by C. Elliot

Created on: August 08, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2008

Women have come to trust makeup as a camouflage for flaws, as a way of enhancing natural beauty. But we rarely stop to ask ourselves: What is in this lipstick? What goes into making foundation and mascara?

Before your next morning makeup routine, pause to examine the ingredients listed on your makeup's packaging. By knowing what's safe and what's not, you can give your makeup routine a healthy makeover.

The first thing is to be wary of certain ingredients commonly used in cosmetics. Some are dangerous if you are exposed to high quantities. Silica, for instance, does not break down easily in the human body; and micronized titanium dioxide is linked to toxicity of organ and reproductive systems. Sounds bad, right? Avoid high doses.

Other ingredients should be avoided entirely. Aluminum starch octenylsuccinate is linked to cancer and toxicity of biological systems (as in, your cardiovascular system, your immune system, and so on). Similar to silica, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate has difficulty breaking down, so it can linger in your body long after you wash off your makeup. And perhaps most eerie of all, it is suspected to cause changes to your cells (the implications of which are not yet fully known).

Also steer clear of names like 'BHA' and 'hydroquinone.' In studies, they've been associated with cancer, and they can interfere with the body's natural hormones. Some ingredients, like triclosan, are so questionable, they are restricted in countries like Japan and Canada.

It all makes a gal wonder: If major brands are putting such ingredients in their beauty products, is wearing makeup safe?

Never fear. By taking charge and stocking your makeup bag with a conscientous mind, you can have a totally safe makeup experience.

Natural and organic options are safer for you and tend to be more eco-friendly. Look for plant-based ingredients (herbal-based products, products high in flower and plant extracts). Food names are a good gauge. If it's safe to put *in* your body, there's a good chance it's safe to put *on* your body. Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), theobromo cacao (cocoa), and vanilla planifolia (vanilla) are found in certain cosmetics and are not associated with any major health hazards.

Before you purchase makeup, it also doesn't hurt to get online and research. When you flip over lipstick packaging to read the ingredients, the long list of unfamiliar scientific names could leave anyone feeling puzzled. For instance, 'maranta arundinacea' and 'methyl methacrylate' both sound like mouthfuls. But maranta arundinacea is just the scientific name for arrowroot, which is not currently linked to any dangers. Methyl methacrylate, on the other hand, is associated with such harmful side effects as allergies, cancer, and organ toxicity.

Ultimately, smart consumerism counts. If you monitor and understand what's in your makeup bag, you can make better choices about what lipsticks, blushes, and eyeshadows to purchase in the future. After all, your beauty routine is about getting a little dolled up for the day - it's not worth putting yourself in harm's way.

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