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Soy-Free Makeup and Skincare

Our Soy-Free Makeup Formulation Policy

We are proud to offer a complete line of soy-free makeup. We’ve created a niche among natural beauty brands for offering a wide range of natural makeup free of many common (and not so common) potentially toxic, synthetic, and irritating cosmetic ingredients. Soy is one of them.

We quickly realized that many of our customers who are allergic to common toxic and synthetic cosmetic ingredients also topically react to common, irritating natural cosmetic ingredients such as gluten and soy.

Both soy and gluten derived cosmetic ingredients are tricky to identify in a cosmetic ingredient list because they show up in the ingredient lists in a myriad of ways, none of which contain the word ‘gluten’ or ‘soy’.  For example, both soy and wheat (gluten) are two of the cheapest and most prevalent sources of Vitamin E and tocopherol which are found in almost all cosmetic products.

While the label may say “Tocopherol” or “Vitamin E”, unless otherwise stated, it’s most likely derived from either soy or wheat.

Unless a cosmetic company has a specific soy-free formulation philosophy and publically facing statement, you may never know what’s truly in your cosmetics.

Afterglow Cosmetics are 100% soy-free.

The Truth About Soy 

People are looking for soy-free cosmetics and foods for a variety of reasons. Some may be allergic, some have sensitive skin, and some may be looking to improve overall health. Here are the top three reasons you may want to eliminate soy from your diet and beauty routine.

  1. Eliminate Allergies and Sensitives: What many don’t realize is that soy is a common allergen, and not just when ingested. Many of our customers have a topical allergy to soy and soy-derived ingredients and have a hard time finding soy-free cosmetics. Some people find they have reactions to traditional cosmetics. On occasion, the culprit is a soy-based ingredient. In fact, most cosmetics contain some soy or soy-derivative.  Topical soy allergies are common enough to have their own diagnosis, Soy Contact Dermatitis. Soy contact dermatitis occurs when the skin reacts negatively to soy, causing swelling, itching, and redness, and even pain.
  2. Eliminate PhytoEstrogens:  Phytoestrogen, which is a concentrated component of soy, increases estrogen production that feeds certain breast and ovarian cancers. Breast cancer survivors and those with a genetic history of breast cancer should avoid soy and completely eliminate soy from their lifestyle at every level.
  3. Eliminate GMOs From Your Routine: Almost all soy is genetically modified (GMO). If you are using a soy-based product, you are participating and supporting genetically modified agriculture and along with all that implies. If you have ethical, moral and scientific reasons for avoiding GMOs, you should avoid soy.
  4.  Save Time: If you are diligent about understanding the products you buy and choosing soy-free makeup, choose a makeup brand that states they only manufacturer soy-free makeup. The truth is that there are over 75 different names for soy and soy-derived ingredients in our food and cosmetics. Unless a product is clearly labeled as soy-free makeup, assume it isn’t. If a brand isn’t dedicated to ensuring they only source soy-free ingredients, they will not be as diligent at securing only soy-free sources.Those many names are an effort to obscure what is actually in your cosmetics. In fact, Vitamin E, which we’ve been told is so good for our skin, is one of the most commonly soy-derived products. It goes under many names, a few of which are: Alpha-Tocopherol, a-Tocopherol, D-Alpha-Tocopherol, Vitamin E, D-MIXED- TOCOPHEROLS, O-Tocoferol, E 307, Tokopherol,Soy Tocopherols, and Pflanzliches Vitamin E. Vitamin E is good for the skin, but only when it is produced naturally, without chemicals or extra ingredients, like soy.

Afterglow Makes it Easy to Choose Cleaner Products for Better Skin and Health
Our products are made in the U.S. from all natural ingredients, most of which are USDA certified organic. You won’t find any “proprietary” hidden ingredients or the word “fragrance” on our labels because we are proud to list all our ingredients. Our line of soy-free makeup ensures your skin is being treated well, with healthy ingredients that naturally resonate at the highest levels with your body.

You can trust your sensitive skin to Afterglow.

Here’s what one of our customers have to say about why she prefers soy-free cosmetics:

“Thank you very much for the information about soy. As a 9-year breast cancer survivor, this is the absolute very reason I started using and buying only Afterglow Cosmetics. Nine years ago, it was amazing to me to find only your cosmetics that were truly all soy free and your ingredients were listed in plain view for the consumer to see.  I was treated at Duke Medical Center and was instructed to avoid ALL soy products due to my breast cancer being estrogen positive. Many people have no idea about phytoestrogen.  Soy is in so many things these days and often disguised under various names including lecithin. I have several friends that have asked me to come to various makeup parties or buy their makeup products but I decline and tell them about Afterglow. I am a firm believer that what is put on our skin is absorbed into the skin as well. I thank you for providing me makeup that I can wear that looks wonderful, natural, and without the concern of any harmful ingredients being placed on my skin. My breast cancer diagnosis has made me very aware to try and avoid as much chemical exposure as possible and of course avoid all soy products. Your makeup has been a true blessing to me. Thanks again for these great soy free products!! I am truly grateful.” – Susan H.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems- and-treatments/contact- dermatitis
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/2/183.full
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/04/soy-dangers- summarized.aspx