Non Toxic,
Lead Free, Petroleum Free, Miessence Organic Makeup
Organic
Cosmetics Made With Natural Ingredients
to Enhance Your Natural Beauty
Is Your Make Up Aging Your
Skin and Making You Sick?
It is a medically recognized fact that our body absorbs significant amounts of
what we put on our skin. Yet, one third of all personal care products
contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens.
Women are unknowingly exposing themselves to some 100 chemicals every morning when applying make up. In
fact, many lipsticks, creams, eye shadows, foundations, nail polish and
perfumes have been regularly found to contain toxic chemicals known to cause
infertility and cancer.
Did you know? 89% of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products
have NOT been evaluated for safety.
Yet, according to the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) Handbook, which is the "bible" of regulations and
standards laid down in the United States for the manufacture of food and drugs,
including cosmetic and skin care products,
cosmetic manufacturers are not required to register with the FDA. The
result is that nearly all commercial makeup products are contaminated with a
variety of harmful ingredients.
1,4-Dioxane Petroleum-derived Contaminant
1,4-Dioxane is a petroleum-derived
contaminant, which is considered to be a probable human carcinogen by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and a clear-cut animal carcinogen by
the National Toxicology Program. Also, it is on California’s
Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to
cause cancer or birth defects. Because it is a contaminant produced
during manufacturing, the FDA does not require it to be listed as an
ingredient on product labels. (read
more)
Parabens in Cosmetics
Cosmetics contain many different kinds of chemicals, but of particular
concern are a group of preservatives called parabens, which by some
estimates are found in 99% of all "'leave-on" cosmetics, and 77% of "rinse-off" cosmetics.Parabens are known hormone disruptors, which evidence suggests can mimic the
female hormone oestrogen, and a lifetime of increased exposure to oestrogen
is linked to a heightened risk of breast cancer. One study found parabens
present in 18 out of 20 breast cancer tissue samples (though it is important
to note that the study did not prove they'd actually caused the breast
cancer). Parabens are also thought to adversely affect male reproductive
functions.
"I never in a million years thought I could be exposed to chemicals
which could damage me through my make-up.
Make-up makes me feel good and it wouldn't have even crossed my mind
that it could be doing me harm." --
Charlotte Kohl (read article)
Phthalates in Cosmetics
A recent study by the Women's Environmental Network in conjunction with
the Swedish Study for Nature Conservation found that four out of five
popular beauty products they tested contained chemicals called phthalates -
pronounced 'thalates'.
Phthalates have been found to harm the liver, kidneys, lungs and
reproductive system, especially developing sex organs in males. It can also
cause premature breast development in girls, low sperm counts in men and
cause the testicles to waste away.
Two phthalates are already banned in the European Union from being used
in chewable plastic toddlers' toys because of the risk to developing
reproductive organs. But women could still be absorbing a range of different
phthalates through their beauty products and risking the health of their
unborn children. An American study found that every single man and woman
they studied contained traces of dibutyl phthalate. The levels of this
phthalate were particularly high in women between the ages of 20 and 45,
largely due to the fact that they use more cosmetic products than men. (read
article)
Lead in Cosmetics
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that a significant
proportion of lipstick manufactured in the United States and used by
millions of American women contains surprisingly high levels of lead.
According to new product tests, 61 percent of brand-name lipsticks
tested contained detectable levels of lead, which can be toxic if
ingested. (read article)
Did you know? The FDA grants approval to some
lead-containing colorants used in most lipsticks.
Mercury in Cosmetics
Here's what the FDA's handbook on
mercury in
cosmetics states:
"Mercury compounds are
readily absorbed through the skin on topical application and tend to
accumulate in the body. They may cause allergic reactions, skin
irritation, or neurotoxic manifestations. The use of mercury
compounds as cosmetic ingredients is limited to eye area cosmetics
at concentrations not exceeding 65 parts per million (0.0065 percent) of
mercury calculated as the metal (about 100 ppm or 0.01 percent
phenylmercuric acetate or nitrate) and provided no other effective and
safe preservative is available for use."
Nitrosamines in Cosmetics
And this from the FDA handbook:
"Cosmetics containing as
ingredients amines or amino derivatives, particularly diethanolamine or triethanolamine, may form nitrosamines if they also contain an
ingredient which acts as a nitrosating agent as, for example,
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol, Onyxide 500),
5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane (Bronidox C) or
tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane (Tris Nitro), or if they are
contaminated with a nitrosating agent, e.g., sodium nitrite. Amines and
their derivatives are mostly present in creams, cream lotions, hair
shampoos and cream hair conditioners. The nitrosation may occur
during manufacture or during product storage.
