In a recent search to uncover exactly what i’ve been putting on my skin/hair, I came across the cosmetic safety database, a great website created by the researchers at the environmental working group. On this site, thousands of products have been tested and you can type in any of your products and check to see the degree of toxicity that it contains.
The results of a search will tell you if ingredients in that product are linked to: cancer; developmental/reproductive toxicity; violations, restrictions & warnings; allergies/immunotoxicity; and other concerns for ingredients used in the product. It will also let you know if the manufacturer has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics or conducts animal testing.
Frankly, I was shocked to look up some of the products currently living in my medicine cabinet. For example, I typed in Aveda Botanical Exfoliant. I had assumed that a company like Aveda would be using fairly ok ingredients, right? Well ingredients in it are linked to: cancer; developmental/reproductive toxicity; violations, restrictions & warnings; allergies/immunotoxicity; organ system toxicity and contamination concerns just to name a few! Not to mention that Aveda (now owned by Este Lauder) hasn’t signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. This product scored a 6 out of 10 (10 being the worst) hazard rating.
Although I’m not necessarily going to throw out all of my products and rush to buy new ones (that seems like a huge waste and financial commitment), finding better alternatives to my current products and replacing them when I’ve finished is the new plan. When the database brings up a rating of a product, there is a link that tells you which other products have less toxicity.
You can find it under the following topic(s): Cancer, Cosmetiques, Toxins.
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I’ve found that most of burt’s beese products are very safe. There are some out there that are safer, but they are usually hard to find and very expensive. I like that I can get Burt’s Bees just about anywhere. The few products of theirs that I have been dissappointed in are the raspberry conditioner (it was too runny and didn’t cling to my hair) and the carrot day cream (left me too oily) but everything else so far I have loved.
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:24 amI LOVE Burt’s Bees…their lip tints are the best I’ve ever used and have very flattering colors- lots of my friends use them and they’re great on different skin tones.
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:28 amSomething about Burt’s Bees is kind of funky to me. Sometimes their scents are so heavy and make me dizzy.
Isn’t that awful about Aveda?! What are they thinking???? I found this out a few months ago when I was researching skin products. It is so antithetical to their branding to use parabens etc… I just don’t get it.
Stella McCartney has a new line of eco-certified organic products. I tried the line. I found some of it very alcohol based and was not very impressed with what it did for my skin.
Dr. Hauschka and Jurlique are still two primary lines of skin care I use. I don’t spend much money on things anymore, now that I am a mom, but decent skin care products are worth it to me.
September 3rd, 2007 at 2:27 pmThanks for this, as I am researching this topic for a friend starting her own make-up line… While many fashion designers have embraced sustainability in their work, this sadly cannot be said for professional make-up artists, entrenched using combat ready cosmetics which all models complain about… something needs to change. Jackie Chan threw his hat into the ring, as actors are also fed up turning their skin over to kamikaze make-up artists insistant on using hazardous chemicals! Here are a few links I’ve gathered:
September 3rd, 2007 at 5:28 pmhttp://www.safecosmetics.org
http://cemagazines.com/portal/2005/02/uglypretty.html
http://shop.jackiechan.com/store/category?cid=43
http://www.hvhealthyliving.com/article/57
http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/cgi-bin/pbg/searchresult.html?q=0658017934&x=15&y=10
Such an important topic - Women need to be aware of what’s, in our cosmetics and personal care products. That’s why my friend (who had breast cancer at 42) and I started Pure Know How - to educate and give solutions to the growing issues of toxins.
And don’t forget to watch out for greenwashing.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:35 pmThere are safe alternatives for healthy and effective products without harmful chemicals or carcinogens. Read all about the problem and the solutions at http://www.healthy-communications.com
February 19th, 2008 at 10:32 am