KEY
WORDS
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The beauty laws that regulate cosmetic and body products have not been changed in 80 years. Many products sold by companies are not regulated in any way, which allows these companies and major brands to add ingredients without listing them on the products. It has now become the consumers’ job to check and research the ingredients within the products they use to make sure they are safe and healthy, for not only themselves, but their families as well. I chose to research this topic and create this website to bring awareness to this issue and to inform consumers to understand and think about the products that we buy and use. With this information, it puts the power back into the consumers’ hands and gives us the ability to make conscious and safe decisions when it comes to the products we put on our skin, on our face, and in our hair. This topic has been my passion and it is my goal to bring awareness and change within the beauty industry because we deserve to have safe, healthy, environmentally conscious products.
ABOUT ME
My passion for this issue stems from a health concern my family and I have dealt with regarding my youngest sister. She was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called Thrombocytosis. Her body makes too many blood platelets which makes her body able to form a blood clot and die at any time. This is a lifelong disease with no cure, making every day a gift for her and for those of us who love her. She was on chemo for a couple months when my family knew that was not the answer. We started to look into alternative holistic medicine – something that has changed our lives forever. Not only did we change how my sister ate, products she used, and how she lived, but my entire family changed our lifestyle to be more sustainable, organic, and green. As our lifestyle changed my mother who is a hairdresser and owns her own salon started to look at her business and realized that the products she was using were toxic and harmful. Through research and perserverece she opened the first all organic hair salon in our area, getting all of the hair color and products straight from the United Kingdom. The U.K. has stricter regulations and laws when it comes to safe beauty compared to the U.S. This led me to take a passion in our new lifestyle and through that I began my research on the beauty and body products. My goal is to share my family and sister’s journey through spreading awareness on this issue, and be able to help consumers to be more informed and choose safer and healthier products. Enjoy!
ABOUT
Titanium
Dioxide
Nanoparticles
LINKED TO:
lung cancer, possible carcinogen, enters blood stream and lungs
LOOK FOR:
titanium dioxide, TiO2
FOUND IN:
loose and pressed powder, lotion, sunscreen sprays, body sprays
MAKEUP
ABOUT
Butylated
Hyroxyanisole
LINKED TO:
skin depigmentation, liver damage, stomach cancer, interferes with normal reproductive system development and thyroid hormone levels
LOOK FOR:
BHA, BHT
FOUND IN:
lip products, hair products, makeup, creams, deodorant, sunscreen, fragrance
ABOUT
Carbon Black
LINKED TO:
cancer, organ system toxicity
LOOK FOR:
carbon black, acetylene black, channel black, thermal black, D & C Black No. 2
FOUND IN:
eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, brow pencils, lipstick, blushers, rouge, foundation, nail polish
ABOUT
Benzophenone
LINKED TO:
cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity, irritation, ecotoxicity
LOOK FOR:
benzophenone or BP with a number (ex. BP2)
FOUND IN:
lip balm, foundation, fragrance
ABOUT
Talc
LINKED TO:
irritation, cancer, organ system toxicity
LOOK TO:
talcum powder, cosmetic talc
FOUND IN:
eyeshadow, foundation, lipstick, deodorant, face masks, feminine hygiene products, baby powder
ABOUT
Petroleum Distillates
LINKED TO:
dermatitis, cancer causing impurities, made where automobile fuel and heating oil is produced
LOOK FOR:
petroleum distillates
FOUND IN:
mascara
ABOUT
Nitrosamines
LINKED TO:
cancer, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity
LOOK FOR:
DEA, TEA
FOUND IN:
every kind of personal care product
ABOUT
Formaldehyde Releasing
Preservatives
LINKED TO:
cancer, irritation, headaches, immune dysfunction, joint pain, allergic reactions in eyes, nose, throat, skin
LOOK FOR:
quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, glyoxal
FOUND IN:
eyelash glue, color cosmetics, nail polish, nail glue, hair smoothing products
ABOUT
Lead Acetate
LINKED TO:
cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity, bioaccumulation
LOOK FOR:
chromium, thimerosal, hydrogenated cotton seed oil, sodium hexametaphosphate
FOUND IN:
lip products, eyeliner, foundation, blush, concealer, moisturizers, eye shadows, nail polish
