We think it’s safe to say that as soon as you find out you’re expecting, your whole world gets turned upside down. And that should include your beauty choices too.

Chances are, seeing that positive pregnancy test has propelled you into clean living mode—swapping your regular cleaning products for non-toxic options and spending that little bit extra to buy organic when you’re at the supermarket. But did you check the contents of your makeup bag?

Unfortunately, those pretty tubes and fancy palettes could be filled with chemicals that might affect your growing baby, and even products with labels like “natural” and “organic” could contain harmful ingredients thanks to the common practice of greenwashing. And since your skin absorbs about 60 percent of what you put on it, a re-think of your kit could be definitely in order.

Check those ingredient lists

The best place to start is by reading the fine print on packaging and labels. Lists are always ordered from largest to smallest in terms of ingredient quantity, and the first three things listed will be the most active. Also, the smaller the list, the less likely you are to have a reaction. Ingredients to avoid if at all possible are:

• Parabens. These preservative agents (also known as propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben and methylparabens) are used in many foundation and lipstick formulas to keep them from growing bacteria. Parabens have been associated with developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disruptions in babies because they can be passed on to the foetus.
• Retinol. This form of vitamin A (also known as retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinoic acid, and tretinoin) can also be found in foundations and lipstick, specifically those labeled as “anti-ageing.” Too much vitamin A has been linked to foetal malformation and even early-term miscarriages. It is best to avoid it completely.
• Fragrance. Incredibly, some companies lump potentially hazardous substances under the guise of the innocent-sounding “fragrance”. These are some examples of what could be lurking in your makeup undetected: phthalates associated with reproductive system defects in baby boys; octoxynols, another group of hormone disruptors; citral, eugenol, coumarin, and geraniol—chemicals that may increase chances of allergies and contact dermatitis.

Important chemicals to avoid

Others on the suspicious list include Triclosan, Bisphenol A (BPA), Formaldehyde and Toluene, Formaldehyde, in particular, being linked to cancer. If you get to work removing these ingredients from your daily life now, you’ll be all set to live a lot cleaner going forward.

How to clean up your kit

Let’s start with lipstick, which is the one makeup item in particular that you directly ingest. Did you know most lipstick is partially eaten by women within one hour of its application? A little gross, but true. It directly goes into your stomach and the chemicals get absorbed during the digestion process. 

We’ve all heard horror stories about some of the more suspicious-sounding ingredients to be found in many big brand lipstick formulas, so be sure to choose your lipsticks and glosses with care. Look for lip products that have moisturising ingredients like shea butter or coconut oil near the top of their ingredient deck, and avoid anything that makes your lips feel super dry after a few hours’ wear.

With Aleph’s Cheek/Lip Tints you have nothing to worry about, with cocoa seed butter playing a major role in their comfort factor along with clean, natural ingredients chosen for their ability to protect against environmental toxins and regenerate cellular energy. Cocoa butter is a healthy source of fatty acids and very protective on skin exposed to very cold, or very hot temperatures, particularly from indoor heating or sun damage, so a lip-loving treat. And with Aleph you don’t have to compromise on colour payoff either – their newest shade, Sangha, is stunning vintage red designed to suit most skin tones that lasts and lasts. They are also multi-use, so a great replacement for your old blusher and bronzer.

If you’re a fan of highlighters, Aether’s Cheek Palettes are a clean beauty revelation. A best-seller is the Crystal Charged Cheek Palette, which comes with two soft-focus blushes and one luminous highlighter that builds effortlessly and blends seamlessly.

When it comes to eyes, Aether does the most magical palettes that are also super easy to use and perform beautifully when it comes to pigment. Formulated with Organic Coconut Oil and Organic Shea Butter to create an uber smooth, buttery texture for one swipe application, the ingredient deck also includes Organic Lavender Oil to help reduce the appearance of redness and soothe the skin.