Makeup
Like hair care and other organic products, makeup may cost a little more than at a conventional store, but costs are comparable to other specialty lines. Some natural or organic makeup might be found in health-food stores or whole-food grocers, but a larger variety is available online. Many of the natural makeup lines rely on powder foundations as opposed to liquid to avoid ingredients that are more likely to cause irritation. Here's a sampling of Web sites that carry organic and natural makeup that are cruelty free:
Burt's Bees (www.burtsbees.com) is a name that's common at retail counters with lip balm and hand crèmes, but the company also produces makeup. The company was started by two friends looking for a good use for the besswax one of the friends (Burt). The company now makes a variety of Earth-friendly products. Better yet, the packaging is Earth friendly as well.
The Alchemist's Apprentice (www.alchemistsapprentice.com) carries makeup that was developed especially for sensitive skin. It contains no fillers or oils so it doesn't clog pores, and it's anti-inflammatory too.
Canary Cosmetics (www.canarycosmetics.com) carries a variety of makeup designed for sensitive skin. Ingredients include mica, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and refined iron oxides. As with other skin-sensitive recipes, Canary products don't include any oils, fragrances, or preservatives.
The Organic Make-Up Company (www.organicmakeup.ca) is a Canadian company whose makeup is not only organic but vegan too. There are no genetically modified ingredients, synthetic chemicals, or animal by-products, not even beeswax. Organic Make-Up's concern for the planet extends from the products they sell to the packaging used.
There are also shops like Bath & Body Works and Sephora that carry lines of organic and natural makeup. Check on your favorite brand to see if it carries a line of organic and natural products.
Consumers who experience an adverse reaction to certain cosmetics or personal-care items can report it to the FDA's Cosmetic Adverse Reaction Monitoring Program. Calls should be placed to the state FDA office, and numbers can be found online at www.fda.gov/opacom/back grounders/complain.html.
Many consumers are used to makeup with a sun-protection factor, or SPF, rating. But obtaining an SPF factor can be expensive, and some of the smaller makeup companies have yet to do it. If this is of concern to you, wear sun block underneath your makeup. Also, the oxides used in many powder formulas do assist in blocking out the sun's rays.
