Eyelid Primers
May 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
I realized recently that the discoloration that is present in the dark circles under my eyes is also evident in the area above my eyes, and not in a way that I think is especially attractive.
I therefore have been experimenting with various options that I hoped would both cover up the discoloration as well as to provide a good surface for any eyeshadows that I might want to wear.
As with foundations and undereye concealers, many of the options that I tried seemed to settle into the my wrinkles and make them look even worse, and so that eliminated a good many products from consideration.
Another problem is that many products irritate my sensitive eyes.
I did have a good bit of success with a variety of mainstream silicone-based eye products, including eyeshadow sticks from Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier; an eyeshadow base from Clinique; and eyeshadows and a concealer from MAC.
All of these products covered the discoloration and provided a nice surface for my eyeshadow, without making my wrinkles look worse or causing irritation.
However, I am not sure that I feel comfortable using silicone on my entire eyelid area on a regular basis, due to its tendency to clog pores and in general not allow the skin to breathe very well.
Recently I tried the Kosas concealer, which seems to be similar in functionality to these other products but that apparently does not contain any silicone.
Whether for sure this is a better solution than the silicone-based products, I don’t know. It seems so far so good though.
TOP PICKS
♣ Living Clean Superstars:
Clinique Touch Base for Eyes ($20)
+Kosas Revealer Concealer ($28)
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23)
♠ Additional Possibilities:
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer ($28)
Mad Hippie Concealer ($21)
♠ Not Yet Tried:
Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Shadow Primer ($14)
Ilia Natural Brightening Eyelid Primer ($24)
MAC Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base ($24)
Milani Eyeshadow Primer ($9)
Milk Hydro Grip Eye Primer ($24)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($24)
♥ Lisa’s Personal Choice:
Clinique Touch Base for Eyes ($20)
√ Kosas Revealer Concealer ($28)
Notes:
1) Living Clean Superstars – Products with high scores on both Performance Rating (5) as well as Ingredients Rating (4/5). + Clean Pick (Ingredients Rating = 5).
2) Lisa’s Choice – Products that I would purchase for my own personal use. √ Lisa’s Favorite
Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyeshadow Primer – $19
Overall Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Performance Rating: 
(5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: 
(3 / 5)
I tried this silicone-containing eye primer and felt that it performed pretty well. However, I put it aside once I decided to avoid retinoids in general.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.6 Stars (666 reviews)
EWG Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (3), Dimethicone (3), PEG-40 stearate (3), Retinyl palmitate (9), Titanium dioxide (3)
All Ingredients: Isododecane , Barium Sulfate , Disteardimonium Hectorite , Cyclopentasiloxane , Trimethylsiloxysilicate , Polyethylene , Triethylhexanoin , Vp/Eicosene Copolymer , Trihydroxystearin , Sorbitan Sesquioleate , Dimethicone , Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract , Propylene Carbonate , Beeswax (Cera Alba) , Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract , Peg-40 Stearate , Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil , Ascorbyl Palmitate , Retinyl Palmitate , Tocopherol , Tin Oxide. May Contain: Mica , Carmine (Ci 75470) , Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891) , Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499) , Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163)
Clinique Touch Base for Eyes – $20
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
This is a silicone-based cream that comes in a little pot and that is intended to supply a layer of neutral base to the entire eyelid area.
Although the coverage is some extent “buildable,” I feel like it naturally goes on somewhat more sheer than the Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier shadow sticks do.
I also feel like it seems less long-wearing than the shadow sticks, meaning that I am less confident that it would make it intact through a long day.
Although this product includes some coloring agents, they do not seem as hazardous as some of the ones in the Bobbi Brown shadow sticks.
(Though then again, maybe the problem colors in the Bobbi Brown sticks are not used in the neutral colors either.)
The main complaint that I have read about with regard to this Clinique product is that it has a tendency to get dried up quickly.
This has not happened to me, perhaps because I have taken some measures to present it (including leaving the piece of foil protecting the product in the container, not opening the lid for more than a few seconds, and using a brush rather than my fingers to scoop out the product).
