BFR Blog

If you have ever shopped our awesome eye makeup at Beauty For Real, you may have noticed that our black mascara, Hi-Def Mascara, is paraben free. More and more cosmetics companies are moving away from products with parabens in them. You might have noticed “paraben-free” labels popped up left and right, but you may not know exactly why. In this blog, we will give the lowdown on what parabens are and why we don’t put them in our best-selling volumizing mascara.

What are parabens?

Parabens are preservatives that have been used in a variety of beauty products since the 1950s. These chemicals are used to prevent bacteria, fungus, and mold growth. From lotions to shampoos to lipsticks to eyeshadow, parabens are present in roughly 85 percent of all cosmetics, making them the most used type of preservative in makeup. This is because they are very cheap and have proven to be effective.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is that recent research has shown that paraben may have detrimental effects on our health. Specifically, the issue is that research into breast cancer has discovered the presence of parabens in breast cancer tumors. Parabens have the ability to mimic estrogen, and estrogen exposure has been linked to the development of breast cancer. Some scientists believe that the prevailing presence of parabens in cosmetics may be messing with our endocrine systems because repeated exposure to these chemicals is disrupting the estrogen receptors in our bodies. Some researchers believe that the prevalence of parabens is linked to the rising rates of breast cancer. While we don’t know for sure if parabens really cause cancer, recent studies have led some scientists to be concerned. For example, one Danish study recently discovered that after participants applied lotions with parabens to their skin, parabens were detected in their blood hours later. Because of the ubiquity of parabens, their estrogen-mimicking abilities, and our ability to quickly and effectively absorb them into our bodies, we should be concerned about the potential impact of parabens.

What to watch out for

If you are concerned about the effects of these chemicals like we are, luckily, you have alternatives. When shopping for any personal care items, check for “paraben-free” labels. Read the ingredients and look for the following chemicals: butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and anything else that ends in -paraben. As more and more consumers become aware of the potential problems with paraben, you will probably see more paraben-free options soon.

Better safe than sorry

In short, more research needs to be done on parabens to determine exactly how concerned we should be about their effects. While small amounts of parabens may be harmless, at Beauty For Real, we’d rather play it safe. After all, our mascara is going near your eye; who wants potentially toxic chemicals there?! We always aim for our products to be natural with as few ingredients as possible because we’re all about simplicity and quality.

When you need a volumizing mascara that won’t smudge and contains no parabens, shop Beauty For Real for one of our favorite products, Hi-Def Mascara.

Your makeup looks amazing when you first apply it in the morning, but by the time you get home at the end of the day, it looks like you didn’t even put any on! Fortunately, when you have the right products and techniques, you can have flawless makeup all day long. Read on for some tips for making your makeup last.

Prep your pores

The first step to ensuring your makeup lasts all day is exfoliation. When you exfoliate, you shed those pesky dead skin cells, leaving smooth skin behind. This allows you to apply your makeup evenly, which will in turn, last longer. Invest in a good exfoliating face scrub to use twice a week, and try our exfoliating lip scrub before one of our lip creams for flawless lip color that lasts all day.

Less is more

It might makes sense to you to layer your makeup to make it last longer, but this is actually counterproductive. When you add too much product to your face, it is more likely to smear and smudge. This is especially true for foundation, so always use a light hand (or even better, brush!). One way to accomplish this is by applying a thin layer with a brush, then using a sponge to absorb any excess product.

Use the right products

At Beauty For Real, we designed our makeup for real women who don’t have time to spend worrying all day about how their faces look. Our customers want to look beautiful when they apply makeup in the morning, and be able to feel confident they still look good at 3 p.m. That is why we design our makeup to be both easy to apply and long-lasting! For example, our formula for our blush/luminizer is specially designed to go on creamy for easy application, but dry as a powder to set. The key to makeup that lasts all day is using the right products that are designed for all-day wear. Whether you use our black eyeliner, our water resistant mascara, or our long-lasting lip liner, you are bound to look flawless all day long.

Don’t get too touchy

We all do it: at some point today, without thinking about it, you touched your face. This is not the end of the world, but you should definitely avoid touching your face when you can. Not only are you spreading germs and allergens and clogging your pores, you’re also ruining your makeup. It doesn’t matter if you are using the best long-wear makeup money can buy; if you keep rubbing, picking at, and putting your hands on your face, you are going to lose some makeup along the way. Do yourself a favor and keep those paws off yourself!

Set it up

If you really need your makeup to look perfect after hours of wear, you may want to set it with a translucent powder or a setting spray. Applying a light layer of translucent powder with a soft makeup brush gives you the staying power of a powder without messing with your makeup. Alternatively, setting sprays are designed to keep your makeup in place all day long. After you have done with your makeup, spritz your face and head out the door. At Beauty For Real, our long-lasting makeup lets you put your best face forward, even hours after application! From exfoliating lip scrub to long-lasting lip cream to waterproof eyeliner, shop all of our makeup essentials today.