Cosmetics - An Informed Consumer Is The Best Consumer

I've been campaigning for safer cosmetics in the St. Louis area. The FDA has only banned nine ingredients from cosmetics, no one is regulating this industry and until consumers become more knowledgable and stop putting money into the pockets of cosmetic "industry giants", nothing will change. Here's some info. from the pamphlet that I pass out to nail and hair salons, plus people I meet on the street. Members of this campaign include, but are not limited to - Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, Breast Cancer Fund, Women's Voices for the Earth, Environmental Working Group, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, National Black Environmental Justice Network and the Environmental Trust.

1) TOXIC CHEMICALS ARE WIDESPREAD IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS - AND IN OUR BODIES
"Every day we use multiple personal care products- from shampoo, to deodorant, toothpaste, lotion and make up - that contain chemical ingredients that are absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested. So, it's not surprising that synthetic chemicals have gotten into our bodies, our breast milk, and our children. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities, and other health problems which are epidemic in our society. Astonishingly, 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women in the U.S. are expected to develop cancer during their lifetimes, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences."

2) THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PROTECTING US, BUT IT'S NOT
"Major loopholes in federal law prevent the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other government agency from approving the safety of cosmetics and body care products before they can be sold. The European Union now bans more than 1,100 chemicals from personal care products because they may cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive problems. In stark contrast, just nine chemicals are banned from cosmetics in the United States."

3) THE $60-BILLION COSMETICS INDUSTRY ROUTINELY OPPOSES LAWS THAT WOULD PROTECT CONSUMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
"The Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CFTA) has lobbied against laws that would control pollution at cosmetics manufacturing plants, require recycled content in packaging, or add more consumer safety information on labels. The industry says it doesn't need laws because it can voluntarily regulate itself. An industry -funded panel called the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel - NOT THE FDA OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY - is currently in charge of reviewing the safety of cosmetics."

One important note - Ingredients in personal care products 10,500......Percentage of chemical ingredients in cosmetics that have been assessed for health and safety by the industry's self-policing safety panel: 11% Look this up on the safecosmetics.org website.

4) SMALL EXPOSURES CAN ADD UP TO HARM
"The cosmetic industry says it's safe to put chemicals that can cause cancer, infertility or other health problems into personal care products because the amount in each product is too small to matter. But count the products you use in a single day - toothpaste, soap, shampoo, hair conditioners, hair gel, deodorant, body lotion, sunscreen, shaving products, and makeup - and think about how many products you use in a single year, and over a lifetime. Chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects do not belong in personal care products, period."

I've switched to Miessence USDA certified organic and approved by safecosmetics.org The cosmetic industry isn't going to change, until the consumers start to change. When the industry starts losing money to companies that have the interest of the consumer at heart - then they will change their ways. But until then, those of us who understand what the chemicals are on the back of labels really mean - need to educate others.
Take a look at the EWG link below.
http://www.ewg.org/news/story.php?id=5979

or go to www.safecosmetics.org