Looking for Safe Cosmetics

What you put in and on your body can make a difference. Some popular brands of cosmetics and personal care products contain chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. In worse case scenarios, most chemicals have never been evaluated for health and safety. Most toothpastes, personal care products, makeup and skin care products are filled with ingredients that can cause skin irritation, allergies, or even more serious health risks.

Some of these ingredients have even been shown in research to disrupt hormonal levels in the body, which is of great concern to young teenage women, menopausal women and anyone who is having trouble with sensitive skin.  Moreover, toxic chemicals exist in the cleaning products we use, and are even added to our clothing, rugs, furniture, building materials and so for.

Most beauty products on the market today may also contain artificial fragrances which are among the top allergens in the world. The good news is it’s easy to keep your medicine cabinet, bathroom products and makeup safe. And by making smart choices, you can also change an industry.

Trying to avoid cosmetic containing toxic ingredients can be nearly impossible to do.  The Breast Cancer Fund in coalition with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is pressing the government to require that ingredients in cosmetics are safe before they hit the shelves. In the meantime, they recommend using fewer products with simpler ingredients.  

Shoppers are advised to take a precaution when purchasing beauty products by reading the ingredients embossed on the labels. Be skeptical of claims like "dermatologist-tested," "natural" or "organic." Visit the “Campaign for Safe Cosmetics” website to look up the safety of products you use, find safer alternatives and take action to demand safer products!

You should avoid cosmetics with the following ingredients:

• Fragrance–not just perfume, but fragrance in lotions, shampoos, etc. (allergies, cancer)
• DMDM hydantoin and Imidazolidinyl urea (toxic contaminants)
• Parabens or “-paraben” (hormone disruption, linked to cancer)
• “PEG” and “-eth” (these ingredients can come with hidden toxic contaminants)
• Triclosan and triclocarban (thyroid, reproductive and environmental concerns)
• Triethanolamine (TEA) (allergies, toxic contaminants)
• Hydroquinone (cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies)
• Oxybenzone (allergies, developmental toxicity, hormone disruption)

Beauty products you should avoid, especially if you have sensitive skin:

• Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acids
• Hair dyes, especially dark permanent dyes
• Liquid hand soaps with tricolsan/triclocarban
• Nail polish and removers with formaldehyde, DBP or toluene
• Skin lighteners with hydroquinone
• Heavily scented products