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It's rare that I go a day without makeup. But when I got more informed recently about the potentially harmful chemicals that go into personal care products, I decided to rethink my go-tos.
Dr. Kim Harley studies hormone disrupting chemicals at UC Berkeley. She told me scientists like her believe existing evidence warrants concern about specific ingredients, like parabens or phthalates. Harley says more research is necessary, explaining, "there is a lot we don't know about the long-term health effects. But we do know that if they're in our products, they're getting into our bodies." So if you'd rather be safe than sorry, the best thing to do is avoid potentially toxic ingredients. In fact, a recent study lead by Harley found that when teenage girls stopped using makeup with worrisome chemicals for three days they saw a drop in those chemical levels in their bodies.
"If they're in our products, they're getting into our bodies."
To help make a "starter kit" of safe cosmetics, I turned to the Skin Deep database created by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group. EWG catalogs over 60,000 products and gives each a "hazard" score from 1-10, based on the ingredients. They screen for potential hormone disrupting chemicals, as well as ingredients that might cause allergies or irritation.
Armed with this tool, I added these 22 products to my daily routine. All of them have a "safe" hazard score of 1 or 2. And they work, too! The RMS UN cover-up ($36) provided silky coverage that lasted all day. And I loved blending the shades in the e.l.f. Flawless Eye Shadow, Golden Goddess ($2) for a more (or less) dramatic effect. After using them for a few months, I can confidently say you don't have to sacrifice quality makeup for peace of mind.