photo credit: autumn_bliss
Majority of conventional cosmetics available on the market contain synthetic chemicals that are hazardous to one’s health, even though many manufacturers continue using natural ingredients for their products.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Americans had higher levels of phthalates (plasticizing chemicals) in their bodies than expected. Moreover, a metabolized from of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), present in nail polish and many synthetic fragrances, was found to be a reproductive toxin in animal studies.
What is most disturbing, is the fact that neither cosmetic products nor ingredients used are evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—the federal institution supposedly responsible for regulating such products. The requirement is that the manufacturers submit their products for a review on voluntary basis, however only about 35% do, thus leaving the customers with a whopping 65% of cosmetics on the shelves unevaluated for their safety.
In November 2002, the European Union banned the use of phthalates in cosmetics, however they are still deemed “safe and currently used” by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), a group funded by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) despite the numerous health concerns expressed by both the public and various organizations.
To make sure you use safe cosmetics and personal healthcare products, check the list of ingredients to avoid in “How to Choose Safe Cosmetics” or simply go for organic products, e.g. Avalon Cosmetics, Jason etc. The only problem with organic cosmetic industry is that despite the growing interest, the choices are quite limited.
