I NEVER DONE A NEGATIVE POST BEFORE, BUT THIS HAD TO HAPPEN!!!
In 2016 I started my adventure to discover natural and organic products, to switch from conventional big brands, to what I’ve thought natural brands, that even now are the most known and trusted by many people, but surprisingly, in the past 3 years, I’ve learned how to read the small print on the back of each product, known as Ingredients, and I’ve discovered that synthetic and toxic ingredients are lurking in so called “Clean Ingredients” products. Thru this transition, trusting these brands and using them, seriously made me feel I’m on the right track, until I was reading all ingredients, and even Google, the ones that I have no clue what they are.Another tool you can use is EWG.org website.
If that’s not alarming at all,I will just go ahead an put all these brands down here, explain what ingredients I’m trying to avoid and why, so that might be an eye opener. Some of these products were gifted to me for my honest review,or I purchased them myself, and I must say I didn’t fully read and realize what exactly these products contained before, so this is just my revelation and concern.I can’t list a full list for each brand, but I’m just scrolling to few of their products on websites and list them.
Please note that the some of the products in the photos have been already discontinued, but I just kept these over the past 3 years in my drawer for reference, to compare, etc.
My first product, when I switched to natural and organic products, was Josie Maran Argan Oil, and it’s definitely still a staple in my beauty drawer, but besides their oils, everything else, sadly, comes packed with: Sodium Benzoate (carcinogen and DNA damage when mixed with Vitamin C), Potassium Sorbate (preservative),Yellow 6,Red 4 ,Red 20,Red 28,yellow 5,BLue 1(food coloring, carcinogen),Phenoxyethanol (irritating the skin and eyes) Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation),and more!
TATCHA BEAUTY Luminous Dewy Mist + more
You probably recognize this BestSeller,Luminous Dewy Skin Mist,is what ALL the people raved about, being the best mist for dry skin, and it totally feels that way, until I discovered it contains: Cyclopentasiloxane (toxic to reproduction),Propanediol (irritant to skin and eyes),Ppg-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Trideceth-12,Sorbitan Stearate (synthetic wax),Ethylhexylglycerin (highly toxic and irritating to the skin),Fragrance/Parfum (linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies and sensitivities),Phenoxyethanol (irritating the skin and eyes)and I can’t believe I was spraying this thing on my face!!! Now don’t think the rest of their products are clean!
This company makes alluring products infused fruits and gem stones, but also: Sodium Benzoate (when combines with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) benzene can form, which is a known carcinogen),dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (Synthetic vitamin E,does not come from a natural sources and is generally derived from petroleum products),Phenoxyethanol (irritating the skin and eyes),Polysorbate 20 (carcinogen), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene (a synthetic oil that is used as a mineral oil substitute),mysterious fragrance blends (which obviously are not essential oils, but stated as natural),and these are just a few!!!
Probably my first “clean” lipstick brand that I transitioned to, but reading the ingredients, beside all the good stuff,I discovered: Hydroxystearate,Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate (synthetic ingredient is most often used to give texture and form to lipstick and lip gloss),Polymethyl methacrylate (list concerns that it can be a carcinogen, cause allergic reactions, immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity),Red 6,Red 7,Red 28 Lake,Red 30 Lake,Red 40 Lake,Blue 1 Lake,Yellow 5 Lake,Yellow 6 Lake (research has linked these with cancer.Also these food dyes result with problems in children including allergies, hyperactivity, learning impairment, irritability and aggressiveness),and probably more.
There’s no secret to hide, no amazonian clay can get me over these ingredients: Talc (contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled)Polyethylene (plastic),Polyethylene (toxic),Laureth-4(skin irritation)Potassium Sorbate (preservative),PEG-150(toxic),Red6 Lake,Red7 Lake ,Red 33 Lake +many more(food coloring, carcinogen) ,Tetrasodium EDTA,and mooore!!!!
As much as I admire this company, for making beautiful mineral products, here are some ingredients I don’t agree with:Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant),Red 30 Lake,Red 6 Lake,etc, Polysilicone-11 (synthetic),Hydrogenated Polyisobutene (a petroleum-based ingredient),Polyethylene (plastic),Isododecane (synthetic hydrocarbon),Synthetic Wax, and more!!!!
Quite surprised myself,because I always thought Shea Moisture is an amazing company, but in the past 2 years I noticed they removed a lot of their makeup and products from the market,and thru the whole lot of clean products,including scented with essential oils,some products have these ingredients: Benzoic Acid (irritant), Sodium Benzoate (carcinogen and DNA damage when mixed with Vitamin C), Caprylhydroxamic Acid(cancer,developmental & reproductive toxicity), Polyquaternium-7 (synthetic polymer), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (develops allergies, reproductive toxicity), Titanium Dioxide (inhaed is carcinogen),and probably more lurking mystery ones.
I’m one of this people, that would like to find clean makeup products at the drugstore, but sadly,Almay Beauty is not one of them.I also noticed, so far, they don’t even list their ingredients on their website.
The eye remover makeup pads have been my favorite for a really looooong time, and they even have a “Gentle” option but the ingredients are deceiving:Water, Poloxamer 184, Butylene Glycol (derived from petroleum, it makes skin dry, and keep asking for hydration),Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate (toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic), Sodium Trideceth Sulfate (irritates eyes, skin or scalp),Diazolidinyl Urea (irritations and allergies), Phenoxyethanol (irritating the skin and eyes),22244 (what the heck is this ingredient?).
