The development took months, and looking at makeup products in a different sort of way, but I have come up with a solution to a natural, mineral foundation that does not use micas, zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Now the question on a lot of people’s minds is, Why?

For years I’ve used products that contain these ingredients and I’ve had no bad reactions, but with opinions on the safety of them beginning to vary, I chose not to take any chances.

Mica

According to Dr. Oz: Though there are no studies showing damage from makeup use to date, experts say the long-term use and inhalation of minerals in makeup can lead to inflammation, irritation and lung disease in women and girls.

Titanium Dioxide

According to the EWG’s SkinDeep Database: “Limited evidence of carcinogenicity . . . One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses.”  Though the ingredient is generally considered safe and has an overall safety rating of 1-3 (on a scale of 0-10).

Zinc Oxide

Also generally recognized as safe, but according to the EWG’s SkinDeep Database: “Human immune and respiratory toxicant – strong evidence . . . One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses.”

So will I be avoiding these ingredients completely in the products that I use, no, but I do plan to ensure that none of the products that I formulate and sell contain any of them.  Thus far, mineral makeups tend to use safer ingredients than their less-natural alternatives, but the bottom line is that even those are not perfect.

Some ways to try to choose safer makeup include the following:

• Using natural, cream-based formulas–since the most likely threat is some respiratory damage, using a creme foundation instead of a loose, powder based formula (that contains micas, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) would reduce the chances of inhalation. Gluten Free Beauty’s foundation is a two-part process, a creme for coverage, and then a rice-based loose powder for setting.  The powder has a slight grit, it is not as silky as alternatives, but it does not come with the respiratory risks, and it’s EWG Safety Score is a 0 (ideal).
• Makeup that expires may be safer to use today. While you want to be more careful in the handling and storage of natural, paraben-free, synthetic-free makeup by using clean hands, clean brushes or clean sponges every time, and you don’t want to mix water into the equation (water breeds bacteria).  Products that have a shelf-life don’t usually have parabens or harsh preservatives.  So while we suggest that you use up your Gluten Free Beauty products within a few months, we also promise not to employ the use of any irritating preservatives.
• If your skin is sensitive, look for natural products that don’t contain irritating natural ingredients like grapefruit seed extract, bismuth oxychloride or carmine.  Grapefruit seed extract is often used for its antimicrobial properties, but its safety is widely debated.  It’s EWG Safety Score is a 4.  Carmine is considered the best “true-red” found in nature.  But it’s made by grinding up beetle abdomens, and for many it can cause irritation.  Unfortunately, even the most reputable natural makeup companies use it in lipsticks, foundations and powders.  Bismuth oxychloride is often used in mineral makeup for it’s shimmer producing properties, but it can contain irritating heavy metals.