Often the beauty and personal care products we buy in our search for beauty and good health are in fact filled with toxins. The synthetic chemicals mimic estrogen and studies indicate that exposure to estrogen increases our cancer risk. Some of these chemicals are also linked to birth defects, learning disabilities and other health problems now epidemic in our society.

Using just 9 products (e.g. shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, skin lotion, makeup, etc.) per day means we are using 126 chemical ingredients.

Terms like 'natural,' 'organic' and the latest buzzword, 'green' offer no guarantee of the safety of these products. In fact the ingredients in personal care products are not overseen by the FDA. The EU bans more than 1,100 chemical ingredients but the USA has banned just 10. There is no governement standard for safety in personal care products. In fact it is the cosmetic industry that regulates itself.

The only thing that will work in eliminating these toxins is deciding to be an educated consumer. The following 3 suggestions can help and save us a lot of money.

First, know the ingredients (list below) that are known to cause illness.Watch out specifically for phthalates - banned in many countries, parabens and petrochemicals. Check the websites listed below for which products contain these chemicals and what are the reported illnesses:

Phthalates - according to the NRC for Women and Families, in 10/07 CA banned the use of this chemical in children's toys and childcare products.

Sodium lauryl sulfate - (aka SLS) - found in shampoos, hair conditioners, toothpaste, body washes; a strong detergent which can cause permanent damage to eyes, esp. in children, skin rashes, hair loss, mouth ulcerations, flaking skin. When used with other ingredients can form nitrosamines which are carcinogenic. Can lodge in the heart, liver, lungs and brain.

Additional chemicals to watch out for - and research - are:

methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl paraban

imidazolindyl urea

petrolatum

propylene glycol

pvp/v copolymer

stearalkonium chloride

synthetic colors

synthetic fragrance

triethanolamine

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The Environmental Working Group (ewg - see website below) performed lab tests on twenty teenaged girls between the ages of 14-19 and detected 16 chemicals in urine and blood samples.

In all my research it seems that the highest concern products are:

hair color and bleach

hair relaxers

nail polish

skin lightener

nail treatments

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Next, make up your mind to demand quality and value for your hard-earned money. It is not just the cheapest products with these toxic chemicals - it is also the more expensive name brands. As an educated consumer: refuse to buy these products, if you have them, take active participation in your health and toss them, and share this information with your people. As consumers, the power is in our hands and wallets to effect change.

Finally, never stop learning. With the internet information is readily available; best of all there is a wealth of information on this topic allowing you to make informed choices. Here are some websites:

safecosmetics.org

ewg.org

watoxics.org

center4research.org

mercola.com

cosmeticdatabase.com

jashbotanicals.com

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Stay healthy! (and see related links below)