challenges, new discoveries, and changes. Don’t know where to start? Subscribe to places of wellness and the health of black women in mind. BlackDoctor.org, Vibrate Higher Daily, Black Girl in Om, OmNoire, and JackieGLDN are just a few of a vast array of online communities and support systems with a wealth of knowledge.
4. Utilize The Internet
The good news is that yes, there are all natural beautiful and bold lipsticks and makeup out there for you to consume. They just aren’t readily available to the masses. If you must have something, go for water or plant-based products. Many products can be found at your local health food store or sites like BLK + GRN and storefront/e-commerce brand, Vivrant Beauty.
Don’t know where to start? Look into EWG’ Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. This site is a platform that takes your store-bought products and sends them through a hazardous and toxic testing process. Each product is taken through a rigorous screening test and categories them into 17 general hazard categories: cancer, reproductive/developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption potential, allergies/immunotoxicity, restrictions/warnings, organ system toxicity, persistence/bioaccumulation, multiple/additive exposure, mutations, cellular/biochemical changes, ecotoxicity, occupational hazards, irritation, absorption, impurities, and miscellaneous.
They then assign each product a score between 0 and 100 based on the weight of evidence. For example, a “known human carcinogen” is assigned a 100 for the cancer category while a “probable human carcinogen” is given a much lower score of 55. If you have some time on your hands, this site will be a bible to your holistic beauty journey.
5. Think Positive
Have fun with it! There are so many cool products and brands now available and completely dedicated to you and your well-being. Feel special and grateful for this exact moment in time. Our ancestors were forced for years to take the “lesser than” option. Our decisions are now fully in our own hands. Make this a new and exciting chapter in your life. Think of it as you finally making room for your soul and inner beauty to take flight and glow.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.