If you haven't read any of my articles before it may come as a surprise to you that the cosmetics that you use may be hazardous to your health. Believe it or not, not all cosmetics are safe. Safe cosmetics are, in fact, hard to find.

How can this be? Why in the world would the cosmetics that you use be dangerous? Surely the FDA regulates anything we use in or on our bodies to make sure that they are safe for us to use?

Sadly, no. Yes drugs are regulated and the drug companies need to conform to certain safety standards, but those standards don't apply to either companies making cosmetics, or companies making skin care products or personal care products and health and beauty products.

Basically these companies can use any ingredient in their cosmetics, regardless of whether they've been shown to be safe for human use. And big multi nationals being what they are, if there is an ingredient that they can use in their products that is cheaper than a safe alternative they'll use it.

Regardless of whether it results in some risks to users.

Here's an example. A recent study found lead in over 50% of big brand lipsticks tested. Lead? Are you kidding? In our lipsticks? Sadly again it's true. Some of the biggest names in lipsticks contain lead.

This prompted the California legislature to legislate against lead in lipsticks.

Regulation on safe cosmetics ingredients is sadly lacking in the US. Standards are much much stricter in Europe. So the cosmetics that you and maybe your daughters use can contain dangerous ingredients.

I have personal experience of this. My then 7 year old daughter was due for her first ballet concert and they used all the normal cosmetics on her and within half an hour she had a terrible rash all over her face. We removed the cosmetics, the rash disappeared and hasn't reappeared.

We now use safe cosmetics for her ballet concerts.

The problem is so bad that there are now whole organizations set up to promote safe cosmetics and alert the public to the danger of the big brand cosmetics. And do the cosmetics companies change their behavior? Do they use safe ingredients in their cosmetics? Still no. They don't.

One such organization is called the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. They attempt to expose as many of the risks of dangerous cosmetics as possible, to try and force our government to regulate the industry and the companies to produce safe cosmetics. And they run a Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Cosmetic companies that are prepared to dedicate themselves to produce only safe cosmetics can sign the compact to evidence their commitment to safe cosmetics.

And there is an organization called Teens Turning Green which helps direct teenagers towards safer cosmetics and other products, amongst their goals.

So how do you find out if the cosmetics you are using now are safe cosmetics or dangerous cosmetics. There is a way. There is a database called the cosmetic safety database, and you can use their database to search either the product that you're worried about, or the name of the company that makes them.

I just searched the Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick by way of example. On a scale of hazard from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest hazard, it rates a 9. High hazard. I'm told the ingredients in this lipstick are linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity and a whole host of other hazards including neurotoxicity and more.

Scary isn't it. However there are cosmetics companies dedicated to making safe cosmetics and personal care products. Dedicated to using such ingredients as certified organic ingredients and natural ingredients that are proven to be safe before they are used. That set their highest goal as producing high quality safe cosmetics and personal care and beauty products, rather than just focussing on profits.

There's not many, but there is some. And if you're worried about the safety of the cosmetics that you, or maybe your daughters uses, you need to find them. Now.



By: Peter Clark

About the Author:

Mercury Free Mascara by Afterglow Cosmetics

Author: Nirvana Fashion Editor Mon Mar 17, 2008

Starting Jan 1st, 2008 the state wide law banning mercury in mascaras, eye liners and skin-lightening creams took effect in Minnesota.

This bold move to ban mercury in makeup makes the great state of Minnesota the first state in the nation to ban intentionally added mercury in cosmetics and sets a tougher standard than the federal government for regulating cosmetic ingredients. "Mercury does cause neurological damage to people even in tiny quantities," said Sen. John Marty, the Democrat who sponsored the ban. "Every source of mercury adds to it. We wanted to make sure it wasn't here."

So your first questions are probably. . .

Why isn't mercury already banned in cosmetics? Well, that's a long story but the short version is that the US FDA has banned very, very, very few chemicals in cosmetics. Mercury is not one of them. In fact, Europe, Korea and Japan have banned many chemicals still common in cosmetics in the USA.

I don't see mercury on my mascara ingredient label. Does that mean it's mercury free? The actual ingredient name containing mercury is called Thimerosal . It is a mercury-containing organic compound used as a preservative and anti-fungal agent since the 1920s. Thimerosal has been banned around the world but NOT in the US (except for Minnesota).

