You wouldn’t put food with hundreds of chemical additives into your body, so why would you put products laced with them onto your skin?

The Environmental Working Group reports that there are 10,500 unique ingredients commonly used in cosmetic products, only 11 percent of which have been tested for safety. Formaldehyde, methylene chloride, acetone and PVP are all harmful chemicals that might be lurking in your foundation, eyeshadow, mascara or nail polish.

It’s estimated that 80 percent of everything applied to your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. For women who use chemical-containing cosmetics every day, multiple times a day, for years on end—this means cells, tissues and organs face dangerous repeated exposure to toxic substances.

Leaving skin au naturel is your best option. But if you need something to even your skin tone or enhance looks, mineral makeup is the next best thing. Made from organic, finely crushed minerals such as mica powder, iron oxides and titanium dioxide, mineral makeup is not only safe—it actually protects and nourishes skin.

Mineral makeup contains no chemical additives, synthetic fragrances or dyes, alcohol, talc or oils. It’s also easy to apply. Because of the small size of the granules, it has a lightweight feel and blends in well, providing natural-looking coverage while still allowing skin to breathe. It also has moisture-regulating properties, locking in moisture when needed but also absorbing pore-clogging excess oil.

Vitacost.com carries several popular brands of mineral makeup at discounted prices. It couldn’t hurt to give it a try—just enter “mineral makeup” in the Search Box on our home page.