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April 29, 2025

From Lipstick to Foundation: Uncovering the Toxic Ingredients in Your Makeup

When we think about makeup, we often focus on colors, textures, and results — not the ingredients. Yet, what we put on our skin, lips, and around our eyes doesn’t just sit there. Our skin absorbs much of what we apply, and in the case of lip products, we ingest it. This means that the ingredients in our makeup matter — a lot.

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Unfortunately, many conventional makeup products still contain harmful ingredients that can disrupt hormones, irritate skin, or build up in the body over time. In this post, we’ll explore the most common toxins lurking in everyday makeup products, how they affect our health, and why it might be time to switch to safer, science-backed alternatives.

💄 Lipsticks, Glosses, and Tints

Common Toxins:

Lead: A heavy metal often found in trace amounts in lipsticks.
Petrolatum (mineral oil jelly): A byproduct of petroleum, used for shine and texture.
Synthetic dyes (Red 6, Red 7 Lake, etc.): Often derived from coal tar.
Fragrance: a vague term that can include hundreds of unknown chemicals

How They Affect Us:

We ingest lip products through eating, drinking, and licking our lips. Over time, this can lead to the buildup of heavy metals like lead in the body.

Lead is a neurotoxin that can accumulate in the body over time. Even small, repeated exposure is linked to developmental issues and hormonal disruption.
Petrolatum may be contaminated with PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which are known carcinogens.
Synthetic dyes have been associated with skin sensitivity and may contain heavy metal residues.

🔬 A study by the University of California, Berkeley (2013) found lead, cadmium, chromium, aluminum, and five other metals in 32 lip products commonly sold in drugstores. Some metals were present in concentrations that could pose health risks with long-term use.

👁️ Mascara

Common Toxins:

Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben): Preservatives used to prevent microbial growth.
Formaldehyde-releasing agents (DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15).
Coal tar dyes: Provide deep black pigment.

How They Affect Us:

These ingredients are absorbed through the sensitive skin around the eyes and mucous membranes.

Parabens are endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic estrogen in the body.
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and eye irritant.
Coal tar dyes are linked to allergic reactions and are banned in the EU but still found in some U.S. formulations.

🔬 According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics long-term exposure to formaldehyde-releasing preservatives may contribute to cancer development, especially with repeated exposure around the eyes, where skin is thinner and more permeable.

🧴 Foundation

Common Toxins:

Silicones (dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane): Used for smooth texture.
Talc: Often contaminated with asbestos.
Parabens: used as preservatives to extend the product’s shelf life
Fragrance: A catch-all term that can hide dozens of synthetic chemicals.

How They Affect Us:

Foundation is worn all day, often across the largest surface of the body — our face.

Silicones may clog pores and create an artificial barrier on the skin.
Talc, if contaminated with asbestos (as found in several lawsuits), is a known carcinogen.
Parabens: mimic estrogen and are linked to breast cancer
Synthetic fragrances can trigger migraines, skin irritation, and hormone disruption.

🔬A 2018 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives showed that teenage girls who switched to non-toxic personal care products had significantly lower levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals like parabens and phthalates after just three days.

🫧 Concealer

Common Toxins:

Phthalates: Used to make products pliable and long-lasting.
Parabens: Again, for preservation.
Talc: Used to provides a smooth texture and control shine and oil
PEG compounds: Used as thickeners and moisture carriers.

How They Affect Us:

Concealers are used close to sensitive areas (under eyes, blemishes), making absorption even easier. Over time, these toxins may contribute to skin inflammation and disrupt cellular function.

Phthalates are linked to reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption.
PEGs can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a probable human carcinogen.
Talc may be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen, and can irritate lungs or disrupt hormones.

🔬 The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has flagged several PEGs and phthalates as high-hazard ingredients, particularly in products applied to broken or sensitive skin—like concealers on acne or under the eyes. Talc, when asbestos-contaminated, is classified by the WHO as a known carcinogen.

🎨 Eye Shadows

Common Toxins:

Talc (asbestos risk if unregulated).
Bismuth oxychloride: A shimmer additive that can cause irritation.
Synthetic colorants: Often derived from petroleum.
Aluminum powder: a neurotoxin used in metallic shades.

How They Affect Us:

Applied close to the eye, these ingredients can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and potential nervous system effects from heavy metals or synthetic dyes.

Bismuth oxychloride can cause itching, redness, and even cystic acne for some.
Talc in eye shadows poses the same asbestos-related risks as in other powders.