What should I do now? Ladies, the bottom line in my opinion is actually not about the mercury, but rather, it's about the lack of regulation in general in the USA for cosmetic ingredient safety. So what's a girl to do? Most women are not going to become chemists in their spare time to keep up with international cosmetic ingredient regulations to understand if products are safe. Instead, I suggest that you look for companies that are focused on safety and transparency regarding the ingredients they use.

The long awaited, all natural mascara from Afterglow Cosmetics is here! Beautifully lush and all natural, Pure Soul Mascara is available in Onyx (black) and Mink (deep brown).

Why you'll love Afterglow Pure Soul Mascara:

* It creates rich, luscious lashes that are soft and flexible.

* It's volumizing, flake proof, smudge proof and clump-free.

* Its all natural formula is rich in soothing organic botanical antioxidants.

* It's gentle enough for even the most sensitive eyes.

* It's gluten-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, synthetic dye-free, perfume-free, mercury-free, petrochemical-free, phthalate-free, mineral oil-free, tar-free.

Afterglow Cosmetics is committed to providing effective and safe cosmetics.

We are a Compact Signer for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and ranked as one of the safest cosmetic lines according to the EWG's Cosmetic Database.

Suggested Retail Price: $21.00

Shop

http://www.afterglowcosmetics.com/eyes

The Ugly Truth About Commercial Cosmetics

chemicals in cosmeticsI believe most of us take for granted that the popular cosmetics, soaps, lotions and hair care products we buy in our local salons, drug and departments stores are safe. Why as consumers would we be able to buy and use a product on our skin, lips, eyes and hair every day if they were harmful? This wasn't even a question I had ever asked myself because I was so confident in my products and the well known companies that produce them. I first began investigating cosmetics when I decided to start my own cosmetic company. When I first began investigating the ingredients in my makeup and shower products like soap and shampoo, I was shocked to discover that almost all of them contained not one or two but multiple hard to pronounce, synthetic, very dangerous chemicals.

Over 90% of all ingredients in commercially available cosmetics are of synthetic origin and directly linked to serious health risks like cancer, infertility, kidney and liver disease and severe skin issues. Environmental Working Group report called, “Skin Deep” found that almost 90 percent of the more than 10,000 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated by government regulators. At the same time of the 20,000 different off-the-shelf cosmetic products that are for sales in the US, over 80% of the products surveyed contained one or more ingredients that have caused documented adverse reactions in humans and animals in the past.

The FDA has only banned or restricted only nine personal care product ingredients in its entire 67 year history (FDA 2000). On September 6, 1997 the Boston Globe reported that “The General Accounting Office, the investigative branch of Congress, has identified more than 125 cosmetic ingredients suspected of causing cancer- and others that may cause birth defects.”! Many of the harmful chemicals still used abundantly in cosmetics in the United States have been long banned

in the rest of the world's countries. Unfortunately, the United States regulatory vacuum gives cosmetic companies incredible leeway to select, manufacture and sell products laden with questionable ingredients, leaving the consumer to ultimately suffer the consequences. Most of the large cosmetic and personal-care companies will tell you not to worry. They agree that there are many chemicals in their products, but say that the quantities are small and will not affect you. At first glance this seems reasonable. Unfortunately, this is a sugar coated public relations response and does not identify the true issue athand. Medical science has proven that humans exposed over time to very small quantities of harmful chemicals do indeed suffer the consequences.

Medical science has proven that even the thin patches we stick to our arms or stomach with very small amounts of pharmaceutical chemicals can very effectively deliver chemicals into the bloodstream, totally changing the body's chemistry. Trans-dermal patches containing small traces of nicotine can effectively deliver chemicals directly into the bloodstream to alter tobacco cravings. The new contraceptive alternative to the “Pill” is a patch which contains very low levels of hormones and still has the ability to stop a woman from getting pregnant.

The real motivation behind the Cosmetic Industry's disconcern is money and profit. Chemicals, dyes and fillers mentioned below are found in almost every cosmetic product because they can be manufactured incredibly inexpensively and have a very long shelf life. If they were to discontinue using these chemicals for more healthy alternatives they would be severely cutting their profit margins to give you chemical free beauty products. In this battle their profits supersede your health. As a consumer your only response should be to discontinue using their products.

Large corporations in the personal-care industry are only motivated to be interested in their profits because the United States Government and specifically the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate or require any kind of federal, unbiased testing before a cosmetic or personal-care product hit the shelves. The FDA leaves it up to the cosmetics manufactures to test their own products. In essence, YOU the consumer are the Commercial Cosmetic Industry's guinea pig. No wonder virtually none of them need to test on animals anymore! The consumer is now the guinea pig of choice!

