Brynna I don’t exclusively use Young Living products (although I admit, the more I try, the more I love!), and went through a lot of the “greenwashed” brands before I finally found ones that met the standards I want set in my home.My skin care products (which double as my girls’ skin care products) and cosmetics were one of the first to change. It’s easier to understand the risk of something when you’re applying it directly to your skin. Many mascaras contain mercury, which can be absorbed into the skin and cause brain damage. Lip products often have artificial colors, petroleum, artificial fragrances and flavors, as well as potentially cancer-causing lead. Powder foundations, bronzers and blush can be hazardous as the tiny particles can circulate in the air and be inhaled. Eyeliner is known to contain heavy metals, such as lead. Are you beginning to see just exactly HOW it is that the average woman applies over 300 chemicals to her body before breakfast?!So here are a handful of reasons I decided it was important enough to search a little longer and pay a little more for quality, non-toxic products:
BHA and BHT- Endocrine disruptors and carcinogens, mainly in cosmetics as preservatives.
Coal tar dyes- carcinogenic, heavy metal toxicity, commonly found in lipstick and hair dyes.
DEA-related ingredients, also carcinogens, found in creamy or foaming products, such as moisturizers.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are a carcinogen, used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives.
Parabens, endocrine disruptors and may interfere with male reproduction, used in cosmetics as preservatives.
Parfum/Fragrance, carcinogenic, can cause neurotoxicity, allergies and skin sensitivities; used in variety of cosmetics. Companies do not have to disclose the ingredients due to “trade secret”.
PEG compounds can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which may be a carcinogen, s commonly used as the base for cosmetic creams.
Petrolatum, carcinogenic, used as the moisture barrier in lip balms/sticks.
Siloxanes, endocrine disruptors, reproductive toxicant; they are used in cosmetics to soften, smooth & moisten.
Sodium laureth sulfates, carcinogens; they are used in foaming cosmetics and cleansers.
For the most part, my makeup is all Young Living’s Savvy Minerals line. It’s the first mineral makeup I’ve ever found to actual give a natural look, and it’s a quality, toxin-free mineral based line. (Other popular mineral lines still contain ingredients such as talc and bismuth)For skin care, we use a combination of Young Living and Earth Harbor. Both are safe, clean options. I love Young Livings Mint face scrub and Mirah oil cleanser, and use their Sandalwood Hydrosol as a toner (for no reason other than I tried it once and liked it ever since). In the winter, I also love the Boswellia cream (actually a wrinkle cream! LOL) as a moisturizer, and the rest of the time I love Earth Harbor‘s Mermaid Milk moisturizer. I also LOVE their Celestine face serum!
