A Guide to Eco-Friendly Makeup
Green living is the trend nowadays, from food to gadgets to home design. But have you ever thought of going green with your makeup styles? Most women lather on a good amount of chemicals every day without a thought of what’s in it and how it affects the world around them. Eco-friendly makeup is fairly new to the market, but it’s worth a look even if you’re not one of those green-thumbs. If you’re keen about living a more sustainable life, why not start with something you use every day?
Your choices for green makeup aren’t as limited as they seem. Many companies, from big-name brands to small independent dealers, are coming up with eco-friendly product lines that offer much the same quality and value, but without all the added chemicals. Not only are they better for the environment, they can also be better for your skin. What can be better than staying in style, saving money, and helping the environment at the same time? If you’re not sure how to start, here’s a quick buying guide to help you out.
Look at the packaging.
When you’re buying makeup, you’ll notice that products often come in fancy boxes, compacts, or plastic wraps. But if you’re throwing them away anyway, it’s just a waste of resources. Look for products that have little to no packaging. If they all come wrapped, at least choose a biodegradable or recyclable package. For eyebrow liners and pencils, make sure they’re encased in wood and not plastic. Do away with the plastic lids on brushes and applicators.
For products you buy regularly, consider getting a refillable pack once and just buying the refills from then on. This is especially useful for products that come in pressed powder form, such as eye shadow and foundation. Not all companies offer this option, but most of the reliable brands do—and they’re cheaper as well. You can also consider buying larger refills, so you buy less often and thus save on packaging.
Know your labels.
Do you know the difference between natural and organic makeup? These labels are often slapped on to get women’s attention, but few really understand it. All-natural makeup may contain no preservatives, but the raw materials used to make them may have been grown with chemicals or genetically modified. They’re still good for your skin compared to synthetic varieties, but it doesn’t quite achieve your goal of making the greener choice.
Organic makeup, on the other hand, is made from materials that were grown without any chemical involvement. Because it’s harder to grow the raw materials, you can expect to pay a premium for organic makeup. But if you choose well, you can find some great deals that work just as well as high-end synthetic brands. When buying, make sure to check for ingredients like paraben, sodium and hydrosols, which are often sneaked in to prolong the product’s shelf life.
Consider mineral makeup.
If you’ve been keeping up, you’ve probably heard or read about mineral makeup. Although fairly new to the market, mineral makeup has gained a lot of popularity in recent years because of its eco-friendly appeal. Mineral makeup, as the name implies, is made from naturally occurring minerals such as zinc, mica, and iron oxides. These have not only been proven safe for your skin, but are also longer-lasting and easier to clean up.
Many people also choose mineral makeup for its antibacterial properties. Conventional makeup tends to clog the pores and foster bacteria growth because of its internal moisture. Mineral makeup is completely dry, so no bacteria can grow on it. That means you can wear mineral makeup all day long, in any weather and environment, and not worry about getting a breakout the next day. And since you need fewer retouches, you don’t use it up as fast—so even with the higher price tag, you’re actually saving money in the long term.
Use long wear makeup.
Long wear makeup, as you’ve probably guessed, is made to hold up in harsh environments like heat and sunlight. If you spend most of your time outdoors or travel a lot for work, you may find yourself reapplying your makeup several times a day. You may not notice, but it does add up and get expensive over time. Long-lasting varieties such as waterproof makeup will limit your need to retouch, so your stock lasts longer and you don’t have to refill as often.
This tip is especially useful this season, since summer’s just around the corner. Most women will spend a weekend or two at the beach, where the air is humid and the heat can rub off makeup in as little as two hours. When you’re going out, make sure to use makeup that’s designed for the weather. You’ll not only be saving yourself the trouble of retouching—you’ll also be making the greener choice!
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