The shade Light Canvas is lighter than my skin and Canvas is darker than my skin, but both seem to work okay on my eyelids.
A third shade is called Nude Rose and would be a pretty shadow on me, though I’m not sure how it would work as base.
The main deterrent to my using this product more seems to be that it seems a bit more fussy than a swipe-and-go option like a shadow stick or concealer wand.
However, probably if I were using it every day and had the brush at hand, it actually wouldn’t take much extra time.
Size: 0.045
Ulta Rating: 4.4 Stars (1179 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (3), Dimethicone (3), Titanium dioxide (3), Chromium oxide greens (5), Ultramarines (3), Ferric ferrocyanide (4), Chromium hydroxide green (4)
Fragrance Ingredients; None
All Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Aluminum Distearate, Octyldodecanol, Ceresin, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Microcrystalline Wax, Hydrated Silica, [+/- Bismuth Oxychloride, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides, Manganese Violet, Chromium Oxide Greens, Ultramarines, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Chromium Hydroxide Green, Carmine
Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer – $14
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (3 / 5)
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Size: 0.35 oz.
Amazon Rating: 4.5 Stars (26,290 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (3), Talc (8), PEG-40 stearate (4), Dimethicone (3), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Isododecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Trihydroxystearin, Bismuth Oxychloride, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylene Carbonate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Beeswax, PEG-40 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methicone, Tocopheryl Acetate may contain [+/-] Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Ilia Natural Brightening Eyelid Primer – $24
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
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Size: 0.1 oz.
Credo Rating: 3.9 Stars (38 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Rosa canina seed oil (3), Dimethicone (3), Chamomile flowers (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Rosa canina seed oil, Vanilla bean, Rosemary leaf, Chamomile flowers
All Ingredients: Water, Glycerin*, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice*, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Coco-caprylate, Jojoba Esters, Rosa Canina Seed Oil*, Olive Fruit Oil*, Dimethicone, Mica, Vanilla Bean*, Rosemary Leaf*, Arnica Montana*, Chamomile Flowers*, Phenethyl alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol. *Certified Organic Ingredients.
Kosas Revealer Concealer – $28
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)
The Kosas concealer is the only product without silicone that I have found so far that serves as a good base for my eyeshadow without exacerbating my wrinkles.
It also works pretty well as a concealer for under my eyes and on the rest of my face, though I still prefer the Jones Road face pencils for that purpose.
It’s interesting to see that this product contains caffeine, since that is something that I have found to be very helpful in eye creams with regard to reducing puffiness around the eyes.
It’s nice to think that this concealer could be having a positive effect on the puffiness around my eyes as well.
The use of hydrators (such as sodium hyaluronate and squalane) in the formula also seems to have been helpful since this formula feels less dry to me than most concealers that I have tried.
Consistent with the ingredients list, this product feels pretty clean to me.
The current availability of 28 (!) different shades is an additional bonus.
I chose Tone 03 (“light with subtle golden undertones”) and it seems to have worked well for me.
Size: 0.20 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.2 Stars (1501 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Sodium benzoate (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Arnica montana flower extract, Rosemarinus officinalis extract
All Ingredients: Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Undecane, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tridecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Galactoarabinan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax; Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Caffeine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Oil, Glyceryl Oleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Panthenol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, [+/ -: CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499]
MAC Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base – $24
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (3 / 5)
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Size: 0.4 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.6 Stars (168 reviews)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Dimethicone (3), Talc (8), Tocopheryl acetate (3), PEG-40 stearate (3), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Dimethicone, Isododecane, Talc, Dimethicone Silylate, Trihydroxystearin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Kaolin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Bisabolol, Triethylhexanoin, Silica, Alumina, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Stearic Acid, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Peg-40 Stearate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163) <ILN40999>
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer – $28
Overall Rating: (4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (3 / 5)
I bought this concealer on the recommendation of a MAC representative, back when I was first trying to figure out what the best way to address the dark circles under my eyes.
The product actually did do a pretty good job of covering up the problem without making my wrinkles look worse, and I did not react to it negatively at all.
