Natural Makeup Switch

It's been about two weeks since I've last worn deodorant.  Some of my friends who are reading this blog gave great feedback that I still haven't had to try.  Some of my favorite suggestions were the lavender-scented natural wipes for when you start to smell during the day, trying out the crystal deodorant as a better alternative to Tom's of Main, or using using a splash of tea tree oil for it's antiseptic properties.

This next round of organic changes in my routine also started with a page in Green Babies Sage Moms by Lynda Fassa, who went on a roll about parabens and phalates in cosmetics, and recommended that pregnant readers switch to something more natural.  She highly recommended the Dr. Hauschka line, which they sell at Whole Foods, but it is SO expensive.  And, I don't think that I cared for the mascara when I tried it a few years ago.  I had already gone out and bought a cheaper set of natural makeup at Whole Foods, and I was happy to find that Fassa also listed Zuzu Luxe as a safe bet.  I just picked up the basics, which for me includes foundation, blush, mascara, and eye shadow.  I'll swear off eye liner for awhile to save a few bucks.

What could be lurking in everything from plastic and nail polish to fragrances, cosmetics, lotions, and hairsprays are dangerous substances called phalates.  Phalates have been linked to birth defects, and they aren't always listed in the ingredients.  Especially if it's part of a "fragrance," companies aren't required by the FDA to reveal their ingredients.  I've included some links below to more information. According to Divine Caroline, skin care lines such as Burts Bees and Kiss My Face are phalate-free.  I love Burts Bees!  I have used their tinted lip balm instead of lipstick for years.

Another set of chemicals to watch out for is used as a preservative in cosmetics, such as makeup and deodorant, which are ingredients that end in "paraben".  This includes methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, which are the most common parabens according to the FDA. The issue with parabens is that they mimic estrogen.The Breast Cancer Fund even lists parabens as a contributor to breast cancer:

Measurable concentrations of six different parabens have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumors (Darbre, 2004). The particular parabens were found in relative concentrations that closely parallel their use in the synthesis of cosmetic products (Rastogi, 1995). Parabens have also been found in almost all urine samples examined from a demographically diverse sample of U.S. adults (Ye, 2006a).

 Of course, the FDA doesn't think that parabens pose a considerable health risk, but the "FDA is aware that estrogenic activity in the body is associated with certain forms of breast cancer."  And, the FDA says that it doesn't know what effect phalates have on humans.  But, I don't trust the same agency that regulates food and allows chemical pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and other chemicals that they allow to be called "food" into our food supply to make sure that I stay out of chemical harm's way.  I believe that when we replace natural ingredients with chemicals (usually for cost-cutting measures) that we're poisoning ourselves.

I also don't believe that I'm making these changes just for the baby.  The baby is encouraging me make general organic choices that for one reason or another (including laziness, cost, availability, quality, or effectiveness).

Phalates:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/07/news/la-heb-phthalates-20110907
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1253722/
http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/revamp-your-pregnancy-beauty-regimen
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/11/swan_phthalates_study.html
http://www.ewg.org/node/26957
http://www.divinecaroline.com/112925/44788-beauty-products-avoid-pregnancy
http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/selectedcosmeticingredients/ucm128250.htm

Parabens:
http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/selectedcosmeticingredients/ucm128042.htm
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/chemicals-glossary/parabens.html
http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/term/563