Dangerous beauty?
We all make an effort to look pretty. We read the fashion and beauty magazines in search of the latest products that are supposed to stop wrinkles from creeping up on us, or make our pores invisible, or hide our flaws in one way or another. We are so obsessed with beauty that some of us won’t even run to the store for a gallon of milk without donning full makeup.
Something wrong with it? No. There is nothing wrong with looking good. Yet, we need to pay more attention to what we put on our skin. Many people carefully examine the labels on their food, but how many of us are wise enough to check the labels on our personal care products?
Most of us think that our cosmetics are safe. We believe that the FDA insures toxic chemicals are not added to the products we use many times daily. The FDA itself (www.fda.gov) explains that regulations regarding the sale of cosmetics are less strict than for other FDA-regulated products. In fact, the FDA doesn’t even regulate cosmetics until AFTER the product is put on the market.
Manufacturers aren’t even required to register with the FDA or submit any data regarding their products, although they are encouraged to do so. The FDA can and does perform inspections of products in regards to safety, but it isn’t a requirement in the same way food and drugs are tested.
Toxins in personal care products. About 884 chemicals used in personal care products and cosmetics are known to be toxic. In fact, many ingredients used in personal care products are the very same harsh chemical toxins used in Industry.
Would you be surprised to find out that sodium laurel sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate (SLS), common detergents that are used in most shampoos, bubble baths, shower gels and other cleansers, is also used to clean garage floors and to degrease engines? Can we possibly be surprised when our skin feels dry and our hair is fried?
Some of those chemicals— phthalates, formaldehyde, petroleum, parabens, benzene and lead—have been variously linked to breast cancer, endometriosis, reproductive disorders, birth defects and developmental disabilities in children. Is it really a surprise that cancer has become so common in this toxic world?
What’s a person to do? In the next few weeks look out for e-mails from BeverlyD. We will be discussing safer beauty and all things real, natural, organic and living.
Hey Beverly- I am glad you are also pointing out these awful chemicals. Cheap stabalizers and preservatives like parabens save the big skin care companies big money. I use grapeseed extract in my cream, The Solution, as a preservative, along with an airight pump.
Overtime, I believe the inorganic, harsh, chemical compounds will stress and tax the skin!