Later I found that unlike most other concealers that I have tried, this product works well as a matte eyelid primer as well, drying down to a nice matte finish that lasts for a long time and that does not emphasize my wrinkles.
Unfortunately, this product does include a long list of moderately problematic ingredients, including three kinds of silicone (cyclopentasiloxane, PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone and dimethicone); a surfactant (laureth-7); and two preservatives (phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin).
I therefore think that it may be best to try to avoid using it on a regular basis unless it really seems necessary to do so.
I still am happy to have it as a tool in my makeup bag though.
Size: 0.30 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.2 Stars (962 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (3), PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Dimethicone (3), Laureth-7 (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Chlorphenesin (3), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Tribehenin, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Methicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Laureth-7, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, [+/- Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot – $23
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
These “paint pots” are another silicone-based product from MAC that have performed very well for me in terms of coloring discoloration on my eyelids, serving as a good base for shadow, and not emphaizing my wrinkles.
These come in a variety of shades, including some bright ones that are intended for use as eyeshadows rather than as eyeshadow bases.
I have tried just the neutral shades though, including Painterly (“nude beige”) and Vintage Selection (“frosted dirty peach”).
The product description includes a list of a variety of potentially problematic coloring agents, including aluminum powder. Whether that is used in the shades that I have tried, I don’t know.
Like the Clinique Touch Base product, the Paint Pots seem to have the potential to dry out and therefore may be best used up quickly.
I think that although these products are thicker and are applied differently than the MAC concealer described above, the functionality of the neutral shades is pretty much the same with regard to this usage.
Size: 0.17 oz
Ulta Rating: 4.5 Stars (1107 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
EWG Rating: 7 (red)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Dimethicone (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Titanium dioxide (3), Aluminum powder (9), Blue #1 (7), Chromium hydroxide green (4), Chromium oxide greens (5), Ferric ammonium ferrocyanide (4), Ferric ferrocyanide (4), Ultramarines (3), Yellow #5 (6)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Isododecane, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Dimethicone Silylate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Trihydroxystearin, Carnauba) Wax, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate,. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Aluminum Powder, Bismuth Oxychloride, Blue 1, Bronze Powder, Carmine, Chromium Hydroxide Green, Chromium Oxide Greens, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Manganese Violet, Ultramarines, Yellow 5
Milani Eyeshadow Primer – $9
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (3 / 5)
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Size: 0.3 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.2 Stars (330 reviews)
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Talc (5), Phenoxyethanol (4), Cyclopentasiloxane (3), Dimethicone (3), PEG-40 Stearate (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Isododecane, Talc, Mica, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trihydroxystearin, Polyethylene, Triethylhexanoin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, VP / Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Bismuth Oxychloride, Iron Oxide
Mad Hippie Concealer – $21
Overall Rating: (4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)
The Mad Hippie Concealer is a product with a clean ingredients list that has done a better job than most in terms of serving as an eyeshadow base and covering my dark circles.
The problem is that this product seems to accentuate my wrinkles much more than the Kosas concealer or the silicone-based products discussed on this page.
Perhaps part of the reason for this is that even though the product includes moisturizers such as sodium hyaluronate and shea butter, it feels on the dry side to me compared to the Kosas concealer.
Although I feel that this is a pretty clean product and that I have not reacted to it, it does have a quite strong herbal smell. I do not really object to this smell but it certainly is noticeable.
The product is available in only six shades. The company suggests that people may want to buy two different shades and then mix them together to get their perfect shade, but that is not something that I think I ever would do because it sounds so fussy.
I have Shade #30 (described as “Fair with peachy, pink undertones. Peach shade works well to cover bluish under eye discoloration.”) and think that the color has been appropriate for use in my eye area.
Size: 0.35 oz.
