How to Choose Chemical Free Cosmetics

It can be tough to find cosmetic products with natural, safe ingredients! Some commonly-used chemicals are very harsh, and while there hasn’t been any scientific evidence to prove a link between cosmetics and cancer, you may not want those chemicals leaching into your skin throughout the day. To keep yourself safe, scan the ingredients list for red-flag chemicals before buying anything and take advantage of online databases to look deeper into specific products or ingredients.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Reading Labels

1. Look for cosmetics with the MADE SAFE logo on the label. The MADE SAFE campaign aims to find products that are made without any harsh chemicals or contamination. If you find cosmetics with their label on it, it means that they’re safe to use without worry.^[1]
   
   • You can search the MADE SAFE database by visiting https://www.madesafe.org/find-products/cosmetics/.
2. Verify claims like "natural" and "organic" by checking the ingredients. When you’re out shopping, you may see claims like “organic,” “natural,” “vegan,” or “chemical-free" on labels. Cosmetics are not regulated by any governmental agency, so these claims aren’t actually held to any standards. If you see these claims on labels, confirm them by reading the listed ingredients.^[2]
   
   • Some popular cosmetic companies are releasing products with harmful products removed. These products usually have specific claims like phthalate-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free.^[3]
   • Claims like “Cruelty-Free" and "Not Tested on Animals" may not be completely true since most cosmetic ingredients were animal-tested at some point. If you see these claims, it usually means the finished products weren't tested on animals.^[4]
3. Stay away from sulfates in shampoos and conditioners. As you look for products to use in the shower, there are a lot of chemicals to avoid. When you’re reading the labels, avoid chemicals like:^[5]
   
   • Ethanolamines
   • Parabens
   • UV filters
   • Formaldehyde releasing preservatives
   • Sodium Laureth Sulfate
   • Hydrogenated cottonseed oil
   • Nonoxynol
   • Fragrance (which can mean almost anything)
4. Avoid irritants like PABA and PTFE in sunscreen and moisturizers. Your skin can absorb chemicals through your pores, so it’s extra important to check the labels of anything you’re rubbing into your skin. When you look for anti-aging creams, moisturizers, or sunscreens, stay away from:^[6]
   
   • Polyacrylamide
   • PTFE
   • Placental extracts
   • UV filters
   • Petroleum
   • Benzophenone
   • Homosalate
   • Octinoxate
   • Oxybenzone
   • Padimate O
   • PABA
5. Check makeup labels for chemicals like silica, BHA, and talc. Just like creams and sunscreens, your makeup can leach chemicals into your skin throughout the day. If you’re buying blush, eyeshadow, or powder, avoid:^[7]
   
   • Titanium dioxide
   • Carbon black
   • PTFE
   • Talc
   • BHA
   • Silica
   • Quaternium-15
   • Imidazolidinyl urea

[Edit]Researching Products

1. Check the safety of your cosmetics using a free online database. Multiple websites provide searchable databases that allow you to check the safety of your cosmetic product. The databases also let you search by the potentially harmful chemical and find a list of products that contain it. You could try:^[8]
   
   • The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics: http://www.safecosmetics.org/
   • The Household Products Database: https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm
   • Skin Deep: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
2. Download an app to check product safety on the go. If you’re out and about, you probably don’t have time to sit down at a computer. Think Dirty and Clearya are 2 apps you can download to check the safety of your products right from your phone.^[9]
   
   • Click on the “verified brands” section in each app to search through their database.
   • You can get both of these apps on iOS or the Google Play Store.
3. Shop for safe brands that don’t use harsh chemicals. Many brands offer natural or chemical-free cosmetics, but you can familiarize yourself with some of the most popular ones as a starting point. A few brand names to look for:^[10]
   
   • Makeup: Rejuva Minerals, Annmarie Skin Care, True Botanicals, LOLI Beauty, and S.W. Basics.
   • Sunscreen: Annmarie Skin Care, MamaEarth, and True Botanicals.
   • Shampoo and conditioner: Annmarie Skin Care, Healthynest, MamaEarth, Pleni Naturals, Radico Color Me Organic, and True Botanicals.
   • Deodorant: Seventh Generation.
   • Moisturizers: Annmarie Skin Care, Anumati Skin Care, Clary Collection, Healthynest, Kosmatolgoy, Soapwalla, and True Botanicals.
4. Buy researched and verified products from clean retailers. Some beauty stores have moved to only selling products that are clean and chemical free. Credo sells makeup, skin care, and other beauty products that are certified with the Credo Clean Standard, so you always know what you’re purchasing.^[11]
   
   • To shop online at Credo, visit https://credobeauty.com/.

[Edit]Tips

• There is no scientific evidence to suggest that deodorant or antiperspirants lead to breast cancer.^[12]
• Try doing your shopping online so you have more time to research the ingredients on the label.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.madesafe.org/find-products/cosmetics/
2. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/organic-cosmetics
3. ↑ [v161533_b01]. 8 September 2020.
4. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/cruelty-freenot-tested-animals
5. ↑ http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/red-list/
6. ↑ http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/red-list/
7. ↑ http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/red-list/
8. ↑ https://static.ewg.org/ewg-tip-sheets/EWG-5TipsSaferCosmeticsKids.pdf
9. ↑ https://www.thinkdirtyapp.com/
10. ↑ https://www.madesafe.org/find-products/personal-care/
11. ↑ https://credobeauty.com/
12. ↑ https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html