🔬 A 2019 investigation by Reuters found asbestos in several talc-based makeup products marketed to teens and young women, showing that contamination is still a concern in unregulated cosmetics. A 2016 review in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology found that aluminum exposure, especially in high doses over time, is linked to neurotoxicity and Alzheimer’s disease.

✏️ Eye and Brow Pencils

Common Toxins:

Carbon black: A pigment linked to cancer.
Parabens & preservatives.
Heavy metals: Such as nickel, which may not be listed but are often present.
Paraffin and petrolatum: derived from petroleum.
Phenoxyethanol: a preservative that can irritate skin and nervous system.

How They Affect Us:

Used directly around the eyes and brows, these ingredients can be absorbed or cause irritation in delicate skin areas, possibly contributing to immune responses or neurotoxicity.

Carbon black has been classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Heavy metals can accumulate in the skin and bloodstream, potentially affecting immune function and hormone balance.

🔬 A 2016 report from the Canadian Environmental Law Association highlighted heavy metal contamination in eye products, even in those labeled “natural.” Phenoxyethanol has been restricted in products for infants in the EU, due to concerns over nervous system effects — raising concern over its use around the eyes in adults, too.

Toxic Makeup Ingredients Worsen Skin Conditions

If you struggle with skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, or perioral dermatitis, your makeup could be making it worse — even if you’re using it to cover the symptoms.

Many synthetic ingredients in conventional makeup are known irritants or sensitisers, meaning they can either trigger flare-ups or worsen existing inflammation. Here’s how:

Fragrance
Fragrance (parfum) is one of the top allergens in cosmetics. It’s a common trigger for eczema and contact dermatitis and can cause burning or redness in rosacea-prone skin.

Preservatives

Preservatives like parabens, phenoxyethanol, and methylisothiazolinone can damage the skin barrier, leading to increased irritation and flare-ups.

Occlusive Fillers
Ingredients like silicones, mineral oil, and petrolatum can trap bacteria, sweat, and irritants on the skin’s surface, making conditions like perioral dermatitis and acne rosacea worse over time.

These also prevent the skin from properly regulating oil and moisture, which can lead to either dryness or excess sebum — both problematic for sensitive skin types.

Harsh Dyes and Metals
FD&C dyes and heavy metals (like aluminum or nickel contaminants in pigments) can cause skin inflammation, itchiness, and increased reactivity.

Especially in foundations and eye products, these ingredients have been linked to chronic skin irritation and hypersensitivity reactions.

Disruption of the Skin Barrier

Repeated use of products with alcohol denat, formaldehyde-releasing agents, and harsh emulsifiers weakens the skin barrier.

A compromised barrier means allergens, pollutants, and microbes can more easily penetrate, leading to chronic conditions like eczema or rosacea flares.

🔬 A 2019 study in Clinical Dermatology highlighted that up to 60% of rosacea patients experience increased symptoms from skincare and cosmetic ingredients — especially synthetic dyes, fragrances, and alcohol-based preservatives.

✨ The Rise of Biomimetic Makeup

Biomimetic makeup is not just a buzzword—it’s a beauty revolution rooted in science. Biomimicry in cosmetics means products are formulated to mimic the skin’s own structure and processes, making them more compatible, effective, and safe.

Unlike traditional makeup that masks or clogs the skin, biomimetic formulas work with your skin, allowing it to breathe, regenerate, and maintain balance. These products often include skin-identical lipids, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and barrier-supporting actives.

🌿 Meet Fitglow Beauty: Makeup That Acts Like Skincare

Fitglow Beauty is a leading brand in the biomimetic movement. Their plant-based, cruelty-free makeup doesn’t just enhance your look—it improves your skin over time.

Their Lip Colour Serums are enriched with plant collagen and antioxidants, healing while adding color.
Vita-Active Foundations are infused with skin-loving ingredients like Vitamin C, plant collagen, and antioxidants.
Their concealers are enriched with Vitamin K, known for reducing redness and supporting skin prone to rosacea, where this nutrient is often deficient.
Even their mascaras and brow gels are designed to nourish and strengthen lashes and brows while enhancing them naturally.

In a beauty world that often prioritises performance over safety, Fitglow Beauty proves you don’t have to compromise. With biomimetic formulations, you can have healthy skin, long-term wellness, and radiant beauty — all at once.

Shop Fitglow Beauty at Ilu Hub

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April 29, 2025