Mad Hippie Rating: 4.5 Stars (29 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EWG Product Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe (3), Peppermint extract (4)
Fragrance Ingredients: Mallow extract, Peppermint leaf extract, Primula veris extract, Alchemilla vulgaris extract, Veronica officinalis extract, Melissa officinalis leaf extract, Achillea millefolium extract
All Ingredients: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Castor Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglycerides, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 (and) Glycerin (and) Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polystearate (and) Cetyl Palmitate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Squalane (vegan), Behenyl Behenate, Sodium, Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Shea Butter, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Gigawhite (Water, Glycerin, Mallow Extract, Peppermint Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract), Hesperidin, Iron Oxides
Milk Hydro Grip Eye Primer – $24
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
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Size: 0.29 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.3 Stars (586 reviews)
EWG Product Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe leaf juice (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Sodium benzoate (3), Benzoic acid (3), Phenoxyethanol (4)
Fragrance Ingredients: Rhus verniciflua peel wax, Agave tequilana leaf extract, Cannabis sativa seed extract
All Ingredients: C9-12 Alkane, Tapioca Starch, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Triacontanyl PVP, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Tribehenin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Corn Starch, Shorea Robusta Resin, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Triolein, Glyceryl Dioleate, Maltose, Aqua/Water/Eau, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion – $24
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (3 / 5)
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Ulta Rating: 4.5 Stars (13735 reviews)
EWG Product Rating: 2/3 (green/yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Talc (5), Phenoxyethanol (4), Cyclopentasiloxane (3), Dimethicone (3), PEG-40 stearate (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Isododecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trihydroxystearin, Polyethylene, Triethylhexanoin, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Propylene Carbonate, Water. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Bismuth Oxychloride]
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
Chantecaille Next Generation Eye Base – $38
Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer – $28
Lilah B. Virtuous Veil Concealer & Eye Primer – $38
PYT Beauty Baby Got Base Eye Primer – $14
Trash Can
Burt’s Bees Eyeshadow Primer ($10): I ordered this product directly from Burt’s Bees, and it arrived so dried-up that it was totally unusable. Since other Burt’s Bees products have been similarly unusable, I am thinking that this company needs to do a better job of managing its inventory. EWG gives the product a 5 (yellow), citing as potentially problematic natural fragrance (8) and phenoxyethanol (4).
Ulta Matte Eye Primer ($12): This product has gotten quite a few good reviews on the Ulta website, but it irritated my eyes to the point where I had to wash it off within a few minutes. The only EWG problem ingredients listed are titanium dioxide (3) and cyclopentasiloxane (3), both of which usually are okay for me. There are many other chemicals listed as also having been used in this product though, and it also could be that contamination was an issue.
About The Product Choices & Ratings
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
Information from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep website is listed here to allow individuals to easily identify products containing ingredients that they may prefer to avoid.
Although the overall EWG ratings also may provide some helpful guidance, in most cases these were generated by the automated “Build Your Own Report” function on the site rather than through a studied evaluation by EWG personnel. I therefore do not suggest that they be assumed to provide definitive information with regard to the comprative toxicity of products discussed here.
The “Living Clean Ratings” take into consideration both toxicity and functionality issues, based on all objective information at my disposal as well as my own subjective experiences with the products. Price is not used as a factor in the determination of these ratings.
The “Lisa’s Choice” designation is given to products that I likely would replace fairly soon if I were to lose my entire cosmetics collection and does take the price into consideration as a relevant factor.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies:
Amazon
Bobbi Brown
Clinique
Credo
Kosas
Laura Mercier
MAC
Pharmaca
Sephora
Target
Ulta
Vitacost
Reader comments (positive or negative) about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Thanks very much to everyone who contributes to making this project better by sharing their product experiences!
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 50’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the Beginner’s Guide).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
Individuals who are seeking out less-toxic products or who are interested in pursuing a cleaner and healthier lifestyle may want to sign up to receive occasional email newsletters from Living Clean in a Dirty World.
Those signing up will receive a free PDF copy of the book Back From The Edge (describing the extraordinary life of mold avoidance pioneer Erik Johnson) and also will be automatically entered in sweepstakes giving away a variety of cleaner products.
Thanks very much for visiting the Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping site!
Links on this page are in orange (no underlining).
