The Eyes Above the Mask

‘Her mask was a cotton woven, good quality, geometric design black and light purple colour, pleated style, with black trim running across the nose and sides, black elastic ear loops.  Her hair was dark, but her eyebrows stood out, darker and tapered. Liquid eyes, upturned, hazel, haunting, exotic. Dark, lush, eyelashes, too good to be true, thick eyeliner on the upper lash line and a deep toned purple eye shadow that matched her mask.’

A new world face description. The mask and the eyes above the mask.

Descriptors for:

Mask: Surgical, N95 respirator. Cotton, Woven. Knit. Pleated, folded, shaped. Fasteners: elastic, ties, loops, hoops and hooks. 

Eyes: protruding, upturned, downturned, hooded, monolid, close set, deep set, almond 
Eyebrows: rounded, tapered, arched, short, thick, straight, s-shaped, barely-there arches, high arches, arched in the middle, arched toward the tail, extra-long tail
Eyelashes: short, thick, thin, curved, lustrous, fake and the list goes on.

As masks are now a necessity, whether homemade or commercial, many entrepreneurs have jumped on the bandwagon to handle the demand. With half the face hidden, the cosmetic industry has increased focus on the eye area. Makes sense. Whether the goal be for natural, shimmery, cat or gradient, makeup is the enhancer for: 

The Eyebrows. The Eyelids. The Eyelashes.

Whether applying hair colour, mascara, dying the eyebrows or tinting the lashes, attaching false lashes, using eye liners or shadows, micro blading or tattooing, it is important to know what you are buying. It is not wise to purchase cheap products. Trust the company. Trust the salon. There are many toxins in eye makeup that can have serious side effects. Skin irritations are not uncommon, but some preparations or applications have been known to cause impaired vision or blindness. You must be smart about your makeup. Good products are available. You just have to do your own recon.

In a rather large nutshell, avoid any makeup product that contains the really bad stuff.  See below* 

Earth to Body does not formulate nor sell makeup products. Since you have to shop elsewhere, we advise that you choose as ‘natural’ (whatever that term conjures up) as possible. However, we do sell cleansers to help you remove your makeup. 

Our facial toner: cleans makeup off beautifully. Spritz and cotton ball

Our soaps: emu neem or argan tamanu or if VERY sensitive, our simple but extraordinary moringa.  And as always, the charcoal clay is superb for all ages and all purposes.

Oils: Removing eye makeup especially can be tricky. Most wipes have the bad stuff and should be avoided. . Instead use a good healthy oil, like argan. 

Manitouka scrub: Cleanse, exfoliates and nourishes 

Clay Neem: a mask for a once a week deep cleanse. Have a spa day with the scrub!

For all front-line workers who are masked for hours a day, it is advisable to cleanse, then moisturize your skin with healthy oils and creams to help neutralize the combat fatigue you have endured while undercover. Kudos to all of you.

What to avoid in buying makeup

*Aluminum Powder aluminum, LB Pigment 5 or pigment metal.
*Benzalkonium chloride (BAK, quaternium-15 or guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride)
*Carbon Black, aka Carbon black, D & C Black No. 2, acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, thermal black.
*Coal tar
*Ethanolamine Compounds (TEA, DEA, MEA)
*Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
*Heavy Metals aluminum, LB Pigment 5 or pigment metal, (may be a contaminant and therefore not listed)
*Parabens (poly, methyl, butyl)
*Phthalates (most common in makeup as diethylphthalate (DEP)
*Prime Yellow Carnauba Wax
*Retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate (VITAMIN A)
*Talc
*Thimersal (based on mercury) (over 60 different names) It is often banned but sometimes sneaks in over the borders) 
*Titanium Dioxide OR TiO2. (controversy here, but you decide)