Are Your Skin Care Products Making You Sick?

If you don't know the answer, then maybe it's time you found out. The Skin Deep Report, a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), found that most common cosmetics -- including lotions, foundations and lip balms -- contained known or probable carcinogens.

Most people use these products without a second thought, and believe that the government must be policing the safety of the ingredients in these commonly used items. But this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The government does not require health studies or pre-market testing for these products before they are sold. According to the agency that regulates cosmetics, the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, "...a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA" (FDA 1995). And as people apply an average of 126 unique ingredients on their skin daily, these chemicals, whether they seep through the skin, rinse down the drain, or flush down the toilet in human excretions, are causing concerns for human health, and for the impacts they may have to wildlife, rivers and streams.

Rather than blame the big names who refused to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics (you know who you are L'Oreal and Revlon), enjoy the quality products from these fine companies who have signed the Compact: Jason Natural Products, Reviva Skincare, Honeybee Gardens Skin Care, Burt's Bees Body Care, derma e Natural Bodycare, Ecco Bella Botanicals, Nature’s Gate, Bonnica Spa products, Weleda.

The Compact for Safe Cosmetics is a pledge to not use chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects in their products and to implement substitution plans that replace hazardous materials with safer alternatives in every market they serve.

Great cosmetics don’t have to come with a hefty price tag and loads of chemicals - try Reviva and Suncoat which users also give rave reviews. So do something good for your body and the environment, support these companies and buy safe, natural skincare and cosmetics.


Reference: Environmental Working Group & Campaign for Safe Cosmetics