Chemo question

November 26, 2005 12:20 PM

Chemofilter: Does anyone know or have used some good make-up (i.e. eye-liner, foundation, mascara etc.) that is organic?

I'm posting this for my daughter who is going through chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer and she is looking for some make-up that is organic based and free of chemicals. Thanks for taking time to answer, it's much appreciated.

posted by alteredcarbon to clothing, beauty, & fashion (10 comments total)

Have you asked her doctors? I ask because when having radiation I was given a list of specific brands of cosmetic products I should and shouldn't use. They might have a similar list for chemo. If they don't, maybe the American Cancer Society does.

For foundation, you might try mineral foundations.
posted by duck at 12:26 PM on November 26, 2005

I don't wear makeup (because, ya know, I'm a guy), but Burt's Bees makes a ton of cosmetics and is fairly widely distributed in health food stores.
posted by mkultra at 12:49 PM on November 26, 2005

I believe The Body Shop may suit your needs. Good luck to you and your daughter!
posted by terrapin at 12:51 PM on November 26, 2005

I work for a health food/supplement distribution company in Canada, and one of the products that we deal with is Suncoat. The owner of our company is pretty fastidious in choosing products that are naturally and environmentally sound. I notice that their website hasn't been updated recently, as they've just introduced a hairspray and a foundation that comes in four shades. Stores that sell Suncoat are very happy with the quality and cleanliness of the whole line.

To the best of my knowledge, Suncoat isn't distributed in the US, but you can order it online from the company. It's possible that they may redirect you to our company for orders, I'm not sure. If you wanted samples before you bought any product from them, Suncoat may be able to give some to you, again I'm not sure. If not, then email me and I'll see what I can do.

Disclaimer: I stand to make absolutely NO money from this. The ONLY reason I mention my company is because we have distribution rights in Canada, which is why I'm familiar with it.
posted by Zack_Replica at 12:59 PM on November 26, 2005

I buy mineral cosmetics from Aromaleigh, however they're natural, not organic, so I'm not entirely sure if that's what you're looking for. Their customer service has always been good to me,and there are sample sizes for almost anything. I imagine you could email them with any questions.
Chemo Chicks also sells makeup on their site, though a quick skim didn't show me whether or not it was organic or natural...
posted by oneirodynia at 1:03 PM on November 26, 2005

Bare Minerals. This stuff kicks ass.
posted by fshgrl at 4:04 PM on November 26, 2005

Kiss My Face organic products are really nice. I like the way the soap smells, and their mascara works very well; the price point is right for me. I also like Avalon Organics (the body wash smells intense and amazing) if you're looking for skin care or lotions.

Aveda's lipsticks last a long time, and they taste like clove oil. I also use their foundation and like their eyeshadow lines. If you have an Aveda salon near you, they're wonderful about free mini-makeovers so you can test products yourself. Dr Hauschka products are expensive but they're great. I have a friend bring them home from Germany, which saves me some money.
posted by hamster at 6:41 PM on November 26, 2005

Sorry about the crappy html...
posted by hamster at 6:42 PM on November 26, 2005

Thank you all for your answers. Very appreciated. hamster, heh, no worries mate, the whole thing could have been a link and I'd not care. Thanks.
posted by alteredcarbon at 11:10 PM on November 26, 2005

One thing I'd add (also being a guy who went through chemo and not wearing makeup) - on the Body Shop suggestion. If you go to any store like that, leave your daughter at home. Strong smells were even stronger for me and, other than candle tores, the Body Shop was the worst at making me woozy and ill. They may have good products, but they have a lot of them in a tiny place with no ventilation. Oy.
posted by Moondoggie at 7:10 AM on November 27, 2005