As for their makeup:Talc (contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled),Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant),Isononyl Isononanoate (synthetic),Polyethylene (plastic),Nylon-12 (synthetic),Paraffin, Synthetic Wax, Synthetic Fluorphlogopit (synthetic mineral),Butylene Glycol (derived from petroleum, it makes skin dry, and keep asking for hydration),Flavor (seriously),Benzoic Acid (preservative),BHT (carcinogen),Food Colloring red blue yellow Lake 999,etc,EDTA (can cause abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, low blood pressure, skin problems, and fever),Phenoxyethanol (irritating the skin and eyes),and more.
Some of Natural & Organic Bloggers and YouTubers they are probably rest assured this brand is super clean, since they state they are made WITH Organic Ingredients,but besides that:Red 7 , Red 28, Yellow 5,etc (research has linked these with cancer.Also these food dyes result with problems in children including allergies, hyperactivity, learning impairment, irritability and aggressiveness),Acrylates Copolymer (artificial),Sodium Hydroxide(caustic,pH balancer),Benzoic Acid (irritant),Potassium Sorbate (preservative),Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant).
When I made a jump in the past from Clinique Skincare products, to Ole Henriksen,I really thought I made a huge jump in the clean beauty industry, but boy! I was wrong.Even though I realize now they never advertise as clean, these products are deceiving: Phenoxyethanol (irritating the skin and eyes), Cyclopentasiloxane (silicone associated with environmental toxicity), Polysorbate 20 (carcinogen), Sodium Benzoate (carcinogen and DNA damage when mixed with Vitamin C),Fragrance/Parfum (linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies and sensitivities), Potassium Sorbate (preservative),Yellow 6(food coloring, carcinogen),Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant),and many moooore!!!!
Not complexly HONEST!!! I’ve seen that they have remove some of their toxic products I tried from them in the past couple of years, but they can also work to remove these ingredients: Potassium Sorbate (preservative),Sodium Benzoate (carcinogen and DNA damage when mixed with Vitamin C),Red 7 Lake ,Yellow 6 Lake,Blue 1 Lake,red 30 Lake (food coloring, carcinogen), Phenoxyethanol (preservative,irritating the skin and eyes).They do have some clean products, so just do your research and read ingredients!
And I complexly falled at the word Mineral,but this brand is definitely deceiving(except their super clean lip products): Polysorbate 20 (carcinogen), Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property skin and eye irritant), Phenoxyethanol (preservative,irritating the skin and eyes),Sorbitan Laurate. No wonder why my favorite mascara was discontinued!!!
And let me tell you how PISSED!!! I am that they are even named ORGANIC!!! “Eco-conscious fragrances & body products that are completely cruelty-free & vegan” it doesn’t mean CLEAN.”There are no chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, sulfates, benzene, GMOs, or triclosan in our products” but here’s what you truly get: Alcohol Denatured , Water, Fragrance/Parfum(linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies and sensitivities),Buthylphenyl Methylpropional (synthetic scent),Benzyl Benzoate(preservative associated with allergies and eczema),Benzyl Salicylate (fragrance ingredient), Hydroxycutisohexyl-3-cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde (synthetic fragrance associated with allergies and eczema). Like seriously?!?!?
And I really thought these products were amazing,untill: Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property skin and eye irritant),PEG-4(irritations and toxicity),SLS (organ toxicity),Polysorbate 20 (carcinogen),Laureth-2(carcinogen, hormone disruptor),EDTA (can cause abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, low blood pressure, skin problems, and fever),Methylchloroisothiazolinone(lung toxicity, allergic reactions and possible neurotoxicity), Phenoxyethanol (preservative,irritating the skin and eyes),Octinoxate (endocrine disruption, allergies,reproduction disruption),Cyclopentasiloxane(toxic, carcinogen) and so many moooore,ugh!
When I first stumbled across Ofra,I truly believed is a clean mineral makeup like but,nothing is what it seems these days: Cyclopentasiloxane (silicone associated with environmental toxicity),Cyclohexasiloxane (reproductive disruptor),Hydrogenated Polydecene(reproductive disruptor),Talc (contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled),AROMA(seriously???? PERFUME at its best),Phenoxyethanol(preservative,irritating the skin and eyes),and more!
Aobviously not bare!!! Their powder mineral foundations and powder mineral eyeshadows are still clean,and you can continue using them, but everything else might contain:Phenoxyethanol(preservative,irritating the skin and eyes), Dimethicone (prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property skin and eye irritant), Blue 1 Lake, Red, Red 7 Lake, Red 28 Lake , Red 33 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake (food coloring, carcinogen),Nylon-12, BHT,and more lurking hidden ones.
I was almost crying reading these ingredients in their powder foundation and blushes products: Talc (contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled), Benzyl Alcohol(toxic),Potassium, Sorbate(used as preservative).
I definitely don’t need any synthetic ingredients in my products, but please feel free to do your own research.
Now this is not a rebellion against these brands, but I just think people should be aware what they are using, and these brands should learn and do better at formulating their products in the future!!!
Now I will not delete any of my past posts and review on these brands, because that was me learning and becoming what I am today’s I will be just moving on, sharing ONLY CLEAN INGREDIENTS PRODUCTS!!!
Stay tuned for my current clean stash!
♥Laura
LAURA BRUJ 
This is a job well done! I would have never guessed especially Honest Beauty…
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