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Know What's in Your Makeup

Know What’s in Your Makeup  Of course, you always want your makeup to perform, after all, you’ve got places to go and people to see and you can’t be looking shiny or patchy! Having said that, your makeup is sitting on your face for hours on end, so the last thing you want is for it to be packed with ingredients that are not only bad for your skin, but bad for the environment. Be honest, do you know what your makeup is made of? If you’re anything like us, you’re a bit obsessed with the ingredients that are going on your face and body. That’s why we’re going to do a deep dive into makeup ingredients to avoid and the ones you should be reaching for instead. Time to get your magnifying glass out and take a look at the ingredients in your makeup… Top Ingredients to Avoid Parabens Parabens are preservatives and get a really bad wrap in the cosmetics world, and for good reason. They can really mess with your hormones.  Now take a deep breath. Most cosmetics, if they contain parabens, contain only a very small amount, but they can be quite irritating for those of us with sensitive skin, so best to avoid butyl, propyl and ethyl parabens where possible. Non-Natural Fragrances  Some cosmetic brands like to throw ‘fragrance’ in the ingredients list, but here’s an insider secret: that is just a fancy word for a whole bunch of chemicals in makeup that have a scent. Oftentimes, these chemicals are not disclosed and could be causing some serious irritation. Our products contain no synthetic fragrances because caring for your skin is way more important than what it smells like.  Phthalates Speaking of fragrances, phthalates are chemicals in makeup often found under the guise of perfumes. In some extreme cases, it can cause cancers and disrupt hormones. Plus, it is harmful to the environment as it can accumulate in waterways and aquatic animals. No thanks!  It is slowly being phased out, thank goodness, but it is still worth being cautious of synthetic fragrances. Other names it could be hiding under include DEP, DBP or DEHP. Formaldehyde Releasers Formaldehyde is a known carcinogenic and can cause allergies and sensitivity. It is rarely found in cosmetics, but some ingredients can decompose and release formaldehyde. Eeek! The makeup ingredients known to commonly release formaldehyde include DMDM hydantoin, bronopol and diazolidinyl urea, so best to avoid these. Certain Sulfates  Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are makeup ingredients to avoid. They can cause sensitivity, irritation, reactions, allergies and the dreaded acne. Definitely makeup ingredients to say “see ya” to.  What to Look For In Makeup  Now onto the good news: there are some really great ingredients in cosmetics out there.  PONi Cosmetics products are formulated with only the best ingredients so you don’t need to worry about any risk to your health or any skin sensitivity. Our gorgeous PONi customers come first, always!  Our Lip Magic Balm is rich in ingredients like castor oil to protect your lips and deeply moisturise them. No quick reliefs here, just long-lasting nourishment.  Our White Knight Mascara and Lash and Brow Growth Serum contain biotin, and here at PONi HQ, we’re big fans. It is a natural hair growth stimulator, helping promote full lashes and brows. Seriously, you’re going to wonder how you survived without biotin before.  Cruelty-Free Ingredients  We’re always proud to say that our products are all cruelty-free, meaning we never, ever test on animals. We could be biased, but we would only use cruelty-free makeup - there’s no real need to test on animals, so why would we?  You might also be on the hunt for vegan makeup if you want to make animal welfare a focus of your makeup routine (we love to see it!). In the skin care world, that means the product contains no animal products including beeswax, lanolin or gelatin, just as some examples.  The important thing to remember is that products can be vegan without being cruelty-free. Likewise, they can be cruelty-free without being vegan. So if you want complete animal welfare to be a priority of your makeup bag, look for products that are both! We work hard to create cosmetics that are free from any nasty ingredients so you can love the way they perform and how they treat your skin. If you want to know more, chat to our customer service team or check out the list of ingredients on each product. Shop our full range here. Want to learn more about the makeup you love?  Makeup: Expectations vs Reality 6 Reasons We Love Cruelty Free Makeup What is Tubing Mascara?