ABOUT
Fragrance
LINKED TO:
hormone disruption, allergens, reproductive toxicity, 3,059 ingredients are used and named as fragrance or parfum which are not regulated
LOOK FOR:
fragrance, parfum, perfume, essential oil blend, aroma
FOUND IN:
most personal care products, soap, body wash, deodorant, lotion, scrubs, perfume
SKIN & BODY
ABOUT
1-4 Dioxane
LINKED TO:
cancer, irritation, organ system toxicity
LOOK FOR:
1,4- Diethylene dioxide, 1,4- Dioxacyclohexane, Diethylene oxide
FOUND IN:
liquid soap, shampoo, children's shampoo
ABOUT
Mineral Oil
LINKED TO:
cancer, this ingredient coats the skin, aggravates acne, premature aging, disrupts skin natural immune barrier inhibiting its ability to breathe, absorb moisture, nutrition, release toxins
LOOK FOR:
mineral oil
FOUND IN:
lotions, creams, ointments, cosmetics
ABOUT
Phthalates
LINKED TO:
endocrine disruption,
developmental and reproductive toxicity, carcinogen
LOOK FOR:
phthalate, DEP, DBP, DEHP, fragrance
FOUND IN:
fragranced lotions, body wash, hair care products, color cosmetics
ABOUT
Polyethylene
LINKED TO:
skin irritation, human carcinogen, ecotoxicity, bioaccumulation
LOOK FOR:
PEGs (tiny plastic beads in products)
FOUND IN:
face wash, body scrubs, body wash, toothpaste
ABOUT
Retinol
LINKED TO:
cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity
LOOK FOR:
retinol, vitamin A, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, all trans retinoic acid, tretinoin
FOUND IN:
anti-aging creams, lotions, moisturizers, foundations, serums
ABOUT
Triclosan
LINKED TO:
endocrine disruption, immune disruption, triclosan- resistant bacteria, bioaccumulation
LOOK FOR:
triclosan (TSC), triclocarbon (TCC)
FOUND IN:
antibacterial soap, detergent, toothpaste, tooth whitening products, deodorant, shaving cream
ABOUT
Octinoxate
LINKED TO:
endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental toxicity, organ system toxicity
LOOK FOR:
octinoxate, o methoxycinnamate (OMC), parsol, parsol MCX, parsol MOX, escalol, 2-ethylhexyl, p- methoxycinnamate
FOUND IN:
sunscreen, skin creams, nail polish, shampoo, hair care products
ABOUT
Retinyl Palmitate
LINKED TO:
developmental and reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity
LOOK FOR:
vitamin A palmitate, retinol palmitate, axerophthol palmitate, retinol, aquasol A
FOUND IN:
skin creams, skin and face serums, lotions, moisturizers, foundations
ABOUT
Resorcinol
LINKED TO:
skin and eye irritation, skin sensitization, organ system toxicity, endocrine disruption
LOOK FOR:
Resorcinol, 1,3-benzenediol, resorcin, 1,3-dihydroxybenzene
FOUND IN:
hair dye, shampoo, hair masks, face peels, products used to treat acne and eczema
HAIR
ABOUT
Toluene
LINKED TO:
developmental and reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity, irritation
LOOK FOR:
toluene
FOUND IN:
hair dyes, nail polish, nail treatments
ABOUT
Parabens
LINKED TO:
endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, cancer
LOOK FOR:
ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, ingredients ending in –paraben
FOUND IN:
shampoo, conditioner, lotion, facial and body wash and scrubs
ABOUT
Sulfates
LINKED TO:
skin irritation, disruption to skins natural oil balance, acne
LOOK FOR:
sodium salt, polyethylene glycol
FOUND IN:
shampoo, body wash, face wash, mouthwash, toothpaste
ABOUT
Ethanolamine
Compounds
LINKED TO:
cancer, organ system toxicity, bioaccumulation
LOOK FOR:
triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolamine (DEA), cocamide DEA, TEA-lauryl sulfate
FOUND IN:
soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, lotion, shaving cream, paraffin, wax, household cleaning products, pharmaceutical ointments, eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, blush, foundation, fragrance, sunscreen
ABOUT
Coal Tar
LINKED TO:
cancer, organ system toxicity
LOOK FOR:
coal tar solution, tar, coal, carbo-cort, coal tar solution, crude coal tar, benzin B70, petroleum benzin
FOUND IN:
shampoo, scalp treatments, soap, hair dye, and lotion
ABOUT
P- phenylenediamine
LINKED TO:
skin sensitization, cancer, mutagenicity, organ system toxicity
LOOK FOR:
para-phenylenediamine,
4-aminoaniline,
1,4-benzenediamine,
p-diaminobenzene,
1,4-diaminobenzene,
1,4-phenylene diamine
FOUND IN:
hair dye
ABOUT
Isobutane
LINKED TO:
organ system toxicity, irritation, bioaccumulation, ecotoxicity
LOOK FOR:
1,1-Dimethylethane, 2- methyl- propane
FOUND IN:
mousse, airs sunscreen, hair spray, shampoo
ABOUT
Methylisothiazolinone
LINKED TO:
skin irritation, lung and eye irritation, ecotoxicity, neurotoxicity
LOOK FOR:
any ingredients including the
word methyl-
FOUND IN:
shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, hair color, hair bleach, sunscreen
