Ever since taking a class in college on the effects of endocrine disruptors, I have vowed to make conscious choices based on more research of the brand and ingredients in the everyday products I use. Ubiquitous chemicals including parabens and phthalates are found in many cosmetics, and avoiding them is no easy task. As I've mentioned in my Whole Foods Shampoo & Conditioner review, Skin Deep is a cosmetics database I refer to that is created by EWG to inform the public of potential hazards in a product. It's not the most comprehensive database, however, and often times the products I'm looking for are not listed. On one hand, I find myself giving in to a cosmetic product that received an unequivocal rating of 4-5 on the hazardous scale; and other times, I just want to give up buying makeup altogether and whip up a concoction of my own a la Crunchy Betty. In a perfect world, I wouldn't need to use anything to cover up blemishes, even out skin tone, or add color to my sickly winter complexion, because my skin would be perfect.
In reality, there are brands out there that have created products that answered the prayers of neurotic, conscious consumers like me. I had been eye-ing the products of W3LL People for a few months before buckling down to purchase their popular, Narcissist Stick Foundation. The brand was founded by a trio of a makeup-guru, an environmentalist, and a dermatologist, who came together to make products that are effective, natural and organic, and sustainable/environmentally-friendly. Talk about a triple threat! Replacing all the potentially harmful chemicals with all natural ingredients, their line of products include foundations, mineral powders, brushes, multi-use cheek and lip sticks, eye shadows and even an eyeliner. Since I was running out of foundation (I was trying to tide myself over with what I thought would be a drugstore dupe - Almay's Clear Complexion Concealer), I ordered the Narcissist Stick Foundation on beauty.com during their 20% off Friends and Family sale.
Keep reading for my thoughts on this product...
