Beware Toxic Toothpaste and Lethal Lipstick: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

I was floored by a recent conversation I had with Mia Davis of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. I never knew that beauty and personal care products like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, aftershave, and makeup aren’t regulated by the FDA or any other branch of the US government. (read more here)

Unfortunately it is common (and legal) for companies to use ingredients in these products that are known or suspected carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins, like mercury and lead.

The Compact for Safe Cosmetics is a pledge taken by over 700 companies to remove toxic chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives. Signatories pledge to follow the European Union’s laws for cosmetics, which are the strictest currently available. Notably absent are all the big cosmetic companies, as well as some that I thought were the best, like Aveda, Origins (manufactured by Estée Lauder), and The Body Shop (manufactured by L’Oreal).

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), one of the founding organizations of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, operates the Skin Deep database, a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products. On this website you can type in a brand, product, or ingredient to find it’s toxicity score, health concerns linked to the ingredients, and safer alternative products.

I was upset to see my facial cleanser rated 7 out of 10 - a high hazard – with ingredients linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, allergies, and bioaccumulation. I will be replacing that ASAP. I wonder if it's bad to throw such products into the trash?

Check out this YouTube video about “Fragrance” by EWG.