When we wear Makeup what are we putting on our skin?
Many of us may not realize the products we use, can contain harmful chemicals with long lasting effects. Discovering that certain chemicals such as phthalates, formaldehyde, and PFAs are lurking in your makeup can be shocking. When learning about this, I did a quick search and fell down a rabbit hole of information.
The side effects of these chemicals not only pertain to our bodies, but to our environment as well. These chemicals are able to leach into our environment when discarded and are tough to break down. Sustainability has become a rising objective within many industries, including the beauty industry, as we continue to battle with the climate crisis. Consumers want to align their purchases with their values, and most favor brands with ethical practices. Studies show that 78 percent of US consumers consider a sustainable lifestyle important.
There are thousands of chemicals that should not be used on our skin, but the US continues to ban a mere 11. While some brands continue to use harmful ingredients in their makeup formulas, some have taken steps to ensure that their consumers get clean and healthy makeup.
Some, such as Saie, stand out when it comes to their commitment to transparency and safe ingredients. Saie’s approach to taking on the beauty industry has shown that it is possible to prioritize human health and environmental well-being.Â
Saie’s Climate Initiative
Saie is a recently founded makeup brand that aims to reduce climate change while producing skin-healthy makeup.
The brand founded by Laney Crowell, has implemented many eco-friendly standards, such as formulating their products without harmful substances and using recyclable packaging for their products and shipping.
This September, Saie took another step towards sustainability, launching its new climate initiative to the public. This climate initiative sets a new standard for more brands within the beauty industry to meet. Not only are they helping the environment, but they are also helping empower communities of women that aid with recycling plastic.
Saie’s initiative states they aim to:
- Clean the planet and repurpose 5 million pounds of plastic
- Eliminate carbon emissions of their supply chain to net zero
- Provide women with jobs and empowerment
Resources for finding “clean” makeup and shopping conscious
When deciding if makeup is “clean” there are many factors to consider such as the safety, sustainability, and ethics, of the product. This can feel overwhelming when shopping for the greater good of your skin and the planet.
Luckily, there are many resources dedicated towards finding products fit for you:
Credo Beauty
The Credo Clean Standard is a reliable source of information and products that promote sustainability and health. You can browse their website to learn more about what ingredients you do not want to see on the back of your existing makeup, or you can shop for makeup and skincare that has been approved by Credo’s standards.
Sephora: Clean and Organic
Products on Sephora with the “clean” and/or “planet aware”, green labels are clean of over 50 ingredients that have been linked to health issues. These products have been determined “clean” by Sephora, and there are various categories of “clean,” such as specific products for hair, skincare, and makeup.
Healthline
Healthline provides medically reviewed articles on skin and skincare that can help you determine your skin type, and how to further protect your skin from not only harmful ingredients but also what to look out for when shopping.
Moving in the right direction
Makeup and skincare are things in almost everyone’s daily routine. We expect them to be good for us, as we rely on them to make us look good and feel good. When finding out that the products we use to maintain our skin may be harming the inner workings of our bodies, it can feel as if you have been wronged in certain ways.
Independent research on what you have been using and what you should not continue to use is important if you think that your makeup may be harming your skin. These sources provided can be your first step towards switching to clean. As more and more of us begin prioritizing sustainability, we move towards a safer and healthier planet.
