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Blushes & Bronzers

Read up on misleading labels so you won't be duped at the checkout counter.

Choose powdered products, which generally require fewer potentially irritating ingredients.

Use products that contain no more than 10 ingredients. The fewer the ingredients, the less likely you are to be exposed to a potentially irritating or harmful chemical.

Usage Tips

A few healthy makeup habits can further reduce your exposure to harmful ingredients:

Wash makeup off before going to bed.

Don't wear makeup when you exercise: your pores open, which can increase absorption, and you're also likely to get eye makeup in your eyes through perspiration and wiping away perspiration.

Be vigilant about following expiration dates and throw out cosmetics when they get old. Some general guidelines:
-Foundations = one year
-Powders = two years

Should you suffer an adverse effect from a makeup product, you should report it. Call the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Adverse Event Reporting System at 301-436-2405 for information on how to report adverse reactions.

Proper Disposal

Many cosmetic containers are recyclable; many are not. Find out what is recyclable in your area, and when you toss of old containers, empty them as thoroughly as possible. Remove compact mirrors, which often aren't accepted for recycling.

Add some color to your face with the products below, which are free of irritating preservatives, lead-based dyes and other harmful colorants. For more information on the ugly side of the beauty industry, see The Backstory.