What’s on Your Cheeks Might Be More Toxic Than You Think.
Long before we were sold shimmer sticks and synthetic compacts, women made blush from the earth itself: crushed berries, flower petals, beet juice, clay dust, pearl powder. It was ritual, organic, connected, not marketing. It was natural and often edible.
Fast forward to today, and your favorite rosy glow might be loaded with hormone disruptors, microplastics, and petroleum byproducts. The blush sitting in your bag? It might be doing more than making you glow it could be quietly harming your skin and your health. This is not to scare you. This is to allow you to have true freedom of choice. Because it is BS that we can sell hormone disrupting chemicals under “clean beauty”. SO, What’s Really in Most Store-Bought Blushes?
Here are just a few common ingredients found in major blush brands that you may want to skip:
Talc – Linked to respiratory issues and often contaminated with asbestos.
Parabens – Used as preservatives but known endocrine disruptors.
Synthetic Dyes (like Red 40, Yellow 5) – Petroleum-derived and banned in many countries.
Fragrance – A “catch-all” term that often hides phthalates and allergens.
Silicones (Dimethicone) – Creates that “smooth” feel, but can clog pores and disrupt the skin barrier.
Bismuth Oxychloride – A shimmering agent that can cause irritation and breakouts.
These ingredients don’t just sit on the surface. Your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you put on it and your cheeks are no exception.
The Earth Gave Us Blush First. Let’s Go Back
Instead of lab-made chemicals, let’s go back to roots (literally). Here’s how to make your own beautiful, clean blush at home using whole, safe ingredients that love your skin.
DIY Ancestral Blush Powder
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp beetroot powder, hibiscus powder, or dragon fruit powder (or 1 tsp beet juice concentrate for stronger color)
- 1 tbsp beeswax pellets
- 1 tbsp jojoba oil (or almond oil)
- 1 tbsp shea butter (or mango butter for a lighter feel)
Instructions:
1. In a double boiler (or small glass bowl over simmering water), melt beeswax, shea butter, and jojoba oil together.
2. Remove from heat. Stir in beetroot powder or juice until smooth and evenly mixed.
3. Pour into a small metal tin or empty twist-up lip balm tube.
4. Let cool and solidify.
5. To use: swipe directly onto cheeks and blend with fingers for a natural flush.
Beeswax gives it staying power
Shea nourishes and protects
Beetroot delivers natural, non-toxic pigment
OR a Quick Natural Option:If you don’t want to melt or measure:
Cut a thin slice of cooked beet, rub directly onto cheeks and if you want to seal the pigment then a dab of beeswax balm
If you have dragon Fruit then smash a tiny bit and dab on for a juicy tropical pink (fun but messy).
So this is your sign to think about going natural. Don’t get me wrong, I know it is more work than going to a store and buying it. But the way I treat makeup is how I treat junk food. Once in a while when I am away from home I will indulge in mascara but for my everyday routine I go for the healthier option. Because blush was never supposed to come from a lab. It came from earth, food, flowers, and rituals. Our ancestors made beauty with what they had and what they had was more than enough.
Ready to switch your compact for something you could eat with a spoon if you had to? Your cheeks (and your body) will thank you.
