Are Your Beauty Products Giving You Cancer?
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 8:49PM Oh man. I just stumbled across the Environmental Working Group's database of beauty products tonight and it scared the hell out of me. Why aren't more news outlets writing about this? The EWG, a DC-based nonprofit that advocates for health-protective policies, has rated the safety of over 69,000 products on a scale of 1-10 based on their chemical ingredients, and let me just say, the results are SHOCKING. For example:
Softlips Vanilla Lip Protectant SPF 20 lives in my pocket. I use it probably 10 times a day. I wrote about it here. Apparently it contains a bunch of ingredients linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies and other scary stuff! I had no idea! Granted, I've never looked at the ingredients before, but even if I had, they're just a bunch of weird 12-letter chemicals that don't tell me anything. I guess that should've been my first warning.
How is this possible, you guys? We live in the United States, a relatively safe, first-world country. Surely the government wouldn't let us unwittingly poison ourselves.
Wishful thinking. The beauty industry isn't regulated in the same way as the food and drug industry (which definitely gets away with selling us some shady stuff in its own right). In fact, companies can legally market a product as organic without it actually being organic, which would mean it's been certified by the US Department of Agriculture. Watch this video:
Think about all the creams, serums, soaps and sprays you use every day. Without realizing it, many of them are full of toxic chemicals that could be the reason you develop breast cancer when you're 50 or give birth to a baby with developmental problems or suddenly develop a new allergy. This is serious shit, you guys!
I strongly recommend searching for your beauty products in the EWG's cosmetics database. You can read about the safety of each ingredient. Here are some other popular products that got scary ratings:
I'm kind of freaking out about this. How am I possibly going to stop using SoftLips? I just bought three new tubes! I can't bring myself to look up any of my other favorite products. Not until I can come up with a game plan (and the funds) to switch to an all organic regiment.
This feels rather overwhelming. I've always known that beauty products contain tons of weird chemicals, but I've never known just how ridiculously COMMON it is for so many MAJOR brands to use ingredients that are directly linked to health concerns. Cancer, you guys! Birth defects!
Is anyone else worried about this?
Reader Comments (4)
I went through the same shock about a year ago and have slowly been replacing my beauty products with products that have safer ratings on EWG's site. For chapstick, I've switched to John Master's Lip Calm ($6, http://www.johnmasters.com/lip.htm). I've also started using some makeup from Tarte and RMS, and skin care from Arigato (a local line). While it can be tougher on the wallet (especially as I live on a very limited budget), my previously sensitive skin is now better than ever.
EFFFFF! This sucks. I'm pregnant and have been trying to SLOWLY decrease my dependency on unnatural cosmetics... switched to natural deodorant, eye cream, etc, but even some of the natural ones I use are marked as hazardous. This is probably the kick in the ass I need to clean out my cupboard of the shit that will affect me poorly, but damn it, it's going to be expensive...
Oh man, thanks so much for the chapstick rec, Ashley. I need to start experimenting with eco brands to find one I like best. Currently testing out Intelligent Nutrient's organic chapstick. I'll also check out those skincare brands. Glad someone out there's been doing some research! :)
I know this is old, but as far as the allergies go, especially to cosmetics-those can be pretty scary, including the one I had! Bliss Labs eye depuffer is definitely not my friend, as well as Aveno Calming body wash, & MAC's brush cleaner! I'm allergic to all of those & they all have one common ingredient Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein; which is in about every shampoo & conditioner- including my favorite- Aveda!