Sound your buzzer when applicable:

a) Oh, sure! There's a bit of glycerin here and a pinch of dimethicone there... in fact, the contents of my foundation bottle and I are extremely chummy, you know!
b) Um... brown, life-saving, helps-me-to-appear-alive-in-the-mornings liquid?
c) Foundation? What?! What's with these questions?! Isn't this the set of Deal Or No Deal?!

If you selected answer c), then no! (Third door on the right.) If you selected answer b), then hey, you and me both; and if you resonated with selection a) then gosh, you're FAR more knowledgeable on this subject than I am, because my favourite bottle of foundation could contain television remotes and GARGOYLES for all that I know! Or at least, for what I used to know.

Upon the realisation that I knew absolutely nothing about one of my favourite beauty products and its contents, I decided to poke around and see what I could learn... good, bad, or ugly!

The Ingredients Which Made Me Think ''Oh, So THAT'S How That Works!''

Cyclopentasiloxane (Or CPS)

Cyclopentasiloxane (or COS) is one of the many types of silicones used in cosmetics. In general, it's known for its ability to lubricate, waterproof and provide sheen. It's water-thin so that it has a light texture, ensuring that your skin doesn't feel weighed down after a product containing it is applied. (Isn't that nice?)

Sodium Chloride

Sodium Chloride increases the thickness of the water portion of cosmetics and personal care products, and is also used in toothpaste to reduce oral odour and impart a particular flavour or taste to a product. Cle-ver!

Acrylates Copolymer

Humidity's arch nemesis, Acrylates Copolymer is an ingredient added to cosmetics and styling products to protect your face and hair against the effects of soaring temperatures. 

The Ingredients Which Slightly Raised My Beauty Alarms

Butylparaben

Butylparaben protects cosmetics and personal care products from the growth of yeast, mould and bacteria, and can be found in shampoos, conditioners, water-based styling aids, moisturisers, shaving gels, cleansing gels, personal lubricants and toothpaste. ''Ooh, well THAT doesn't sound too concerning'', you might be thinking. ''What have you got against little Butylparaben?!'' Well, nothing YET, but researchers are currently examining the link between its presence in make-up and breast cancer, as Butylparaben is often discovered in breast tumours. 

Aluminium Hyrdoxide

In cosmetics, Aluminium Hyrdoxide is used as a preservative because of its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, preventing various products from experiencing issues such as such as viscosity changes, pH changes, emulsion breakdown, colour changes and odour formation. More disconcerting, however, is the theory that aluminium may be associated with Alzheimer's Disease, as it has been found in the brains of deceased Alzheimer's patients.

Chlorphenesin

Chlorphenesin has been reported to cause irritation and skin dermatitis in many of its users, particularly those with sensitive and dry skin. This intrigued me, because despite the ridiculous amounts of gentle exfoliating and moisturising with various oils that I do, I still have a persistent patch of dry skin on my forehead which absolutely refuses to pack its bags and depart. Could my foundation be the culprit after all? (And here I was thinking that I had chosen the best possible option for my skin by using a mineral formula!) 

♥

Fling your foundation bottle out the bathroom window, we're all DOOMED! No, of course we're not, and the purpose of this article certainly wasn't to discourage you from slathering yourself silly in whatever your face desires! Rather, it was to encourage you to occasionally play the role of Beauty Detective and investigate what you're really putting on your face: are you satisfied with the contents of your products? Is there another which could serve you better? Is there a particular ingredient in your current brand of choice which could be inflaming a current skin ailment? How do you feel about your foundation and its ingredients?

xoxo