With today being the 4th of July, I thought I’d take a different spin on independence and look at freedom, freedom from all the toxins that lurk in our personal care products. We are exposed to toxins on a daily basis with the air we breathe, the water we drink or shower with, or other environmental pollution. Do we really need to add another layer of pollution with the products we use? At least with personal care products and cosmetics, we have a choice, a choice not to buy products that are contaminated with known toxins.
How many personal care and cosmetic products do you use every day? Five? Ten? Fifteen? More than fifteen? Do you have any idea how many toxins could be in any one or all of those products?
If you were told that your personal care products were damaging to your skin, hair, and health, and even possibly lead to cancer, would you pay more attention to what ingredients they had in them?
We have a right to know what manufacturers are putting in our products. The problem is that through clever marketing there are so many loopholes that manufactures can go through to produce potentially dangerous products.
That is why I spend a lot of time researching the net and looking at the work of several wonderful organizations. They work hard to protect our health and the environment by educating us and fighting the companies that are using harmful chemicals in their products and the agencies that turn the “heads” the other way and allow known toxins to be used in products when they should be banned like many are in Europe.
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics – The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition effort that protects the health of consumers and workers by securing the corporate, regulatory and legislative reforms necessary to eliminate dangerous chemicals from cosmetics and personal care products.
Women’s Voices for the Earth – Women’s Voices for the Earth is a national organization that works to eliminate toxic chemicals that harm women’s health by changing consumer behaviors, corporate practices and government policies.
Environmental Working Group – The Environmental Working Group is an environmental health research and advocacy organization. They serve as a watchdog to see that Americans get straight facts, unfiltered and unspun, so they can make healthier choices and enjoy a cleaner environment.
Skin Deep Database – This is a great database that reviews the safety of over 66,000 cosmetics and personal care products and 2400 brands. It is easy to navigate and a great tool to use when researching products, ingredients, or brands.
I use the Skin Deep Database all the time but as with all things sometimes a bit more research is necessary. An ingredient may be listed as harmful but when I dig further, I find that it is at least safe enough for me to use. An example of one such ingredient is fragrance. Fragrance is a euphemism for nearly 4,000 different ingredients, many of which are toxic. If unsure, I will dig to find the source of their fragrance. It may just be essential oils which I feel quite safe using and have for many years. Do your own research and judge for yourself.
If you’d like to learn more about some of the known toxins, check out the article I wrote called What Toxic Ingredients Are in Your Personal Care Products.
To live a healthier life, vote with your wallet and buy good natural products that are free of parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, SLS… Share what you learn with others. By education and collaboration, we can enjoy a safer and healthier world, one that will be around for many generations to come.
Happy 4th!
Great information. I plan to check out some of the sites you mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
What an informative post! Thanks for sharing all the links, too.