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All Natural Makeup
Many products boast of being good for your skin, that they are full of vitamins and minerals that improve and maintain your skin’s health. But just how good are they? The truth is that traditionally beauty companies have used chemicals and animal testing to ensure that their products can claim to be beneficial. Since the advent of global protection and consumer consciousness has heightened, such practices have become more or less taboo in the beauty industry. In fact, many companies have ‘gone green’ and have employed more earth friendly tactics in creating beauty products that also have a sense of social responsibility.
Many brands are turning to all natural makeup products as the answer in a more health conscious market. They have launched lines of organic and mineral makeup. For those of you who are not intimately familiar with these product types or want to learn more about them, here is a synoptic approach to what these lines are about.
Natural Makeup
These products are supposedly (mostly) made from nature as the policy has been to avoid or decrease the use of chemicals in their manufacture. The ingredients are mainly plant derivatives. Some even go so far as to claim they have no added perfumes or dyes or alcohol which irritate the skins of many people. The most popular skin loving ingredients include:
Aloe
Chamomile
Cucumber
Shea butter
Cocoa butter
On the other hand, some natural makeup products still contain moderate levels of skin irritants like dyes and fragrances that are often synthetic. Lines are also compiling both natural and synthetic ingredients which can still irritate sensitive skin.
What to Look For?
Mass produced lines must have some level of chemical preservative. A good rule is to simply observe the consistency of the product. If the product does not contain water (for example is in a powder form), there is no need for a preservative. Otherwise, gels, mousses, creams and liquids must employ ingredients to maximise the shelf life.
Plant and flower extracts are often not kind to those with acne, Rosacea and sensitive skin. Look for products with plant oils instead as these are gentler on the skin.
Mineral Makeup
So many persons are raving about mineral makeup. The results and the feel are not the only properties that have them hooked. The ingredients propose to be from all natural minerals that do not clog pores. There are whole lines from foundation to concealer, blush to bronzer, eyeshadow to lipstick The harsh truth is that not all brands use pure minerals. Some have parabens, talc and other irritant fillers. What is also disappointing is that these brands hardly cater for true matches for darker skin tones. The powder foundations often cause an ashy cast. However, as more and more research goes into product development, this can be easily rectified.
What to Look For?
Peruse the top half of the ingredient list. If it contains natural ingredients, you’re good to go.
Read reviews on products to see how other persons feel about them.
As with everything, there are pros and cons. The same goes for natural and mineral makeup. A part of the consumer’s responsibility is to make an educated decision on which product she chooses to try.
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