What Are We Putting On Our Skin?

Recently, the Environmental Working Group Conducted a sweeping analysis of more than 23,000 cosmetic and personal care products. On of their most amazing findings was that 1 of every 30 products sold in the U.S. fails to meet one or more of the standards set by the industry itself or by the government.

Here are some other conclusions:

• Nearly 400 products sold in the U.S. contain chemicals that are prohibited for use in cosmetics in other countries.
• More than 400 products contain ingredients thatthe cosmetic industry's own safety panels have found unsafe when used as directed on product labels.
• An astonishing 98% of all products conain one or more ingredients never publicly assessed for safety.
• More than 1,300 products contain ingredients about which the industry-sponsored Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel said there is insufficient data to determine whether they are safe in cosmetics.

And then there are the dozens of chemical ingredients in the personal- care products that the government and the industry say are safe, but for which there are troubling, though not definitive, study results. Parabens are a good example. Parabens are synthetic preservatives and they're in all sorts of lotions and potions. Industry and the government say they're safe. However, researchers examining the effects of these chemicals in lab animals and in marine life say they suspect parabens are hormone disruptors. Most companies disagree, but some have decided to err on the side of caution.

How can you find what's really in the products you use?

The Environmental Working Group, an organization with solid scientific credentials, maintains a massive database on the ingredients and hazards associated with the vast majority of personal care products sold in this country. It is called Skin Deep and it's easy to check the products you use everyday. Just go to cosmeticdatabase.com.

-info taken from Green Goes With Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet