Healthy Beauty & Style Guide, by Lisa D Liguori

You try to buy only natural lipsticks, but how do you know what you're buying is really better than everything else at the drugstore, cosmetic counter or online store?

Just what is a natural, safe lipstick anyway?

Let's begin with what lipstick is in the first place.

Lipsticks are essentially oils, waxes, emoilants & colorants, poured into a mold. Simple as that, really.

You know, I think it will help if we do a comparison between two lipsticks. A drugstore brand you are most likely familiar with, and a lipstick I carry here at Style Essentials.

Here are the ingredients in a Cover Girl Lipstick: (My explanation of the ingredients in red).

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil - OIL, NATURALLY DERIVED
Lanolin Oil - OIL, ANIMAL ORIGIN
Polybutene - PLASTICIZERS, SYNTHETICALLY DERIVED FROM PETROL
Petrolatum - OIL, SYNTHETICALLY DERIVED FROM PETROL
Ozokerite - WAX, MAY BE SYNTHETICALLY OR NATURALLY DERIVED
Oleyl Alcohol - WAX, MAY BE ANIMAL DERIVED
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate – QUESTIONABLE SUNSCREEN
Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax - WAX, PLANT DERIVED
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate - SYNTHETIC, SKIN CONDITIONER
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil - OIL
Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol - OIL, ANIMAL SOURCE CHEMICALLY MODIFIED
Paraffin - WAX, SYNTHETIC, PETROL
Cetyl Alcohol - EMOILANT, PLANT OR ANIMAL BASED
Glyceryl Oleate - EMOILIANT
Ascorbyl Palmitate - VITAMIN C DERIVED, ANTI-OXIDANT
Fragrance - SYNTHETIC, MOST LIKELY CONTAINS PHTHALATES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO BE HORMONE DISRUPTERS
Propylene Glycol - CONDITIONER, KNOWN IRRITANT & SYNTHETICALLY DERIVED
Propylparaben - SYNTHETIC PRESERVATIVE, CONSIDERED TO BE A CANCER RISK
Tocopheryl Acetate - VITAMIN E, PRESERVATIVE
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) - Wax, PLANT DERIVED & GIVES GLOSSY FINISH

I have highlighted the nasty (in my opinion) ingredients I would stay away from. You may also choose to avoid animal derived ingredients, which would knock out a bunch more on the list.

In contrast, here is the ingredient listing from a Style Minerals Lipstick:

Cocoa Butter – OIL, PLANT BASED
Candelilla Wax – WAX, PLANT BASED
Castor Oil – OIL, PLANT BASED
Meadowfoam Seed Oil – OIL & PLANT BASED PRESERVATIVE
Sesame Oil – OIL, PLANT BASED
Avocado Butter – OIL, PLANT BASED
Macademia Nut Oil – OIL, PLANT BASED
Vitamin E (rice- based) – PRESERVATIVE, PLANT BASED
Mica; Iron Oxides; Titanium Dioxide; may contain Manganese Violet – NATURALLY OCCURRING MINERAL COLORANTS & SUNSCREEN

This is a vegan, gluten free lipstick. And see, no nasty yellow highlighter!

Once you get to know lipsticks, you can see what a simple, and healthy formula the above lipsticks is. And guess what? It says on!

Considering we ingest some of our lip products, which of the two would you rather wear? Or have your teenage daughter wear?

Colorants

Popular colorants in lipsticks are dyes and insoluble dyes known as lakes. They will read like this: "D&C Red No. 21" or "Calcium Lake'. They are synthetic and highly toxic coloring agents. I personally, would avoid them. Carmine is often used in red and pink shades of lipsticks and is a natural substance derived from insects. If you are looking for vegan lipstick, you will want to avoid this ingredient. Stick with mineral colorants for safe keeping. Mineral colorants will read like this: 'mica, iron oxide, manganese violet".

If you are looking for a the red hot mama of natural lipsticks, here is a tip: reds and cool tones are the most difficult to make using natural colorants and no dyes. So, if you see a hot red lipstick touting 'Natural", give it a good look. And it it looks true, give me a holler will ya? I will want to share it with everyone here.

A few tips to help ensure you have the safest, most natural lipsticks:

Avoid purchasing your makeup at the drugstore; It is just too risky.

Don't rely on words such as 'natural' or 'nature' on the label; read the ingredients. Odds are they will contain endocrine disrupters, immune system toxicants and even carcinogens, especially if the brand is a big name. Sadly enough.

Peruse the Environmental Working Groups website. They have taken the guesswork out of finding the healthiest personal care products, including lipsticks. However, not all the best products are listed, so don't stop there.

You can take a shopping guide like this one (right side bar, purple box) with you when you shop. This one is portable, will fit in your wallet so you always have it with you and is darn stylish (What can I say, it is Style Essentials). Confer with it before you buy any cosmetic or personal care item, lipstick included.

You can take it another step and learn how to be an ingredient sleuth with this FREE Guide to Detoxing Your Beauty Products.

In fact, if you want help, I am happy to read that label for you.

Now it is your turn. What is in your lipstick?

Style Essentials. Always 100% Guaranteed.

Psst… FREE shipping on orders $50.00+ (U.S. only).

Technorati Tags: Health, Healthy and Beauty, healthy skin, Ingredient Spotlight, makeup, mineral makeup, Natural Mineral Makeup, organic mineral makeup, pure mineral makeup, Safe Cosmetics, Safe ingredients, safe skincare, toxic ingredients

Opalescent, metallic, iridescent! Mica, in mineral makeup.

In a pure mineral makeup foundation, the key ingredients you will find are titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mica.

Mica is the shining star of mineral makeup.

It is prized for it's opalescent sheen, metallic shimmer and iridescence. However, having said that, you may also have a matte product containing mica, as the shimmer can be blended down.

Mica is the name of a group of natural occurring earth minerals. As mentioned, it can be opalescent, sparkling or completely matte. Mica powder is simply a purified and crushed mineral which is mined from the earth.

Mica gives the impact, the silky texture, the gleam, that we all love so much in mineral makeup.

It's reflective and refractive properties make mica a crucial ingredient in makeup, not just mineral makeup either. You will find it in traditional blush, eye liner, eye shadow, foundation, glitter, lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, lotions, soaps and even nail polish.

It is used as a texturizer for a better feel, helps with slip, and aids in adhesion and prevents clumping.

So there you have it. Our beloved mica.

What would we do without it?!

Style Essentials. Always 100% Guaranteed.

Concerned with the safety of the ingredients in your cosmetics? Would You Like Personal Attention & Care When Choosing Eco-Friendly Mineral Makeup & Skincare? Email me – Lisa@StyleEssentials.com

And, to help guide you in your quest for healthy green beauty, grab this FREE REPORT; 10 Steps to Detox Your Beauty Routine. Sign up here .

And please do comment below. You make my day when you share your thoughts!

Technorati Tags: Bare Escentuals, healthy skin, Ingredient Spotlight, makeup, mica, mineral makeup, Natural Mineral Makeup, organic mineral makeup, pure mineral makeup, Safe Cosmetics, Safe ingredients

Natural, Safe & Healthy Lipstick

You try to buy only natural lipsticks, but how do you know what you're buying is really better than everything else at the drugstore, cosmetic counter or online store?

Mica Magic in Mineral Makeup

Opalescent, metallic, iridescent! Mica, in mineral makeup.

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