Pretty Seriously Bad for You

Ladies (and so-inclined dudes): be careful what you put on yourselves! A lot of it is bad for the planet … and pretty seriously bad for you, too.

Historically—like, in ancient Greece, ancient Rome, Renaissance Europe—eye makeup has been made from lead. Unfortunately, it often still is. Watch out especially for darker kohl eyeliners—many are still manufactured using lead, incredibly, according to governmental reports.

Fortunately, most cosmetics are now lead-free. But petroleum products, phthalates, talc (a potential carcinogen), polyurethane, and a cocktail of other chemicals still find their way into most mainstream lipsticks, foundations, eyeshadows, mascaras, and so on.

And then there’s your nails. It should be obvious from the overwhelming fumes released by both nail polish and its removers: your nail products are highly toxic. Like indoor and outdoor paints, nail products are high in VOCs, including formaldehyde (a carcinogen) and toluene (a neurotoxin). Breathing in their fumes can be damaging to your kidney, your liver, and your brain.

Alternatives exist. Visit the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep rankings for a detailed list. Or try www.nottoopretty.org. Look for cosmetics—and there are trendy, inexpensive brands—made from natural products like cornstarch, herbs, oils, and natural pigments.

Also, don’t be fooled by the “against animal testing” line … often, that just means the companies outsource for their animal testing—or that they don’t conduct animal testing anymore for that particular product, because it’s already been done, years before. Look for logos certified by PETA or the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC).