C is for Conscious Cosmetics

Written by: Carole Schor on February 12, 2012.

Green Cosmetics - Good for your Natural Beauty & the World

How green is your cosmetic case?  Have you stopped to think about what the ingredients are in your lipstick or eyeliner?  We want to look beautiful, yes.  But we also have to stop and think about what price beauty to our natural health and the health of the environment.

A recent study done by the FDA has found lead in hundreds of lipsticks at levels up to 7.19 ppm. Five of the 10 most lead-contaminated brands in the FDA study are made by L’Oreal USA, and other companies such as Cover Girl or Maybelline or even, (gasp!) Burt’s Bees.  An advisory committee to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is no safe level of lead exposure for children and stressed the importance of preventing lead exposure for pregnant women.

In a recent article in Yahoo News, this quote appeared – “How many millions of women have applied and reapplied lead-containing lipsticks since we first raised concerns about this problem five years ago? How many kids have played with their mom’s lipstick?” said Janet Nudelman, interim director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and policy director at the Breast Cancer Fund. “It’s time for FDA to set a safety standard for lead in lipstick.”

There’s more and more evidence pointing to use of certain chemicals in cosmetics that are associated with increasing the risk of breast cancer – parabens, phthalates, toluene, heavy metals, ethylene oxide, and on and on – all substances which have been shown time and time again to increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer – all in products made almost exclusively for use by women.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (http://safecosmetics.org) is a consumer advocacy group that is looking out for our safety.  Please take a minute to give your support to this life-saving organization that is interested in your natural health and your natural beauty.