Beauty & the Beast: The deadly side of beauty products

In this informative article, the Green Mama gets in-depth on phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals found in skincare and beauty products.

It was a gift.  The perfect little blue and white bottle of “Gentle! For Bebe!” baby shampoo in its foam pump bottle.  I used it on my baby for two years before I thought to check if it was safe.  It was French, I thought, it certainly wouldn’t contain known carcinogens, neurotoxins, and allergens. But, it did.

Start counting now. How many personal care (or beauty products) have you used already today?

Cleanser for your face, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, deodorant, lotion, mascara, lipstick, make-up remover, something for that blemish?  What about your child? Diaper cream, baby wipes, sunscreen, something for that cradle cap? You have probably already come into contact with more than 10 personal care items, if you have a young child, maybe even more.  Or, if the baby is really young, maybe the answer is 0.  If it’s been days since you brushed your teeth, showered, or used deodorant, you might be luckier than you realize.  

You have probably applied more than 126 unique chemicals to your body today, according to the independent scientists at the Environmental Working Group (one of my most trusted non-profit research groups).  Most of these have never been tested for safety.  Many of these we know cause cancer, feminizing properties in boys, and disturbances to wildlife.  There is strong evidence to suggest that some of them are also endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, and carcinogens. 

And should you be desperately looking for the good news right about now, clinging to the life raft of “It’s just my skin, it hasn’t killed me yet, my mom did it with me” or something similar, get ready to have your personal flotation device taken away.


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Original article: Beauty & the Beast: The deadly side of beauty products