Dangerous Cosmetics Rampage. But There Are Safe Cosmetics.
It would be reasonable to assume that we don’t need to ask the question, are our cosmetics safe? Safe cosmetics should be taken for granted shouldn’t they? After all, we have a government and corporations that look after our interests?
Sadly no. Neither the government or the major cosmetics companies take steps to ensure that our cosmetics are safe, and as a result there is a whole range of dangerous cosmetics and skin care products on the market which contain dangerous ingredients including lead, 1,4-dioxane and paraben.
Doesn’t the FDA do something about this? Sadly again, no. The FDA does not test or examine cosmetic products to establish that they are safe for human use and don’t contain harmful ingredients, and even admit to this on the FDA website. The government does not act in our best interests by ensuring that the cosmetics that millions of American women use every single day are safe to use, and as a result we have dangerous cosmetics on the shelves of our major department stores.
This is now such a problem that there are whole organizations set up to raise public awareness about the risks of dangerous cosmetics, and the need to find a source of safe cosmetics.
Sadly though the government isn’t listening to the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, and the cosmetics companies aren’t listening either. There is nothing being done to protect US women from dangerous ingredients found in mascaras, bronzers, eye shadows, lipsticks, blushes and more that women here are using daily not realizing they are taking a risk with their health.
Here’s just 2 examples but there’s lots.
The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics tested major big brand lipsticks back in 2007. Know what they found? They found lead in over 50% of the lipsticks tested. These weren’t just lipsticks you’ve never heard of, these are the biggest names in cosmetics and lipsticks, and may well include those you use right now.
And in 2002 more tests found Phthalates in the majority of 72 major big brand beauty and personal and body care products and cosmetics, including products from Christian Dior, Revlon and Calvin Klein. Phathalates are a family of industrial chemicals that are linked to defects in male reproductive organs and birth defects.
And this includes such common and everyday products like shampoos and toothpastes.
There were 72 products tested. Phthalates were found in 52 of them and Phthalates weren’t listed on the labels.
Scary isn’t it?
Is it possible to buy safe cosmetics? Yes it is, in fact the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics runs a register of companies that are prepared to sign a compact pledging the company to make products using only known safe ingredients. And there are some excellent safe cosmetics to be found, but you won’t find them on the shelves of your local store.
But I’ll bet you’ve never heard of these small niche companies because they can’t compete with the big brands on TV advertising, but nevertheless they make excellent and safe ranges of cosmetics.
Find out more about safe cosmetics at my website.
Want to know where to find the best Natural Cosmetics? Visit Peter’s Website Natural Skin Care and find out more about Organic Skin Care Products as well.
I love your article…it is so disturbing and angers me that this is happening and that there are still so many women who unknowingly use these awful products. Sad is right. We are a family on a mission of going green and I no longer use “regular” cosmetics at all. I wash my face with baking soda, moisturize with pure olive oil and I take my all natural Vidazorb OPC age-defense probiotic every day. We have been working very hard at getting rid of all synthetics and chemicals in our home and it feels great. Thanks for this wonderful info!