO much for the above list as it simplifies things immensely. There needs to be pressure put on governments to ensure the safety of personal care products as for pharmaceuticals, etc.
Posted by Tracy A | December 10, 2010, 8:45 amI use Jane Iredale products…they are the only mineral line that I have found thus far that doesn’t make my skin go friggin ape shiz. I have really sensitive skin and everything will make it break out. I know jane iredale isn’t the safest of all but it is an amazing product line. I am venturing out to find safer products right now, but if that fails I’m just gonna retreat back to the JI. Not all the JI products work well though. The liquid foundation is thick, the eyeliner pencils are cruddy, and all the concealer sucks. However, the mascara is out of this world!!! I can’t live without it! The powdered foundation is amazing! The tinted moisturizer is awesome! And I am 100% addicted to the 24k stuff!
Posted by Melinda | October 30, 2010, 11:19 pmWouldn’t it be great if we as consumers could fully rely on one company to tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help them God? If there are ‘datagaps’ or rather ‘were really not sure about that ingredient’, we are being mis-informed and mis-led about beauty products. The best thing to do is to use absolutely nothing cosmetic and then we won’t have to worry about what’s in it. The less crap we put on us the more healthy we should be!
Think about it. Did Got put Adam and Eve in the garden with a month’s supply of a 4-step skin care kit with color cosemetics? No. We were meant to go au naturale but we know how that story ended. I’ve worn makeup since I was 13 and I’m over 35 and still spending $$$ on junk that’s harmful to my body. I feel so foolish because I thought that if it’s sold in stores, it must be ok for me. Then again, ciggs and booze are found in stores, too. Cosmetics, just another carcinogen!
Posted by Deborah | October 2, 2010, 5:52 pmHi heather,
Thank you so much for all this great info – i live in the UK so am going to try Jane Iredale as other top 3 not availble where i am.
Just wondered i was using Dermalogica but have had to throw it all away as terrible parabens in products and now have to find a suitable skincare range like Environ, Dr Hanuska or Karin Herzog etc did you compile a list of such good paraben free skincare ranges? so many out there and misleading info like “Natural” – (Liz Earle) yet when you read ingredients see parabens etc!
Please help me!
Unsure of who to use now
Posted by Claire | September 10, 2010, 1:23 pmHi Claire,
Products from the following quality skincare companies are certified organic by the UK Soil Association and do not contain parabens. To be certified by this association the product must contain at least 90% organic ingredients
Sophyto (very good line) , Pai Organic, HerbFarmacy, Balm Balm, SanteVerde
Products that are not certified organic but are quality skincare lines that do not contain parabens include
Marie Veronique Organics, Dr. Hauschka, Weleda
Quality U.S. products that sell in the UK that do not contain parabens include: Intelligent Nutrients, Suki Pure, Kimberly Parry, Organoderm, Organicare, Indian Meadow Herbals
Posted by Heather | September 22, 2010, 3:32 pmWhat are your thoughts on Bare Minerals makeup by Leslie Blodgett? I have worn her product for 2 years. I like the lightness of it and the coverage it provides. I am NOT a fan of liquid makeup could never find the right shade. I am an African American lady with a dark honey skin tone. I am ready to go “green” in my personal care products. Have any of the major Black skin care copanies signed with you? But as for myself what would you suggest? and where can I purchase these products locally? I live in the Los Angeles area. Willing to travel to get it or is there a website I can order from.
Thank you for your reply.
Posted by Candace | July 28, 2010, 7:05 pmBare Minerals foundations are relatively ok, but they do contain bismuth oxychloride which is a filler and a skin irritant. The mineral foundations have a decent score, but the rest of their products are very toxic.
Posted by Danika | September 10, 2010, 7:24 pmThank you for the info.
Posted by Candace | September 24, 2010, 3:35 pmYou’ve really done a lot of research to be able to put this great list together! I’m curious if you’ve run into Ava Anderson Non-Toxic Products yet? It’s a fairly new company so they don’t have everything yet but do rate well on the cosmetic data base.
Posted by lkulp | July 18, 2010, 11:01 pmThey rate well because the intentionally picked ingredients with 100% data gaps, meaning there is little to no information on the safety of their ingredients. They do use talc, a known carcinogen, they just list it as magnesuim silicate because another version of it has a low safety rating. But it’s really talc.
Here’s more on that http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/most-controversial/2010/9/27/why-a-carcinogen-scores-a-0-in-the-cosmetics-database.html
Posted by Danika @ Your Organic Life | March 14, 2011, 12:49 pm