I’ve spent the past month or two in research and development mode. My favorite part of all-natural cosmetics is the process of mixing colors. Recently, I decided to really focus on adding additional matte eyeshadows to our lineup and some light earth tone colors. When I first started grinding makeup, I went sort of crazy on the eyeshadow. I have over 90+ recipes for eyeshadow. While many of my customers like to splurge on high shimmer and luster colors, many crave everyday simplicity and routine. I for example have a pretty set list of favorites when I choose to wear makeup. They include light cream and beige colors with a medium luster for my crease color. Truth be told, I’m not someone who wears a lot of makeup. I started my business mainly because I wanted to offer an alternative to big department store brands laden with synthetic ingredients and harsh chemicals. Not to mention many of these products are extremely expensive.
JenJoi Cosmetics strives itself in the beauty of simplicity and transparency. My blog posts usually share a comparison between our products and department store products. Recently, I went on a two day weekend trip to Portland, OR and walked by a storefront with a sign, “Fresh Handmade Cosmetics.” I’d like to take a brief moment to share my first experience entering a Lush Cosmetics store front. I entered the store after walking by several times. I was super excited by the large bath bombs and blocks of bar soap in various colors. Upon entering the store, my curiosity was quickly revoked after a look from a sales associate. I do not know if it was because of my dreadlocks or what but she just gave me the dirtiest look!
I began to slowly make my way around the shop paying close attention to the ingredients and price point. Lush does an amazing job with product presentation and simple packaging. Very deceiving language “fresh handmade cosmetics.” As I made my way around the shop, I started to get more and more shocked by the price point and list of not-so fresh ingredients including:
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Talc
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Fragrance
I think the part that bothers me the most is their tricky and deceiving ingredients guide. I’ve never seen a company fight so hard to hide the use of icky and in many cases unsafe and harmful ingredients. They use terminology such as “safe synthetics.” Put aside for just a moment the fact that parabens are proven to cause endocrine disruption and biochemical or cellular level changes. Informed and health conscious consumers do not want these ingredients in their cosmetics! As a manufacturer of all-natural handmade cosmetics, I know several healthier options are available. In the end, it all comes down to cost. Lush uses parabens, talc, sodium laureth sulfate because it’s cheap. Fragrance does not belong in masks or cleansers. Those of us with sensitive skin understand that fragrance breaks us out and causes irritation.
Before I end my rants about Lush, I want to briefly discuss their makeup. What a disappointment! Filled with synthetic ingredients such as:
Triethanolamine
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
PVP
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
There is absolutely no excuse to use these ingredients in mascara, eyeshadow, mineral powder, or liquid foundation. Let’s start with the mascara. Lush’s mascara uses PVP which is a synthetic polymer or binder (petroleum-based). Their cream eyeshadow contains triethanolamine which is a surfactant (pH balancing). Anyone who studies or makes cosmetics knows there are endless alternatives to using synthetic polymers and surfactants. For example, Lush wouldn't need to use triethanolamine in their cream eyeshadow if they removed some of the many unnecessary ingredients from their products. No one needs water in their eyeshadow.
Lush’s Emotional Brilliance Powder (name aside being a joke) uses talc and synthetic fluorphlogopite to fill this product. Talc has a proven record of organ system toxicity and many consumers report skin sensitivity to the ingredient. Kaolin clay is a perfect alternative to talc and not expensive! Lush is so cheap it uses synthetic fluorphlogopite, a synthetic mica to provide a sheen in its powder. The choices Lush makes in terms of ingredients says a lot about their company. They lie, cheat, and cut corners to encourage their customers to buy from them as opposed to the thousands of all-natural handmade cosmetics available on Etsy that would never consider using this crap they call “safe synthetics.” I’ll end my rant by saying their liquid foundation sucks and they need to hire a new cosmetic chemist. Water is the most unnecessary ingredient in makeup. It’s also the only reason you have to add such harsh preservatives to your products. Methylparaben and propylparaben are so 5-10 years ago!
Let’s move on and talk about some of my new all-natural Spring and Summer eyeshadow and blush colors.
2015 Spring and Summer Colors
We introduced over 10 new eyeshadow colors yesterday on our Etsy. They are not all themed for Spring and Summer. But I will highlight* these colors in this blog:
Eyeshadow ($1.99 sample size and $2.99 full size)
Ingredients: kaolin, mica, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, magnesium stearate, Vitis Vinifera (grapeseed oil), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary antioxidant extract) may contain iron oxide
*Pearl Green
Milk Chocolate
Burgundy
Mustard
*Mint Green
Party Girl Pink
*Peach
*Baby Blue
*Apple Blossom
*Champagne
Blackest Black
Glimmer Beige
We also introduced several new blushes to our lineup including:
Blush ($2.99 sample size and $4.99 full size)
Ingredients: kaolin clay, magnesium stearate, mica, Vitis Vinifera (grapeseed oil), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary antioxidant extract), may contain iron oxides
Apricot
Bronze
Bubblegum
Morning Rose
Apple Red
Salmon
Apricot and Peach
Pictures are worth 1000 words….
Apple Blossom Eyeshadow
Baby Blue Eyeshadow
Champagne Eyeshadow
Mint Green Eyeshadow
Peach Eyeshadow
Pearl Green Eyeshadow
Apricot Blush
Bronze Blush
Bubblegum Blush
Apple Red Blush
Apricot and Peach Blush
Morning Rose Blush
Rosy Pink Blush
Salmon BlushProduct Comparisons
I want to offer a couple comparisons. Our ingredients are listed above for our eyeshadow and blush.
Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea*, Propylparaben.
I don’t know about you….but I’d rather not have urine in my cosmetics. Diazolidinyl Urea is excreted from urine! Disgusting. We’ve got our regular culprits of parabens. Eyeshadow is all about color and adhesion. These two things can be accomplished without synthetic ingredients and especially urine. Ick!
Look At Me Bubble Gum Pink Blush
Ingredients: Talc, Mica, Mineral Oil, Kaolin, Magnesium Stearate, Isoproply, Palmitate, Methlparaben, Propylparaben. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, FD&C Red No. 40, D&C Red No. 7, FD&C Yellow 5 Lake.
So...not only is Bombshell Cosmetics bubblegum-colored blush expensive ($16), it’s filled with crap! Talc, synthetic mineral oil, parabens, and cosmetic dyes. No thanks.
I’m really going to try and write blogs more often. I enjoy informing the public about cosmetics companies lies, deceit, and overall idiocy regarding safe cosmetics. I also love to praise my competitors who stay true to our shared cause. I do not care if it’s “safe synthetics” or if the product ingredients has its own dedicated informational page on Lush’s company website. Consumers no longer care for synthetic ingredients, talc that clogs pores, or cheap fillers like water and mineral oil. We also do not want to pay for this crap.
Please leave your comments, suggestions, and anything else you’d like.
Cheers,
Jennifer
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