Ditch Your Mascara Make-Up

I love mascara. Love, love, love mascara. If I am heading out the door with only a minute to spare on make-up… mascara is my go-to every. single. time. But mascara can contain a plethora of nasty ingredients that can really irritate your eyes. No bueno. Let’s learn more about mascara, what it can be harmful, and what to use instead. So, are you ready to continue detoxing your life? Let’s Ditch Your Mascara Make-Up.

Detox Your Life: Ditch Your Make-Up Day 7

Mascara is my all time favorite make-up. Ever.

It’s probably because I inherited my dad’s super long lashes. Adding even one coat of mascara makes my lashes sooo long.

But in high school, I quickly realized certain mascaras really hurt my eyes.

I had to be really careful with which brands I could wear safely.

It’s no wonder, now that I examine the ingredients, that I had trouble with most mascaras.

Why You Should Ditch Your Mascara

Here are 5 common ingredients in most major name brand mascaras, why they are used, and how they are detrimental to your health.

Please note that each brand of mascara has different formulations.

Not all of these ingredients are found in every mascara.

Additionally, there are other questionable ingredients in mascaras.

In an effort to spare my sanity and not inundate you with TOO much information, I decided to pull out 5 of the most commonly found ingredients and explain those.

Please feel free to do additional research on the other ingredients in your products.

BHT

BHT is a toluene based ingredient that is often used as a preservative.
It’s a known endocrine disruptor (endocrine disruptors mess with the bodies hormones and can potentially cause a slew of health effects like birth defects, cancer, and even developmental defects).
It can also cause organ system toxicity and irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.

PEG/PPG-18/ 18 Dimethicone

This ingredient is a synthetic chemical which is a blend of Dimethicone, PEG and PPG polymers.
It can be contaminated with potentially toxic manufacturing impurities ( the reactant- ethylene oxide or the byproduct- 1,4 dioxane – both of which are carcinogenic).
It’s typically used as a blending ingredient and used a product thickener, solvent, softener, and/or a moisture-carrier.
There are concerns that it may cause organ system toxicity and irritation with skin and eyes including itchiness and redness.

Talc

Talc is a type of magnesium silicate that even at cosmetic grade can be toxic and carcinogenic, especially for the ovaries.
It’s usually used as an abrasive, absorbent, anti-caking, bulking, and/or skin protecting ingredient in cosmetics.
Scientists have found this ingredient to be extremely dangerous to children when inhaled, but it can be detrimental to everyone that comes in contact with it as it causes respiratory and skin irritations.
Additionally, talc is dangerous because it can be contaminated with asbestos fibers.

PTFE (Teflon)

In cosmetics, PTFE, also known as Teflon, is used as a binding and skin conditioning agent.
Like a lot of other cosmetic ingredients, PTFE is a possible carcinogen.
Teflon skillets and pots are known to release toxic fumes when heated, so that’s not saying much for Teflon use in cosmetics.

Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol is commonly used in cosmetics as a synthetic antimicrobial.
Scientists at the FDA are now finding that this ingredient can depress your central nervous system.
It may also cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Some people have an allergy phenoxyethanol which causes skin irritations.

What to Use Instead

There are safer alternatives than those major name brands we are all accustomed to.

Check out:

ZAO Organic Volume Mascara
Living Nature Mascara Thickening Jet Black
Rejuva Minerals Water Resistant Mega Lash
100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara
Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara

Extra Challenge

Go without!

Oy. I know I’ve probably struck a cord there.

But… you. are. beautiful. with or without mascara.

I promise.

But…

If you prefer mascara, like me, try making your own!

Here’s how:

2 tsp coconut oil
4 tsp aloe vera gel
1/2 – 1 tsp bees wax pellets
1 – 2 capsules of activated charcoal (for black) or cocoa powder (for brown)

Heat the coconut oil and bees wax pellets in a double boiler over very low heat. Add the aloe vera gel and activated charcoal and/or cocoa powder. Mix all of those ingredients well. Suck up the mixture with a small syringe, and squeeze into a clean mascara container. Yes, it will be messy! If you like a thicker mascara, use a bit more bees wax.

**The information on the ingredients in this blog post come largely from the Think Dirty App. If you don’t already have the Think Dirty App (where I check the safety of all my products), you really need to.

Please know that the products I recommend at rated at a 0/10 in terms of toxicity. They are as safe as they can ever be. To me, if it’s not a zero, it’s a definite no-go.

If you want to check out my last challenge, you can find the links here.

Ditching:

Plastic Cooking Utensils

Dryer Sheets

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