Enough with the toxins!

Scary statistic, no?  (This is according to a study done by the magazine In-Cosmetics.) 

Whether you wear a lot a makeup or just some moisturizer and mascara, any sort of toxin is bad and does not a healthy body make.  Using chemicals on your skin is worse than ingesting them because when you eat something, the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help break it down and (hopefully), flush out the chemicals. 

When applied directly to the skin, it is absorbed straight into your blood stream, without any kind of filter (lipstick takes 26 seconds to enter your blood stream!).  Yikes! 

While this applies to everything - lotion, shampoo, deodorant (I can eat my deodorant - I make it out of three household ingredients and it really works because, well, I'm stinky!), this post is about makeup.  I promise to share the other brands I have found and love (and my deodorant recipe), very soon so please check back!

*  Tata Harper -  I love her products because they're made in the US and are 100% natural, 100% organic and non-toxic.  She also owns the farm, manufacturing and bottling so every part of the process is controlled for quality.  I was sold the moment one of the women at the spa told me that her products where the only natural ones that worked in the same amount of time as the chemical-filled ones! 

All of the creams, serums, moisturizers and toners are rich and luxurious.  The eye cream is also the only eye cream that can be used on the lower AND upper part of the eye because every other eye cream is too harsh.  The Tata Harper eye serum is natural and non-toxic so it's totally safe to use.

I'm also super sensitive to scents, but all of these products smell fantastic - probably because it's not fake vanilla or country apple!  All of her products are available at The Spa at Nordstrom, Nordstrom.com or the Tata Harper site. 

*  100% Pure - The name says it all!  The products I've purchased from them are 100% vegan and most of the items are gluten free.

By far, my favorite is their mascara.  The black tea one is a-maze-zing!  People rave about this mascara online (I buy mine from Amazon) and say that it works better than the expensive, designer ones!  It smells fruity (but not too sweet), and it coats like a dream!  I've bought my mom the blueberry mascara and also the blackberry one. 

I also recently purchased a tinted moisturizer from 100% pure as I don't need much coverage when it comes to a foundation.  I also really like liquid foundation instead of a powder.  Again, I bought it from Amazon and the reviews really help when identifying the right color for your skin tone.  I love the product (and their packaging is gorgeous!), but turns out I need a bit more coverage so the search continues.

*  W3ll People - This is a very natural brand (yes, spelled with a three instead of an 'e').  I use their bronzer and have bought the brightening stick for my mom.  Both products are great and you would never know it's natural - all the products cover and perform the exact same way as the chemical ones :)

In fact, their packaging states, "no parabens, petrochemicals, silicones, naoparticles, glycols, sulphates or artificial ingredients:  no nasties".  Love that! 

*  Alima Pure - This is another very clean brand with beautiful packaging.  You can request a test sample for foundation from their website (to see if it matches your skin tone), but right now I use their blush.  It's light, easy and non-toxic - everything I want in my skin care products!

*  RMS Beauty - Again, I buy this from Amazon and I loooove her products! RMS Beauty was created by celebrity makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift.  It's based on raw, living and organic principles.  She is passionate about creating products that are not only non-toxic, but ones that actually heal and nourish the skin.  

I use a very dark brown liquid eye shadow (called Karma) as I like to line my upper lash line.  lt comes in a beautiful glass jar with a metal lid.  It's very rich and highly pigmented in color, but that's what I was looking for!  It's easy to use with my angle brush (as it's already kind of 'wet') and it doesn't run or streak throughout the day. 

I also use a cover-up that matches my skin tone exactly.  It's creamy and goes on very smoothly.  Like the other brands, you can find RMS Beauty on Amazon or at salons or Colette in Paris.  

*  Bite Beauty - I love red lipstick.  It really brings together a look - whether casual or dressy so I don't want to give that up!  Thankfully, because of Bite, I don't have to!

Right now, all they sell are lipsticks, lip pencils, gloss and so on -- in a wide range of fabulous colors so you don't have to sacrifice your color choice for your health.  :) 

The lipstick is moisturizing and easy to apply, but I love the lip pencils, which create a more matte look.  Either way, they named their brand because you can take a bite out of it!  Everything is made with food-grade ingredients.  You can find Bite Beauty at Sephora. 

Hopefully this will help make the change from chemicals to natural products easier and add even more beauty to your life.  This is my goal - whether it's through style and the way you dress or the beauty products you use.  I'm passionate about bringing joy, ease, beauty and style to your life! 

I'm always open to learning new things.  Let me know your favorite 100% natural brands.  I'd love to check them out!

*** UPDATE:  After sharing this blog post on several sites and Facebook groups, I learned even more about the beauty industry, mainly, fragrance.

Here is a very helpful article explaining what's going on in the fragrance industry (which unnatural or synthetic scents are in just about everything from laundry detergent (will share my inexpensive, non-toxic recipe), to cleaning products, lotions, body wash and yes, make up), but in a nutshell, the industry is highly unregulated - even less than the beauty or food industry. 

If you see 'fragrance' on a label, run - read it as 'hidden chemicals'.  It's a free pass to put whatever chemicals, materials or ingredients without review or approval.  Many of these chemicals and unnatural fragrances have been linked to hormone disruption, reproductive problems and caner. 

All the products I have listed above do NOT contain any unnatural or synthetic fragrances.  If there is a scent (in the Tata Harper products), it already occurs in nature and isn't toxic.  I will be sharing all of the products I have found from laundry detergent to body lotion, shampoo and cleaning supplies.  It's important to remove as many chemicals from your life as you can!  Your body (and health) will thank you for it!

** Please note, that I am not a health expert or doctor and I don't have any association with the products mentioned above.  You should only use what you feel is best for you.  I am just here to share what I find to be helpful and inspiring in the world of fashion.  I too, am navigating this beauty world, but the real goal is to help you look and feel your best... every day.