How to Buy Safe Cosmetics

A while back, hellenwyeth shared some pretty important information on the dangerous chemicals that cosmetics and personal care products can contain, as well as a place where you can look them up. If you haven’t done that, be sure to do so as soon as possible, and start checking your labels as you shop! After all, how can we worry about the lead in our kids’ toys if we’re kissing them with lips coated with it anyway?

But knowing what to avoid is only half the battle. You also need to know how to look for cosmetics that won’t cause your body so much harm (or in the very least, ones that aren’t linked to cancer!) Here’s a quick guide on buying beauty aids and products that will still keep you feeling your best and smelling fresh while simultaneously keeping you safe.

Before you shop, look up what you’re shopping for. The Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database will let you search by company, product and even chemical to see who’s poisoning who—or who’s giving you a healthful bang for your buck. Either use the makeup you already use as a starting point to look up, or make a list the next time you go shopping of the products you wish to try.

Bonus: This will also help you curb your window shopping and mindless purchases!

Don’t fall for any safe-looking label.  Just because it says “all natural” or “organic” does not mean that it’s 100% safe. Look up the ingredients listed anyway! Some will be legit—others will simply be talk. Labels that claim to contain “all-natural ingredients” often do not represent an entirely all-natural product! Another good way to check is to read the order of the label. If the last ingredient in the list is “papaya extract,” it’s probably not that much of a natural product; it should be near the top of the list instead.

Bonus: You’re educating yourself and becoming a conscious consumer. Refuse to spend your money on things that hurt you!

Check the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. You can search the more than 1,000 companies that have pledged to make their products safer while also keeping their ingredients simple and easy for the public to read. Plus, there is more information on the harmful ingredients that may be in the makeup and other products you already own—such as lead in your lipstick or formaldehyde in your nail polish.

Bonus: This site will also help you analyze products that claim to be “natural and organic” but still contain dangerous substances.