The best cruelty free makeup brands – interview with Shannon Rasheed
Hello beautiful
Do you ever get confused with all the different cruelty free, eco-friendly, vegan… makeup brands out there and which ones to buy? I know I do, and I spent 20 years working as a celebrity makeup artist.
Cosmetic brands are doing a fantastic job with marketing. They use all the key buzz words which draw consumers to them in the first place. But do they really work like the brands we have all been using for the past 20+ years?
become a conscious consumer
During my time working in the fashion and film industry I had 2 simple requirements for any makeup I used. 1. The pigments had to be pure — not diluted with filler ingredients and, 2. they had to last. Meaning, they had to hold up against the bright lights used on set and our long shoot days.
I didn’t know back then how toxic some of the ingredients were in cosmetics, so choosing ‘natural’ alternatives wasn’t one of my requirements. But the more I learned about Stella’s disease and how the tiniest things could potentially impact her health, the more I started to see the relationship between the the products we used and their side affects.
When Stella was 3 she had a rash all over her body that I tried to hydrate and soothe with body lotion. Little did I know it was the laundry detergent we were using that caused the rash, but then the lotion I used to try and soothe it was full of artificial fragrances and other chemicals that it only made it worse.
These were the days when I bought products because they ‘smelled’ nice. I had no idea some of the ingredients and fragrance added were so toxic and caused skin irritation, severe skin rashes, allergies, headaches and so many other health problems.
I remember taking Stella to the hospital for one of her prolonged seizures and at one point the nurses were more concerned with the eczema on her foot, you see her foot was so inflamed it looked like she was wearing a bright pink sock.
All my good intentions to help my daughters skin rashes and eczema were making the problem worse. At one point she developed oral dermatitis, and for the longest time I thought it was a reaction to food, but it ended up being her toothpaste. Who would have thought toothpaste could cause problems? This is why you have to be a conscious consumer and read the ingredients on all the products you buy.
knowledge is power
So, naturally I dug even deeper. I wondered if the physical symptoms I was seeing were just a sliver of her health condition. What if some of the toxic ingredients were also wrecking havoc on her emotions and cognition too. I removed all artificially fragranced products from our home and her cognition improved. It was as though a light bulb had just turned on and her personality started to shine. She no longer complained of headaches and her post-nasal drip vanished.
When you pay closer attention to the ingredients you use, it’s frightening how nasty some of them are. But you have the power to say ‘No thank you’. You have the power to choose a healthy alternative.
Read this post to learn more about 5 toxic ingredients commonly used in personal care products.
good news
The good news is that there are incredible non-toxic brands on the market that work just as well as your typical department store brands. To learn more about natural beauty products read this post.
Since, I’m no longer active in the industry, and purchase makeup only for myself, I turned to a good friend who is an expert in the field.
Shannon and I were both represented by the same Hair and Makeup agency in Los Angeles and we often overlapped clients. What I love about Shannon is her commitment to using healthier makeup products while still maintaining the flawless look expected from a makeup artist.
Some of my favorite products made Shannons list for quality and the impact they have on our health. But she shares so many more of her favorites for both personal and professional use, so keep reading.
Interview with Shannon
Q: What does a pro look for in beauty products?
A: As a pro artist you are looking for products that perform. They should be easy to use, good color range, get the results they promise , have strong pigment ( a little goes a long way) and stay put. I also like to use products that are safe for myself and my clients.
Q: Do you notice a difference in industry standard with the healthier alternatives vs. the products we’ve all known and used for years?
A: Yes I do notice a difference in the industry. I came up as a makeup artist with brands like Bobbi Brown, Nars and MAC cosmetics to name a few. These were all powerful brands because they were created by makeup artists and had all the above qualities we as artists looked for in a brand. Now there is a shift. Makeup artists as well as the public want safer products that are also cruelty free and or vegan. We are searching for alternatives that will perform but are also safe. The FDA barely regulates the 3 billion dollar beauty industry and to date there are only 11 ingredients banned in beauty products in the US. Europe bans 1500. SO, we are looking for honest companies .
Q: I know you are sent products to try, do you have any personal favorites?
A: I do have a few favorites at the moment. BeautyCounter, Kosas and RMS Beauty. They are all clean luxury brands.
Kosas products are egg free, cruelty free and leaping bunny certified. They do not use parabens, phthalates, BHA/BHT, Mineral oil, Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, petrolatum, Vitamin A, retinoids or retinoid derivatives. I love their concealer, foundation oil , cheek colors, 10 second shadow and lipsticks.
BeautyCounter (Shannon is a big fan and representative) they’re leading the clean beauty movement and are completely transparent with their ingredient list. Currently they ban 1,800.00 harmful ingredients. They do offer vegan products but not everything in their line vegan. My favorite BeautyCounter makeup products are Skin Twin and Dew Skin foundations, eyeshadows, blush, bronzers, concealer and the matifying powder. The color intense lipsticks and glosses are to die for!
Vapour beauty is also one to look into. Their creamy concealers are a crowd pleaser.
RMS Beauty products are free of harmful chemicals, synthetic preservatives, synthetic vitamins, and genetically modified ingredients (GMO) etc. Their products are full of healing nutrients that work synergistically with the skin, and are in harmony with nature and our environment. Also, cruelty free , gluten free, soy free. The creme shadows are packed with pigment and the colors are divine. I love their lipsticks and luminizers. This entire line is gorgeous and the ingredient list is totally transparent.
Q: Can we take a peek into your makeup bag? What are your must haves?
A: In my makeup bag you will find what is called Flawless in Five from BeautyCounter. The set comes with a mascara, brow gel or pencil ( I use the pencil) blush, skin twin foundation (with hyaluronic acid to keep your skin looking plump and dewy) or Dew skin foundation, concealer and lip gloss. I also have the GoBeYou serum that I like to put on before my primer. It’s amazing and gives you a fresh clean glow. I have a Kosas blush in 8th muse for an extra pop of color and glow, as well as the Kosas 10 second shadow in Globe. Globe is a glowy brown shadow that is perfect for everyday and looks great on everyone. One more must have is the Heir Atelier primer. I apply this after my serum and before the foundation. The primer keeps your makeup in place and adds a fresh radiance to your skin. I call it my red carpet sheen:) My makeup bag is very simple because I don’t like to spend more than 10 minutes on my own makeup.
Q: When on set, what healthier products other than makeup do you use?
A: The products I use on set other than makeup would be Weleda Skin food moisturizer, GoBeYou Skin Serum, Heir Atelier Primer, French girl organics Lumiere Bronze shimmer oil and Rose lip scrub. Beautycounter Body oil in Citrus Rosemary and Body lotion in Citrus Mimosa as well as the Counter Sun mineral Sunscreen for outdoor shoots. I always have a PawPaw lip balm and Skin Trip Coconut body lotion for a lotion alternative. BeautyCounter Counter+eye revive cooling masks and makeup remover wipes are also essential.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
A: Honestly, there are so many amazing products and brands available that we no longer have to sacrifice quality, color or performance for safer options.
Q: Where can my readers reach you for more info or to see your fabulous portfolio?
A: I am more than happy to help any of your readers for more specific needs. I can be reached on insta: shannonrasheedbeauty or www.Shannonrasheed.com. My BeautyCounter link is www.beautycounter/shannonrasheed
I’d love to hear from you. What are your favorite non-toxic and cruelty free products? You can email me at hello@amanastansfield.com, tag me on instagram or shoot me a message on facebook.
XO
Amanda