Pregnancy is often the time when women reassess their lifestyles, and beauty choices are a big part of that.

As a rule, most makeup is fine to use during pregnancy, but switching to a natural, mineral based option often helps with pregnancy skin, which is often unsettled and reactive during pregnancy.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What happens to your skin during pregnancy?
• What pregnancy safe makeup is
• Why natural mineral makeup is a great option to choose, to birth and beyond.

Pregnancy and Your Skin

Tumultuous hormones often lead to disrupted skin during pregnancy. It’s a myth that all women ‘glow’, especially during the first few months.

You may find your skin is:

• More reactive to ingredients like sulphates, or essential oils
• Becomes more prone to spots/blemishes
• Can develop darkened areas (called Melasma) that whilst not dangerous, can be embarrassing

You may also be acutely aware of the growing life inside you and feel strongly that you want to explore natural alternatives.

What is Pregnancy Safe Makeup?

There is no official definition for ‘pregnancy’ safe makeup but most experts agree that when pregnant, makeup needs to be:

• Free from artificial fragrance which can irritate
• Free from silicones which block the skin, and can be absorbed
• Free from animal ingredients like carmine, which is what gives lipstick the ‘red’ colour. This is made from crushed beetles, and every time you lick your lips, you eat it. Not necessarily harmful, but also not what you want to feed your tiny passenger!
• Free from ingredients with Vitamin A (a type of acid) that creates a ‘glow’ but can be harmful for baby
• Free from heavy metals
• Avoids allergens like wheat, soy, benzoates, sorbates and common nut oils
• Free from artificial dyes which can aggravate
• Rich in nourishing ingredients that support the skin
• Non comedogenic (acne making) which basically means letting your skin breath
• Organic – so uses the purest ingredients, used in the most effective way, sourced from nature

That’s why we advocate so heavily for natural mineral makeup during pregnancy. Ours is certified organic, natural and completely safe in pregnancy and beyond.

What Is Mineral Makeup?

Put simply, mineral makeup uses natural minerals, rather than artificial dyes, to make your makeup colourful.

The most common minerals are iron oxides, but silica, talc and mica might also be used.

What Is Organic Makeup Made Of?

Like mineral makeup, organic makeup uses mineral colours. However, genuine, certified organic makeup also follows strict rules on purity, ethics and eco-friendliness of the minerals and all other ingredients.

Typically organic makeup is made from organic plant oils, butters and waxes. It may also use natural plant dyes.

This matters during pregnancy when concerns about absorption are at their highest.

How Do I Know If Makeup is Mineral?

It will likely say mineral on the packaging.

Also check the ingredients list - if any of the CI (colour index) numbers are followed by a colour name and number - e.g. Green 1 or Blue 3, then that colour is artificial (not mineral) and usually coal-tar derived.

Mineral colours will just state CI and a five-digit number.

Mineral makeup has reached such levels of popularity that these days most makeup products include some minerals. But many use both mineral and artificial colours.

Why Should I Use Mineral Makeup During Pregnancy?

Mineral makeup is generally better for your skin, doesn’t block your pores (is non comedogenic), and can absorb excess sebum if you are prone to oiliness.

Most mineral makeup uses zinc oxide (CI 77947) which actively benefits the skin as it is a building block for skin repair and is antibacterial.

And mineral-only makeup avoids the synthetic dyes or ‘lakes’ that are derived from coal tar. These artificial colours are amongst the most well-known skin irritants and can be contaminated with toxic heavy metals like:

• Arsenic
• Beryllium
• Lead
• Nickel
• Thallium

*Note that mineral colour carries some risk of heavy metal contamination too, unless it is very pure, but the risk is generally lower than with synthetic dyes.*

Why Is Organic Makeup Better During Pregnancy?

With organic makeup you get all the benefits of mineral colour with the guarantee that the minerals are free from impurities and all ingredients are ethically sourced.

In addition, you won’t find any animal-testing, silicones, petrochemicals, artificial fragrance, harsh preservatives or GM-ingredients as they’re all banned under organic standards.

