Are Your Cosmetics Poisoning You?

By: Shannon Johnson

It’s no secret that a large number of American cosmetic companies have been given free reign to place a number of harmful chemicals in their products.  From hair care products to body washes, lotions and facial care, the American public is exposed to proven toxins every day as a result of normal grooming habits.  For instance, lead in lipsticks, phthalates (banned in the EU), and more, your cosmetic choices could be killing you slowly.  Even baby body washes and lotions contain proven carcinogens.    There is no legal standard for labeling cosmetic products in the United States, which means that companies are able to falsely advertise their products as natural.  American consumers have fallen for it - a survey conducted by organicconsumers.org shows that consumers will spend more money on products labeled “organic” or “all natural.”  The issue in the cosmetics realm is that numerous companies are making false claims of being organic when they actually contain petrochemicals, conventional products and carcinogens.

 Maintaining awareness of what products are toxic is the best way to safeguard against exposure to dangerous chemicals.  Watchdog sites, such as the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Skin Deep, not only advocate for greater regulation and banning of harmful chemicals in cosmetics, but also maintain extensive lists of hundreds of cosmetic products and their levels of contaminants.  A 2008 study commissioned by the Organic Consumer Association found that numerous personal care manufacturers that sold products labeled as natural or organic actually knew that they contained the carcinogenic 1,4 Dioxane.

1,4-Dioxane, a derivative of Ethylene oxide, has been labeled as a product known to cause cancer by the state of California. The chemical, easily absorbed through the skin and lungs, has been shown to be a kidney, neuro, and respiratory toxicant.  It is also California’s  leading groundwater contaminant.  Well known “all natural” brands such as Jason’s Organics, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, Kiss My Face, Whole Foods 365 personal care products, and others have tested positive for disturbingly high amounts of 1,4-Dioxane.   A follow-up study conducted in 2009 revealed that certain companies-  Giovanni Organics, Alba, and Jason’s successfully removed the toxin from their products ingredients; still, others on the list have made little or no improvement.  (For full text of both studies see links below).

There are, however, companies that have lived up to their claims of being safe for your family and are dedicated to providing the American public with safe, chemical-free, truly  “natural” cosmetics.  Natural cosmetics are those that are truly free from ingredients that have been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, and allergies/immunotoxicity.  In order to be truly natural, a product should be free from parabens, synthetic preservatives, phthalates, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, parabens, sulfates, animal products, or anything with suspected potential human health risks.  The best way to determine whether or not your favorite products are truly natural or organic is to read the ingredients listed on the back and to look for the USDA certified organic logo.  Organic beauty products must contain at least 70% organic ingredients to make that claim.  Other certifications such as those by Ecocert and Oasis do not offer this same guarantee.

Another way to ensure that your family is using personal care products that are truly healthy and beneficial is to check your purchases against the Skin Deep database.  Skin Deep has a list of hundreds of face, hair, body, and cosmetic products and their contaminant levels.   Also, there are a number of websites that are devoted solely to the sale of safe and truly natural and organic products- one of the largest is Saffron Rouge.  This site will not sell any products that have been identified as containing contaminants.  Staying informed and performing due diligence for personal care product choices is the best way to stay toxin free.


Link to the 2008 study:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneRelease08.cfm

Link to the 2009 study:

 

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/index.cfm

 

More Helpful Links:

Skin Deep   Campaign for Safe Cosmetics   Organic Consumers Association   Saffron Rouge