Safe
Alternatives
Are all the toxic chemicals inside your cosmetics freaking you out?
No need to stress about finding safe everyday body essentials! Research shows there are plenty of well-tested and effective alternatives out there. These options often use ingredients with known safety records, allowing you to choose products that are better for you and potentially avoid chemicals often found in items.
This short documentary by Refinery29 was an eye-opening watch, as it truly exposed the Mica Industry. It was this document that inspired me to have a true curiosity about what goes on behind the scenes! (I recommend everyone watch this!)
In a nutshell, this documentary highlights the disturbing journey of young children in Koderma, Jharkhand mining mica in dangerous conditions. The documentary portrays young impoverished children covered with dirt and carrying a basket of mica on their heads. No protective equipment, no shoes, no one to stop this illegal activity. “If we don’t pick mica, how will we put food on the table?” 11-year-old Pooja Bhurla says. This startling comment, raised controversy in the cosmetic industry, as these children are actively risking their lives to provide big corporations with mica. Innocent children are deserving of an education and should not be enduring their lives for a glittery mineral to add shine to a cosmetic.
BRAND SPOTLIGHT:
A notable company that successfully addressed the unethical mining of Mica is LUSH.
In 2018 LUSH, decided to completely pull out of the natural mica industry in an attempt to keep up with their ethical sourcing practices. Instead of natural mica, which has the possibility of being unethically sourced, LUSH opts for synthetic mica (Synthetic Fluorphlogopite)
The following are noteworthy safe alternatives to have in mind:
1. Alternatives to Petroleum
-Beeswax, olive oil, coconut oil, and lanolin work as great alternatives for petroleum. These compounds act as emollients, which aid in softening the skin by preventing water loss. [1]
2. Alternatives for Parabens
Look for labels that say “Paraben-free.” The usual alternative clean beauty uses instead of Parabens include potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate.
-Sodium Benzoate for example is naturally occurring and appears in numerous fruits and herbs.
Competent Paraben Free Cosmetics are available from the following brands:
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100 Percent Pure:
Instagram: @100percentpure
Made in: San Francisco, CA
Has a variety of cosmetics including lip products, eye cream, moisturizers that is completely natural
RMS Beauty:
Instagram: @rmsbeauty
Made in: Charleston, SC
RMS beauty prides itself paraben-free makeup which is mineral based and contains no nanoparticles
Ilia Beauty:
Instagram: @iliabueaty
Made in: U.S.A
USDA certified organic, and gluten free. Ilia only uses natural preservatives like essential oils and tocopherols.
*Available at Sephora, Ulta, and at Ilia Beauty
Patch Tests (Skin-Prick Test):
A way to test if a product is well suited for your particular skin type is by getting a patch test.
A patch test is a diagnostic test that healthcare providers use to determine whether your skin reacts to certain substances. [2]
Patch testing helps to confirm an allergen in present and to identify the actual allergens which are chemical mixtures of various ingredients. This way you can easily avoid getting a product that contains your particular allergen.
For further insight on patch tests refer to this Mayo Clinic article.
( Via Cleveland Clinic )
Sustainable Packaging
Approximately 11 million tons of plastic enters the ocean every year (UNEP, 2025). That’s the equivalent of building the Great Wall of China over 4 times! The rate of plastic ending up in our oceans or landfills is increasing at an alarming rate, due to our single use culture and lack of biodegradable materials-ability to break down naturally-
Unfortunately, most cosmetic products are packaged with plastic that is not biodegradable. Seaweed packaging and using refillable products are effective ways to manage plastic waste and live a more eco-friendly life!
Seaweed Packaging:
When I was researching sustainable packaging I discovered Seaweed Packaging, and had to do more research on such a great alternative when it came to knowing more about environmentally friendly alternatives.
Seaweed has traditionally been consumed as food and ultimately in many medicinal practices, with its anti-inflammatory properties, however; it also serves as a great source of packing. Unlike traditional plastic, seaweed packaging is biodegradable and compostable. When disposed of, it breaks down into harmless substances, enriching the soil with nutrients rather than contributing to landfill waste. [3]
This video by Business Insider shares the relative process of converting regular seaweed into a plastic-like form for packaging. The video shares insight on how this seaweed plastic is edible (No promise it’ll taste good though..) Giant kelp can be transformed into a clear sheet used for packaging all products like candy wrappers, and food bags, to super-thin films.
Co-founder & CEO of Sway, Julia Marsh, and her team develop and test numerous batches of seaweed and try to mimic it into real plastic. Julia asserts the need to design climate-resilient employment opportunities for coastal communities that have been affected by overfishing and climate change; seaweed farming is ideal for that whilst also increasing the overall biodiversity.
Feel free to explore more about sway and the impact they have created on our planet. [11]
(Via "Sway The Future" )
Refillable Packaging
Refillable packaging is a seamless and easy way to incorporate an eco-friendly approach into your everyday life. In terms of cosmetics, refillable packaging is when you are finished using a product, instead of discarding it in the trash, you keep the packaging and just simply purchase a refill pack. Refills often come with significantly less packaging and are usually minimalistic as they only come with the product.
By implementing refillable packaging, we as consumers can drastically reduce the amount of product waste we create.
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Reference Page:
[1] (Australian Academy of Science. (2018, November 20). The chemistry of cosmetics. Curious;Nova.)
[2] (Clinic, C. (2025, April 21). A patch test is a type of allergytest to help find the cause of contact dermatitis (rashes). It involves taping allergenpatches to your back to test for reactions. Cleveland Clinic
[3] Beeswax Packaging: The Buzzworthy Sustainable Alternative | Pioneer Packaging Worldwide. (2023, March 27). Pioneer Packaging Worldwide.
[4] “Beeswax Balm - Fragrance Free.” Bee Cosmetics, 2024, www.beecosmetics.co.uk/products/beeswax-balm-fragrance-free?
[5] “Ceylon Virgin Coconut Oil – Ceyshine Corporation.” Ceyshine.com, 2021, ceyshine.com/product/authentic-ceylon-virgin-coconut-oil/. Accessed 3 July 2025.
[6]“100% Pure.” Facebook.com, 2022, www.facebook.com/100percentpure/. Accessed 3 July 2025.
[7] “RMS Beauty | All Natural Makeup & Skincare with Organic Ingredients.” RMS Beauty, www.rmsbeauty.com/.
[8] “Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream.” ILIA Beauty, 2024, iliabeauty.com/products/barrier-build-skin-protectant-cream. Accessed 3 July 2025.
[9] Grace, Robert. “Seaweed an Eco-Alternative to Single-Use Plastics Packaging.” Plastics Engineering, 3D Natives, 22 Apr. 2024,
[10] Zinovieva, Angelina. Gettyimages.com, 2022, www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image-film?
[11] “Impact.” Swaythefuture.com, 24 July 2023, swaythefuture.com/impact.