Currently, the cosmetic companies in North America alone generate over $30 billion in sales each year. Advertising through celebrities, slick magazine and TV ads, they give hope for a brighter, younger complexion, more beautiful hair and sexier features. What they don't mention is the long list of chemicals that go into that promise. Since the industry is not regulated, many cosmetic companies don't even bother to list the ingredients on their products.

It is concerning then, in light of all the information we know about the chemicals in the products that we slather on our skin EVERY DAY, that we are not more informed and outraged about the implications of constantly introducing these chemicals into our bodies. Little is known about the long term effects of the petroleum chemicals and synthetic products that we rub into our skin on a daily basis in the form of cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, etc. At this point scientists and researchers know that these chemicals pose a threat to human health and fertility and have been found in our bodies and ****** milk. Chemicals found in cosmetics and personal-care products are linked to birth defects, hormone disruption and reduced fertility not to mention more pervasive cosmetic damage such as rashes, mild to severe acne and eczema. Many people use cosmetics and lotions to cure skin issues. Ironically, the products they are using and hoping for a cure are the very same products that are causing the problem!

Even after reading all of this I'm sure you are still thinking, “I doubt the products I use every day have the chemicals you are talking about.” I thought the same thing until I looked into the research of a few different sources like the Environmental Working Group. I had to resort to these research groups since most of my cosmetics don't list the ingredients anywhere on the packaging. I soon found out that some of my (formerly) favorite cosmetic companies were rated among the worst for toxin levels in their cosmetics.

For more details about the specific chemicals of concern, please visit the Environmental Working Group's website -- click here. Please keep in mind, the EWG did not test every cosmetic company's products for this study. If the products you currently use are not mentioned please investigate your cosmetic's ingredient list.If you're thinking you will simply start buying cosmetics that say “organic”, “natural”, “hypo-allergenic” or “herbal” to avoid these dangerous chemicals please beware. Products with these labels still often contain these dangerous chemicals, minerals and synthetics because there is no regulation or standard that companies who label their products are required to follow. Read the ingredients.

The typical adult uses nine cosmetics/ personal-care products a day with an average daily load of around 126 chemicals. Most of these chemicals (including the one's mentioned above) are absorbed into your body through your skin. Others, found in lipstick and lip balm, you actually eat as they come off your lips when eating, drinking or wetting your lips.

Cosmetic companies use synthetics and fillers in their products to keep costs down and give themselves the greatest profit margin possible. They are spending pennies on the dollars you spend at your local drug or department store to buy their products. What you are paying for is an image of beauty perpetuated in advertisements. You are not usually paying for quality with most commercial cosmetic brands.

What can you do to save your skin and your body from exposure to a lifetime of harmless chemicals? Inform yourself, read labels, investigate products if they don't list ingredients. There are natural alternatives that are better for you and your skin. Afterglow Cosmetics provides you with beautiful, 100% safe cosmetic alternatives. None of our cosmetics contain ANY harmful ingredients like the ones mentioned above.

Sources:

Health Risks in Today's Cosmetics, Alliance Publishers, 1995

A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, Ruth Winter

Beauty to Die For, The Cosmetic Consequence by Judi Vance

Perfume Expose by Richard H. Conrad, Ph.D.

http://www.nirvanastyle.com/html/fashion_articles.php?id=283



By: NirvanaStyle Editor

About the Author:

I just got $65 dollars for babysitting, and I wanted to spend a portion of that on some new cosmetics. I have brown hair, fair skin but I'm not that pale, greenish blue eyes and full lips. (I don't want black eyeliner or lipstick, just so you know) Can anyone give me some inexpensive brand names for preteens? Also, I would like to be able to find these products at Walmart, or Target. Thanks so much.
Neutral colors for eyes

I am a lightskinned black woman and I have a hard time finding cosmetics in drugstores that are the right skin tone. Either they are too light or too dark. There seems to be no in between. I can't afford the higher end products all the time(department stores) can anyone help?

I'm not sure what's prompted my skin to suddenly become oily and prone to breakouts after 21 years of clear skin. I would appreciate any tips on skincare and cosmetics, particularly in finding a foundation that works well with oily skin.

I recently figure out in my cosmetics that Clinique, although it's dermatologically tested, doesn't put the saying "against animal testing" or so on its products. Besides Bodyshop, what else the cosmetic producers we consider concern to the animal life and thus deserved to be supported by animal lovers?