Is There a Benefit to Organic Makeup?

What's inside your makeup bag? A shimmery lipstick, a full-proof foundation and a tube of black mascara? Now take a good, hard look at what's really inside your makeup bag. Read all the ingredients. Are the products you use every day safe?

Organic makeup has several possible definitions. It can be made from plant materials only, or from substances derived from plant materials. Organic makeup may also mean that it is made from organic or naturally occurring compounds, including minerals. The term organic makeup implies that all materials in the makeup are certified organic, meaning they have not been exposed to pesticides. Unless a makeup actually claims to be "certified organic" makeup, it may contain pesticides.

Organic makeup derived from plants and minerals can work very well. It would be a mistake to assume that organic makeup is necessarily better for one than chemically produced makeup. Plants can contain powerful toxins and carcinogens that are just as detrimental to the skin and body as lab produced chemicals. Minerals can also have a high degree of toxicity, and organic makeup of the past, like the white powder used by geishas which caused lead poisoning, can be harmful.

How to choose organic makeup:
1. Make a list of the types of makeup and other cosmetics you use on a daily basis. You need to determine what items you will need to find organic replacements for.
2. Research online or visit a natural health food store to find out what options you have for replacing your makeup and creams.
3. Visit a department store at your mall and test out the organic makeup that is offered. Most makeup counters provide free makeovers. This will enable you to see how your skin reacts to the makeup.
4. Use testers of the organic makeup or cream and assess any changes you notice about your skin. If your skin becomes dry, red, itchy or breaks out, the makeup may not be suited for your skin type.
5. Read the list of ingredients. Organic makeup like powder foundation and eye shadow should be made from minerals. Lipsticks and glosses should be derived from fruits. Also check the label to ensure that the product is certified organic.

A few chemicals to look for and avoid in organic makeup include the following:
1. Imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidiny urea: preservatives that can cause skin irrations
2. Methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl paraben: extends shelf life of cosmetics; may cause skin irritations
3. Petrolatum products: (petroleum jelly) commonly found in lips products; may interfere with the body's own moisturizing mechanism leading to even drier lips.
4. Propylene glycol: moisture-carrying agent in cosmetics that may be a skin irritant
5. PVP/VA Copolymer: water proof and water resistant ingredient found in sunscreens, mascaras, and lipsticks; a petroleum derived chemical
6. Synthetic colors: look for FD&C or D&C followed by a color and number.
7. Synthetic fragrances: may be listed simply as "fragrance' on the ingredients; may contain as many as 200 chemicals; may cause skin irritations and dryness
8. Triethanolamine: used to adjust pH in cosmetics; may cause dryness

It may be hard to always avoid such chemicals: virtually every shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste contains sodium laurel sulfate. But people often pay top dollar for organic makeup and should know upfront whether the product is really different or safer than lab produced chemicals. They should also be aware that organic makeup is not necessarily free of contaminants or pesticides, and to look for organic makeup labeled "certified organic."

Mineral makeup, first viewed as an "alternative" kind of makeup a few decades ago, is quickly making its mark on the scene of cosmetics. Boasting abilities to increase the health of your skin, organic makeup also promises a brighter glow to and quality of your complexion. It almost sounds like a magic cosmetic cure for your perhaps sometimes-not-so-perfect face.

Organic makeup is also said to contain some level of SPF; while the level of sun protection may not be enough to suffice on its own, the organic makeup can serve as a healthy extra buffer against sun damage. The ingredients of organic makeup aren't uniform among the different companies, so the quality of mineral makeup may vary from brand to brand.

Organic makeup is a term often used when referring to makeup that is all natural or not synthetic. It may be difficult to tell whether or not the organic makeup purchased is 50% organic, 70% organic, or 100% organic. Organic makeup that is only 50% organic may contain many of the same synthetic chemicals that you had intended on staying away from. The issue arises in the labeling. Organic appears on many cosmetic labels today. Just because the word organic appears on the label doesn't necessarily indicate that the makeup is 100% organic. Organic on a label can simply mean that some parts of the ingredients are organic.

Sometimes a product just has simply too many ingredients. A fragrance may have as many as 200 chemicals components. Some of these ingredients may be natural while many are not. A cosmetic company will not list all of the ingredients. There are just too many. The makeup company will list the ingredient fragrance. In one makeup application from start to finish it is likely that you used as many as 175 chemicals.

So, whether you believe in the benefits of organic makeup, you should at least be aware of the arguments surrounding organic makeup's validity. The choice of whether or not to use organic makeup is yours, and now you know the facts. If you're unsure, give a couple brands of organic makeup a try and see if it really does make a difference. If it works for you, then great! If not, then that's great too!