"Many nitrosamines have been
determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals. They have also been
shown to penetrate the skin. Nitrosamine contamination of cosmetics
became an issue in early 1977. In a study of 29 cosmetic creams and
lotions, N-Nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) was determined in 27.
"FDA has urged cosmetic
manufacturers to voluntarily remove from the cosmetic any ingredient which
may combine with others to form NDELA and to conduct additional testing
to determine why cosmetics become contaminated with NDELA."
In other words, cosmetic
manufacturers can do as they please. But wait, there's more harmful
chemicals that the FDA suggests manufactures should avoid, but doesn't
require them to eliminate:
"Because of its neurotoxic
effect and ability to penetrate human skin, hexachlorophene (HCP) may be
used only when an alternative preservative has not been shown to be as
effective."
The FDA handbook lists more
hazardous chemicals that are prohibited as cosmetic ingredients EXCEPT when
unintentional contamination occurs due to the manufacturing process, yet there is
nothing in place to regulate the manufacturing process to prevent the
contamination:
- Bithionol because of its likelihood of
causing photo-contact sensitization.
- Halogenated salicylanilides (di-, tri-,
metabromsalan and tetrachlorosalicylanilide) because of their potential
for causing photocontact sensitization.
- Chloroform because of its animal
carcinogenicity and likely hazard to human health.
- Vinyl chloride as an ingredient of
aerosol products because of its carcinogenic effect in humans and
animals.
- Zirconium-containing complexes in
aerosol cosmetic products because of their toxic effect on lungs,
including granulomas.
- Methylene chloride because of its animal
carcinogenicity and likely hazard to human health.
And that's just a small sampling
of what you are putting on your face every day.
With certified organic food rapidly becoming the nutrition of choice by the
health conscious amongst us, why would you accept any less for your skin?
There are things
you can
do to protect yourself from the hazards of cosmetic contamination. For
starters, here is additional reading to help you know what you are really
putting on your face every day:
*
Download Acrobat PDF Reader
Miessence Lead Free, Petroleum Free,
Chemical Free
Non-Toxic Organic Cosmetics

At last, there is a non toxic,
chemical- and lead-free make-up choice. Miessence Organics includes chemical-free,
non toxic, all natural make up made with certified organic cosmetic
ingredients. Miessence make up is an organic alternative to the
undesirable toxic ingredients in most cosmetics. Miessence make up
is energized with the vitality of clean (pesticide-free) and potent
ingredients, using only certified organic cold-pressed and unrefined oils
and therapeutic grade herb and flower extracts freshly pressed from
certified organic fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and flowers, retaining all the
vitamins, minerals and other bioactive nutrients. Miessence "all natural"
cosmetic products contain absolutely NO synthetic detergents, artificial
preservatives, colors or fragrances, petroleum by-products, tar derivatives
or genetically modified ingredients. Nor are any of these ingredients tested on
animals.
"I recently purchased the Miessence translucent
foundation, lip cream in nutmeg, jaffa lip balm and mascara and I am
very impressed with the ingredients used in your products. I barely get
any pimples and much less redness on my face compared to the old
products I used to use." -- Kristy M, Victoria, Australia
Miessence Has Signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics
Organic and Natural Enterprise Group (ONE Group - Miessence)
has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics sponsored by the
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics,
pledging to not use chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of
causing cancer, mutation or birth defects in their products, and to implement
substitution plans that replace hazardous materials with safer alternatives
in every market they serve. Read more about ONE Group, the manufacturer of
Miessence and about the
benefits of using Miessence
Organic Make-up.
NOTE: If the label says:
-
100% Organic.
The product contains only organically-produced ingredients. It may bear
the USDA Organic seal.
-
Organic. The product
contains at least 95% organic ingredients. The USDA Organic seal may be
used.
-
Made with Organic
Ingredients. Contains at least 70% organic ingredients. The product
does not qualify to carry the USDA organic seal.
All Miessence Organic cosmetic products are made with
70% or greater organic ingredients, except Jaffa Lip Balm, which is
certified organic and bears the USDA seal. Ingredients not certified
organic are either wild-crafted or are natural minerals not subject to
certification.
What's So Special About Miessence
Products?
Read more about the manufacturer of Miessence:
Organic and Natural Enterprises Group (ONE
Group).
Order Toll FREE at 866-875-4386
(USA and Canada Only. All others call 503-537-0636 PST)
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