Organic Foundation

Avoid Conventional Foundations

❌  Avoid Microplastic

Check that your makeup or cosmetics are organic and don’t contain plastic,  according to Greenpeace Italy, these makeup companies contain microplastic Lush 99%, Maybelline 85%, Deborah 84%, Sephora 83%, Wycon 78%. Found in Mascara 90%, Lipsticks and Lipglosses 85%, Foundation %74, Highlighter 69% Face Powder 43% and in Glitter

Ho to spot plastic. Check the label, Microplastics are listed as Nylon, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polymethyl methacrylate. In hand sanitizers as Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

 

❌ Avoid PFAS: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are toxic synthetic compounds found in various makeup, especially those advertised as long-lasting or waterproof. Brands including Essence, L’Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon and Wet ‘n Wild were purchased at Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond from 2016 to 2020. PFAS have been detected in:

  • 82% of tested waterproof mascara 
  • 63% of tested foundations
  • 62% of tested liquid lipsticks
  • 58% of tested eyeshadows, eye creams, and eyeliners

Avoid Greenwashing Foundations

Avoid greenwashing foundations made with brands that pretend to be organic, natural, safer, or eco-friendly when they are not. They will use their marketing tricks to convince you to buy their products.  

Even if they are made with some natural ingredients they may still contain controversial ingredients such as mica, titanium dioxide, or petroleum-derived ingredients. 

❌ Avoid  Titanium Dioxide

Titanium Dioxide once considered by the FDA as GRASE (generally recognized as safe and effective) and not misbranded, Titanium dioxide is no longer considered safe. The European Union has declared Titanium Dioxide a level 2 Carcinogen in all concentrations over 1%, & from 2024 all products with more than 1% Titanium Dioxide will have to bare warning labels.

Titanium dioxide: Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful. Toxic when it is ingested, so avoid sunblock lip balms or lipsticks with titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, because of the potential of exposure through inhalation. 

Banned in the EU  for food application due to its potential carcinogenic effects. Titanium dioxide E 171 contains at most 50% of particles in the nano range (i.e. less than 100 nanometres) to which consumers may be exposed. 

According to The Guardian: “The EU’s decision to phase out titanium dioxide came after a re-evaluation of the safety of the food additive conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), an agency that delivers independent scientific advice to the EU about food-related risks.

EFSA scientists screened nearly 12,000 scientific publications. They were particularly interested in recent research on the “genotoxicity” of titanium dioxide nanoparticles – their ability to damage DNA and lead to cell mutations, potentially causing cancer. In animal studies, nanoparticles have been found to affect microorganisms in the gut, which could trigger diseases like intestinal and bowel inflammation and colorectal cancer.

Avoid Mica: CI 77019

Mica is linked to child labor, often it takes place in developing countries that may rely on exploitative practices. Plus mica can contain heavy metals. 

In 2013, researchers in Japan tested cosmetics and found high levels of fluorine inside mica & talc. It turned out that some suppliers were fluorinating their raw ingredients in order to have the products last longer in the environment, i.e. on your face. The demand of having “long-lasting” and “waterproof” natural makeup has set up an industry for natural mica & talc coated with PFAS.  

Pneumoconiosis may be caused by pure mica alone

Mica is toxic to the workers: pulmonary disorders of four employees who were exposed to high concentration of pure mica dust in a muscovite milling unit. Occupational exposure to mica dust is responsible for diffuse infiltrative lung disease by overload processes.

Synthetic mica: is a man-made mica, called also fluorphlogopite, or synthetic fluorine, made with 

Mica is colored with yellow 10, blue 1, red 28, and many other FD&C food dyes that are derived from petroleum and banned in many countries due to potential links to cancer.

❌ Avoid petroleum-derived ingredients 

Cometic Colorants:

  • CI 77742/Manganese Violet” is petroleum-derived and its synthesis requires ammonium dihydrogen phosphate: Comstock MC. ​

  • CI 15850/Red 7 Lake synthetic colorant

  • CI 42090 is a synthetic compound that gives a brilliant blue color to products

Organic Foundations

🌿 Many natural or even organic foundations still contain mica or titanium dioxide.

I researched everywhere and I listed the best organic foundation on the market:

The best foundations are made with natural and even better, organic ingredients and without titanium dioxide and mica. Plus PFAS-free. 

 

🌿 My number one organic foundation:

PiperBlue made with an antioxidant-rich formula that features anti-aging benefits. PiperBlue makeup does not contain nano ingredients or titanium dioxide, only vitamin and nutrient-rich ingredients for optimal skin nutrition. Here is my 10% off promo code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

 

🌿My number one organic liquid Foundation recommendation:

Miessence foundation:  the only natural, titanium dioxide-free, and mica-free foundation. Not only is made with organic ingredients but is also certified organic by the Australia Organic Certification Agency. 

It comes in 3 versions:

🌿 I also use their amazing Miessence Certified Organic Concealer in medium, by far the best concealer on the market for both ingredients and performance. Made only with 5 ingredients. You can learn about the concealer here and the brand here.

 

Shop with my links to support my research!💖