Are You Using Toxic Makeup? Avoid These Brands

There are certain trusted brands we rely on for nontoxic makeup and skincare. When we need something new, we go directly to their section and grab whatever we need.

Unfortunately, there’s evidence that not all of these so-called, “all-natural” companies, actually live up to the reputation we know them by.

Quick. Name the most reliable, clean, all-natural brand you can think of.

Chances are, you jumped to one of the nation’s most popular “natural” brands, Burt’s Bees. Well, we’ve got news for you: their lipstick tests positive for traces of lead and their soaps and lotions have artificial ingredients that have been shown to disrupt human hormones.

The ingredients like Phenoxyethanol and lactic acid which Burt’s Bees uses ranks as 4 out of 10 in toxins, meaning they’re not life-threatening, but your skin sure won’t like it. Worse, however, is the fragrance cocktail they use, which ranks as 8 out of 10, making it dangerous. The mixture is known for contributing to allergies, skin irritation, and respiratory disease.

Other well-known brands that make lipstick and other products using lead, parabens, and other toxic ingredients include most of the companies you’ve heard of.

Maybelline, L’Oreal, BH Cosmetics, NARS, Cover Girl, Armani, Amore Pacific, Stargazer, Revlon, Sonia Kashuk, Almay, Almay

Benefit, Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, Clinique (by Estee Lauder), IT Cosmetics (by Lancome), Jeffree Star, CoverGirl (by Cody), E.L.F., Bobbi Brown (by Estee Lauder)

Essence, Farmasi, Fenty Beauty (by Rhianna), Florence By Mills, Laura Mericer, Huda Beauty, Estee Lauder, Kat VonD, L.A. Girl, L’Bri, Josie Marin Argon Oil, Lancome, M.A.C (by Estee Lauder), Mary Kay

Maskcara Beauty, Max Factor (by Cody), Make Up For Ever, Milani Amore Cosmetics, Motives, Neutrogena (by Johnson & Johnson), Melaleuca (by the Wellness Company), NuSkin (NOT affiliated with Nu Skin), Nyx (by L’Oreal), The Body Shop, Origins (by Estee Lauder), Signature Minerals

Palladio Beauty, Sugar Rush by Tarte, Pur Cosmetics, Revlon, Salty Girl, Sisly Paris, The Makeup Box, Smash Box (by Estee Lauder), Wet N Wild, Paula’s Choice, Urban Decay (by L’Oreal), Smith and Colt, Stilla, Tarte

Experts say that you should specifically avoid the ingredients listed below as they cause issues in many ways, from being carcinogenic to dispelling skin irritants.

BHA & BHT, Parfum – aka fragrance, Coal Tar Dyes, Petroleum, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, DEA & related chemicals, Dibutyl Phthalate, Parabens, Siloxanes, PEG Compounds and their contaminants, Triclosan, Formaldehyde releasing preservatives

The regulations for cosmetics are so lax that it’s pretty hard to know what’s actually all-natural and what’s not. Big Better Days offers a fairly comprehensive guide to understanding toxic versus non-toxic cosmetics to help you through discovering what’s authentically natural and what isn’t.

Even better, the EGW Skin Deep Cosmetics Database offers information on more than 70,000 and more than 21,000 brands. They give the skinny on who’s telling the truth and who’s not when a brand calls themselves “natural.”

Alima Pure, Juice Beauty, Real Purity, Range Beauty, Marie Hunter Beauty, RMS Beauty, 100% Pure, W3LL People, Vapour Beauty, Hynt Beauty, Makeup Geek, Pacifica, Mented Cosmetics, Au Naturale, Ilia, Kosas, P/Y/T Beauty, Beauty Counter, Gabriel Cosmetics

To make sure that you’re buying all-natural beauty products, do some research and understand which brands have tested clean and which haven’t. Try paying attention to beauty news, and search for locally or handmade natural beauty products at places like Etsy. Don’t forget to check their ingredients list too, though, looking out for those artificial ingredients or vague wordings.

You can also download the Think Dirty App to scan potential purchases to find out exactly what’s in that lipstick or sunscreen before you buy.