At lunch with a writer friend today, I mentioned that I was going to start a “green” beauty blog. “That’s great!” she exclaimed. “You know more about that stuff than anyone I know!” We started to list the topics and products I should cover, naming the trends we like (and those we don’t) as we went. I told her about my new obsession, David Babaii for WildAid’s Bohemian Beach Spray, and she shared a great tidbit about using hair conditioner instead of shave gel (it’s a lot cheaper and moisturizes better!). Then she paused, curious. “But why ‘green?’”
There are plenty of reasons to seek out natural, non-toxic beauty products. You may love your current chemical-based concoctions because you’ve used them since you started wearing makeup in junior high school or because your husband once complimented your signature scent, but many of your cosmetic habits come with bad side effects. From your skin to our environment, complex, overly processed beauty products take a toll, often proving harmful in the short and long terms. There are multiple reasons to seek natural alternatives.
1. It makes sense to assume that your skin will absorb the ingredients of your beauty products. So what happens when you unknowingly overdose on certain chemicals? While there haven’t been any widely publicized, definitive clinical trials linking particular products to cancer, there have been multiple reports in medical journals regarding the harmful of effects of certain cosmetic ingredients in laboratory settings. Additives like benzoyl peroxide, the staple of the zit cream industry since our parents were popping; phthalates in nail polishes; and disconcerting levels of lead in lipsticks are sending up red flags, leading the FDA to insist on further research. And with new chemicals to lengthen lashes and reduce wrinkles entering the market every day with little testing behind them, we can only wait to see if they will have long-term effects on their users. In short, it’s smart to seek out recognizable terms on short ingredient lists to reduce your ever-permeable skin’s risks of absorbing the next thalidomide.
2. Of course, those easy-to-read ingredient lists are usually safe bets for people who already have skin problems, too. People with sensitive skin and/or allergies will have fewer problems when they stick with non-toxic cleansers and moisturizers. Organic and plant-based products are less likely to irritate problem skin and, thus, more likely to keep it beautiful.
3. While it isn’t a given that non-toxic beauty products will come in environmentally friendly packaging from environmentally friendly companies, it is easy to find many that do. Supporting sustainable business practices from what are often small businesses (well, at least smaller than the Maybellines of the world) is a great way to show your commitment to a more responsible cosmetics industry and a cleaner planet.
So I took a breath and considered the list before answering my friend frankly, “Why not green?”
Tags: beauty, chemicals, cosmetics, environment, green, non-toxic
