From a very young age, girls are interested in make-up. We experiment with it in our adolescence, study it in our teens, and continue to perfect our application, applying more and more each year to hide our age and imperfections. Despite women’s interest and love of make-up, most women don’t really know what is in their make-up. More concerning is that many of us don’t realize that some make-up can be toxic to our skin, and even our physical well-being.

Make-up is colorful. The color in make-up most often comes from petroleum derivatives (coal tar) and must be FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved. Synthetic or artificial colors derived from petroleum are indicated by the letters F D and C or just D and C, or sometimes just the name of the color with a number (Red No. 40) and the word Lake. If you see these names in an ingredient list on your lipstick, blush, or eye shadow, you will know that it is manufactured with artificial color from petroleum. Every year the FDA reviews the approved list of artificial petroleum dyes, and every year this list gets smaller and more tightly regulated, due to the carcinogenic nature of coal tar. There is definitely a shift occurring in the make-up manufacturing world. More and more women are aware of how the products that they put on their skin can directly affect their health, and therefore they are in search of more natural ingredients. Finding a good make-up with minimal artificial dyes takes some education and research. Then, once you find a make-up product with natural dyes, you still cannot be guaranteed it is 100% safe until you delve deeper into it’s manufacturing.

Natural dyes in make-up are from plants, minerals, or animals. Dyes from plants (beets) are often water-soluble and require adding high concentrations of preservatives to keep them from growing mold and bacteria. Although the dye is plant-based, the other ingredients (preservatives) in the dye make their safety questionable.

Mineral color that is often used in make-up are mica, oxides, and ultramarine. Mineral make-up lines are often regarded by the consumer as safer, but they can also contain heavy metal residue (lead and arsenic), depending on how they are obtained or processed. Mineral make-up can also be dangerous if it is in nanoparticle form. Nanoparticles are small enough to be absorbed into the blood stream and studies have shown them to be toxic to animals. There are no studies to prove them safe in humans, especially in make-up, which is absorbed into the skin. Ideally ingredients in mineral make-up should be guaranteed to be in their raw form, without silcon, paraben, or chemical coatings and nanoparticle-free.

Natural dyes derived from animals or insects do exist, but there are fewer of them. The one to surely avoid is carmine, a crimson pigment made from the crushed dried bodies of the cochineal insect which is found on cacti.

Dr. Nicole Norris at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, IL agrees that It is important to give some thought to the safety of your make-up. “In our practice, we believe that your skin health and your physical health are directly related. We emphasize to our patients to apply only the healthiest products to their skin and avoid make-up and other products that do not promote skin health. It is honestly scary how a lot of make-up has the potential to adversely affect your skin, and even your overall health. After researching many make-up brand’s ingredient lists, we found a full make-up line that meets, and even exceeds, our expectations. RMS beauty has been rated one of the healthiest and safest make-up lines in the world. RMS beauty was created by Rose-Marie Swift, a make-up artist for some of the world’s most-prestigious models, actresses, and magazines. She created RMS beauty so that women can enjoy luxurious products, without compromising their health. Patients of all ages can benefit from this make-up line, as it is anti-aging for young skin and nourishing for mature skin. Every ingredient, including dyes, used in the RMS beauty line is easily found on their website. Certified Organic, raw, virgin coconut oil is the base of most of RMS beauty formulas. This coconut oil is unrefined, with no heat or chemical solvents, so that the natural Vitamin E, antioxidants and lauric acid in this coconut oil is preserved. Lauric acid has anti-microbial properties and makes this a perfect make-up choice for those prone to acne and rosacea. RMS beauty products are Gluten free, GMO free, Soy free, Nanoparticle free and are not tested on animals. They are packaged in recyclable containers with no plastic. If you have been searching for a truly health-inspiring, clean make-up, we have found it for you!” Call Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa for your RMS beauty make-up consultation today or stop by to see and try the full line in our office. 815-780-8264