I’m loving 
“The Story of Cosmetics,” which came out today from Story of Stuff creator Annie Leonard with Clean Water Action, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and Free Range Studios. Annie explains that the average American uses an average of 6-12 beauty products daily, with most of them unchecked for potentially harmful ingredients. Free Range created a great animated short, and as some of you may know from my work experience producing Food Battle and following the Meatrix, I’m a huge fan of their work.
Anyway, Annie reports on the Huffington Post:
“When you turn the bottles around, get out a magnifying glass and read the fine print on the back (and get online to do some research) it’s a different story: sodium laureth sulfate, diazolidinyl urea, ceteareth-20, PEGs, quaternium-15 — all these are typically contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde or 1,4 dioxane. Carcinogens in baby shampoo? Are you kidding me?”
Clean Water Action has a great declaration worth reading on their site:
Do you remember the crash test dummies featured in commercials and ads for years? They were the nameless, faceless humanoids riding in test vehicles that famously smashed into bridges, cars, semis, you name it. Now, you and I are unwilling crash test dummies for the special interests peddling their toxic stew of chemicals found in every day products, but we have names and faces and families and lives. We weren’t invented to test chemicals in products.
Earlier this year, federal reforms were introduced in Congress, but they missed the mark in two important ways: they fail to phase-out the most hazardous chemicals, a step European and other countries are already taking; and they continue the practice of allowing untested chemicals to be added to our products without requiring safety tests first.
This campaign has a petition to sign to get things like lead off our lipstick in the The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (H.R. 5786) – the first time in 70 years we get to vote on this. Maybe by doing so, we can reverse some of the rising breast cancer and infertility rates and help the environment!
So what do you use these days? I’ve stopped using regular nail polish and remover; I was tired of breathing in the fumes. We’re using coconut oil more and more as a moisturizer, it’s such a versatile ingredient for cooking/self-care. We always use Dr. Brommer’s soap too. The next steps for me is figuring out what healthier make-up to get, and to examine my other beauty products. (Please let me know any of your favorites.) Sunscreen is still tricky – I’m still learning which to buy and which to avoid. Wearing sun-protected clothing, a hat, and staying out of the sun is best, but Environmental Working Group site gives great information and rates different products.
For additional info, see what Dr. Mercola has to say here. Check out Skin Deep, a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group, it includes animal testing information on each product too.
July 22, 2010 at 1:37 am
I love Weleda products (especially their skin and hair oils). For makeup, I find the health food store brands aren’t that appealing in terms of texture and color options. I was happy to hear, however, that Origins is finally removing parabens and phthalates from their products– I love their lip gloss.
I’m always doing my own research and learning about what companies are up to. As for sunblock, California Baby and Badger are great, and close to the top of the EWG list; I use them on the kids and myself. We also use Dr. Bronner’s religiously; it’s a really great shower “gel” replacement. A good rule of thumb is to avoid products that list “fragrance” as an ingredient. By law, companies don’t have to list the ingredients for fragrance formulations, because they fall under the protection of ‘trade secrets’. Fragrance is the easiest way for companies to mask ingredients that are potentially harmful. I, for one, buy fragrance-free products.
This is another good site for info. on such matters:
http://greenerpenny.blogspot.com/2008/08/paraben-and-phthalate-free-skin-care.html
It’s up to consumers to change the cosmetics industry by changing our buying habits. The good thing is it’s actually not that hard!
July 25, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I don’t wear/use any makeup other than a mineral blush/bronzer combination from Mary Kay. It is very subtle. And I only use that when I am going out somewhere special. I make some of my own skin care products. I use jojoba oil and 10 drops of an essential oil that matches my skin type. I can use this oil on my body, my face, and as a hot oil on my hair. In the wintertime, I use a heavier oil such as almond. I make my toner from a combination of pure witch hazel extract, water, and again the essential oil that matches my skin type. I love Burt’s Bees products and use the Radiance Exfoliating Body Bar in the shower. I also use this soap as a shampoo and laundry detergent when traveling. The last product I use is Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Lotion with SPF 15. Lastly, I use Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm. Great for the outdoors for protection as well as out for the night for added color. These 5 products are all I use. Burt’s Bees products can be expensive. But when I decided to refuse to buy makeup because of the ingredients, I put that extra money toward good skin care.
July 27, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Thanks so much for your input. Burt’s Bees is really great! And I agree that EWG’s sunscreen site is excellent. I added the animal testing link on EWG also; was surprised Aveeno sunblock tests and will stop using it.