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Ingredients: The Nitty Gritty

No matter how immersed in the world of beauty you are – there’s always going to be gaps in your knowledge. I can reel off the whole of the Essie line and correctly predict what nail polish you’re wearing in just three guesses, posses an innate knowledge of each beauty blogger’s current favourite base product and probably ace a pop-quiz on this seasons makeup launches – but when it comes to ingredients it gets a little patchy. Being completely self-taught in this realm, it was an all too often occurrence that I’d pick up a product I liked the look of and slap it on without so much of a read of the blurb – but I’ve given myself a slap on the wrist, got my pen and notepad at the ready and I’m taking it into my own hands. Ingredients – I’m coming for ya’ - and I’m ready to get down to the nitty gritty.

Now I’ve only just scratched the surface on this underworld of beauty so here’s a list of sites that have found their way onto my bedtime reading list:

  • Beautypedia – if I had a penny for every time this website got a mention in the comment I’d be well on my way to not only recalling the whole Essie line, but owning it – one of the best resources I’ve found. It’s as easy as searching a product, brand or category and reading up on their ingredient-focused review. A good starting point for fellow noobs and newbies.
  • RMS Beauty, The Organic Pharmacy and Pai all have fab ingredient index pages where there’s plenty of reading material on more au natural options.
  • It may take a while to eke out what you want from the following resources, but they’re worth a read nonetheless; What’s In That Stuff, Nwah Beauty Investigator and the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.
  • When in doubt – google. Search out an individual ingredient and more often than not a helpful Wikipedia page, blog or forum pops up. A lengthy, but informative process and one that is more than obvious, but I needed more than three bullet points.

Ooo it’s taking me back to my BSc days - reports, reading and a perplexed looking expression. I’ll be reaching for a can of cold baked beans before you know it. Surface scratched, any recommendations for resources a little deeper into the world of ingredients are welcomed; my notepad’s out already.

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