I'm going to apologize preemptively for what shall no doubt be a rant.
(I'm very tangled up in environmental policy debates via my academic career and sometimes it bleeds through. ...Nobody needs to remind me that there's a
very obvious contradiction between being a makeup lover and an environmentalist. I get it.)
To start, I think it would be irresponsible for any of us to assume that simply because something is labeled "mineral" that its environmental impacts are negligible. As many of you have already acknowledged, mining (any mining) has notable impacts on the environment, so the fact that mineral makeup may (or may not) be a "by-product" of mining for other minerals shouldn't really assuage any guilt. It comes out of the ground...it impacts the environment. Period. The extent to which the environment may be impacted is mitigated (if one assumes that mining isn't taking place solely for the purpose of producing makeup), however the fact remains that mining, on the whole, is a terribly destructive process.
The mining of zinc, used in zinc oxide, can spread toxic heavy metals like cadmium, lead and zinc along trucking roads and in waterways, according to the National Park Service. The Sierra Club has reported that the production of titanium dioxide releases carcinogenic dioxins into the atmosphere. And while there isn't enough mica in mineral powders to harm consumers, its mining has led to lung diseases such as asbestosis and pneumoconiosis in workers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health warns that workers exposed to silicone are at risk of developing silicosis, lung cancer, and kidney and liver damage. (
Emily Main)
Now that aside, the other concern around mineral makeup involves the idea of 'greenwashing'...that lovely 'eco-friendly', 'good for you, good for the earth' mantra that everybody and their grandma seems to enjoy spewing these days. Like so many other 'eco-friendly' products on the market, mineral makeup isn't really regulated as it should be. There is no agency determining standards for terms like 'pure' or 'natural' - just as 'organic' at the grocery is equally vague and unhelpful. So what does this mean for consumers?
Well, a few things...
While mineral makeup (if it is in fact free of added chemicals, dyes fillers etc.) can be better for you than 'regular' makeup, it's really important that you know what's in it. For example, the jury is still out on
parabens, but they have been linked to cancer, and many 'natural' mineral makeup lines produce and market products which contain them.
In addition "...
most mineral makeup brands contain a mineral salt called bismuth oxychloride. It may give your face a nice pearly sheen, but it’s also a by-product of lead and ore refining." (
Adria Vasil). Make of that what you will.
(Read the articles below to find out about the size of mineral makeup particles and their effect on the lungs.)
...I could go on but I'm sure you're tired of reading. I've attached the links below so you can get a better understanding of some of the issues surrounding mineral makeup.
Adria Vasil |
Mining The Truth About Mineral Makeup
Emily Main |
Take a Powder
Mineral Makeup
I'm by
no means suggesting that you/we give up mineral makeup (or makeup entirely)...because that'd be rather silly on a makeup forum. However, thinking about where these minerals come from and what effect they have on both our bodies and our planet is food for thought. More importantly, getting
producers to address these concerns would be better for all of us.
P.S. Thanks so much for bringing up the question!