No artificial fragrance, PEGS, or harsh preservatives means there’s a lower risk of allergies with organic mineral makeup than just with mineral makeup alone.

Organic standards guarantee the ultimate ethical purchase - your makeup will be 100% cruelty free.

It goes without saying that organic standards prohibit animal testing, but lesser known is that animal biproducts like ‘carmine’ or ‘cochineal’ is a common ingredient in mainstream blushers and lipsticks.

Formulating without the artificial red lake dyes or carmine made it a challenge to create a lovely red lipstick, but we think we’ve come pretty close with our Cherry Tart!

And organic cosmetics are usually full of vitamin-rich plant oils, botanical butters and herbs - much healthier when you consider how much makeup you might apply over a lifetime and lipstick you lick off your lips!

That’s without even considering the environmental benefits of going organic.

Using organic ingredients helps to reduce the amount of polluting chemicals in the farming industry, protecting wildlife, and waterways, increasing biodiversity and reducing toxins in the earth.

There are, in sum, many reasons why organic makeup is better!

Is Mineral Makeup Cruelty-Free?

No, not necessarily. Mineral makeup may still contain animal derivatives like carmine / cochineal (crushed beetles) or silk / serica (made from silk worms).

Also brands that sell in bricks & mortar stores in mainland China are likely to still be testing on animals because it’s still law there to do so.

If that’s a concern for you during pregnancy, always look for an animal safe symbol like the PETA bunny.

You may wish to choose a vegan lipstick that has no animal by-products, but they can still be tested on animals, so don’t assume that vegan also means cruelty free.

Is Mineral Makeup Chemical Free and All-Natural?

No, not necessarily.

Mineral makeup only refers to the colours used and not the other ingredients. ‘Mineral’ brands can still contain plasticisers, phthalates, silicones, petroleum derivatives, artificial fragrance and preservatives like parabens or methylchloroisothiazolinone (MI).

Always check your ingredients – we’re ‘Free From’ in most cases, which means our ingredients are free of these.

Is Mineral Makeup Safe During Pregnancy?

This very much depends on the brand.

Unless it is certified organic and has thus passed strict purity criteria, ‘mineral’ makeup could still be contaminated with heavy metal impurities or contain ingredients that some people might want to avoid like phthalates, silicones, mineral oil, artificial fragrance and preservatives.

There are a few mineral colours like bismuth oxychloride which are linked to health concerns (but banned under organic standards).

How Do I Know If My Pregnancy Makeup Is Organic?

There are very few certified organic makeup brands, and the genuine ones will carry a symbol or mark on the packaging of the Soil Association, Ecocert, ICEA, Cosmos, Natrue, USDA, Australian Organic or NOP. Odylique’s makeup is certified organic by the Soil Association.

Which Makeup Brands Don’t Contain Heavy Metals?

Any brand whose makeup is certified organic will have the highest degree of mineral purity.

Brands that use coal tar derived colours, or mineral colours that are not certified to organic standards, may be contaminated with heavy metals.

Pregnancy Safe Mineral and Organic Makeup At Odylique

Here at Odylique we’ve spent years developing groundbreaking makeup formulations and carefully choosing incredibly pure ingredients.

Our range of certified organic makeup includes lead-free lipstick,caring concealers,gentle mascara, and flattering eyeshadows all made with at least 8 beautiful botanicals.

We have taken particular care to avoid wheat, soy, benzoates, sorbates and common nut oils so that our makeup is compatible with the most reactive skin.

Want To Try Our Mineral Makeup?

We only source the kindest ingredients from trusted suppliers who don’t practice unethical or cruel methods of farming, which is why we are able to label every single one of our products cruelty free!

Use code: Makeup20 at the checkout for 20% off your order! - *Limited to one use per customer*

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More Advice?

If you’re pregnant or buying for someone who is and need any help choosing your makeup, or have further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Email us – customercare@odylique.co.uk

Call - 01638 491022

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