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Do you know what's in the stuff you slather on your skin, lather into your hair, or paint on your nails? Many beauty and health products are a chemical minefield, and it pays to know what's in them before you make them part of your routine. Obviously, no one today would use the lead-based cosmetics women in ancient Rome used to whiten their complexions. But did you know that as many as 60% of all lipsticks on the market contain some lead? (Don't lick your lips as you ponder that.)
Roman women didn't know that even small amounts of lead can be toxic, building up in the body and causing serious neurological, gastrointestinal, kidney, reproductive, and other problems. Kind of makes you wonder about chemicals that are allowed in health and beauty products today, doesn't it? What problems may crop up down the road because of exposure to amounts currently considered safe?
It's better to be safe—really safe—than sorry. The following table lists ingredients you may find in health and beauty products that have raised concerns about health. Read labels and avoid these substances. (Ironically, you'll find many of these chemicals listed under "inactive ingredients.")
Iffy Ingredients in Health and Beauty Products
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The table above only scratches the surface of the chemicals and other nasty substances that may lurk in your bathroom cabinet. To get the full picture, visit Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. You can search by product, company, or ingredient. Grab the shampoo, moisturizer, or other product you use and check its ingredients in the database; most likely, it'll be a real eye-opener.
So how do you find health and beauty products that are safe to use? The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org) has done the research for you. It tests products and lists companies that have signed its Compact for Safe Cosmetics, promising to use safe ingredients or replace hazardous ones within three years. More than 1,000 companies have signed. To find one that makes the products you're shopping for, go to http://tinyurl.com/dzw5up.
A growing number of companies make natural beauty and grooming products. Read labels, watch out for potentially harmful ingredients (check any you're not sure of at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com), and look for businesses that are committed to safe, eco-friendly products. Here are some companies that make products that are safe to use and easy on the environment:
Desert Essence (www.desertessence.com) makes organic, fragrance-free skin- and hair-care items.
Dr. Hauschka Skin Care (www.drhauschka.com) makes all-natural skin, body, and hair products. On their site, click Ingredient Glossary to get more info about the ingredients they use.
Eco-Beauty (www.eco-beauty.com) sells a line of organic skin care for men, women, and babies made by Martina Gebhardt Naturkosmetik, which contain at least 95% organic ingredients.
Farmaesthetics (www.farmaesthetics.com) produces 100% natural skin-care products from certified organic herbs, flowers, and grains from American family farms.
Future (www.futurenatural.com) offers a full line of natural and organic health and beauty products, including makeup, skin and hair care, bath and body products, and fragrance.
John Masters Organics (www.johnmasters.com) features more than 30 organic products for hair, skin, and body. This company also makes an organic pet shampoo that repels fleas and ticks.
Juice Beauty (www.juicebeauty.com) creates its products from a patent-pending organic juice base. They sell skin-care products, including cleansers, toners, moisturizers, sun protection, lip balm, and lines for kids and men.
Kuumba Made (http://kuumbamade.com) has created all-natural fragrances, essential oils, and bath and body products for more than 25 years.
Origins Organics (www.origins.com/organics) carries hair, face, body, and bath products that are certified organic, including massage oils and deodorants.
Pangea Organics (http://pangeaorganics.com) makes product lines for skin, body, and lips. Their site includes an ingredient glossary so you can learn more about what goes into the stuff they sell.
Suki (www.sukipure.com) offers makeup as well as items for face, body, and hair. You can also shop by concern, such as acne or rosacea.
Tarte Cosmetics (www.tartecosmetics.com) makes natural cosmetics that are free of parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances, and the company uses recyclable or postconsumer recycled material for its packaging.
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Many health and beauty products are still tested on animals. The European Union has banned animal tests for cosmetic ingredients, but such testing remains legal in the U.S. If you want to make sure your favorite products haven't been tested on animals, visit the website for the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (www.leapingbunny.org). Click Consumers Enter, and then click "shopping guide" for a list of companies that have pledged to eliminate animal testing from their products.
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