Beauty Article

The cosmetic industry is a huge business around the world that makes billions off consumers every year. Probably each and every one of us use a number of cosmetic products such as soaps
body cleansers
moisturizers
and make-up on a daily basis. In fact
according to a 2004 study conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
women use an average of 12 cosmetic products a day. When we are applying these products on and all around our bodies
we’re probably not thinking about the tearless shampoo we have in our hands as a possible danger to our health. Shockingly
recent studies have shown that a large percentage of common household cosmetic products that a lot of us probably have in our homes right now contain a substance that can be harmful to our health and cause cancer.

1
4
is a petroleum-derived contaminant that is thought to be a probable human carcinogen according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And according to the National Toxicology Program
it is a known carcinogen in animals. It is listed on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals that are either suspected or known to cause cancer and birth defects. 1
4
is a byproduct that appears during the manufacturing of cosmetics. Although it can easily be taken out during the manufacturing process for pennies
it is often not. The Food and Drug Administration does not require companies to list it as an ingredient on their labels because it is produced during the manufacturing process.

Unfortunately
it doesn’t end there. Jeanne Rizzo
R.N.
the executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund and a founding member of The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics stated
“Regrettably
1
4
contamination is just the tip of the iceberg…Because the FDA does not require cosmetic products to be approved as safe before they are sold
companies can put unlimited amounts of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.” Incredibly
the FDA has no legal authority to require safety standards on cosmetic manufacturers and has only been able to ask companies to remove the chemical on a volunteer basis.

The FDA has known about 1
4
since 1979 and has given very mild guidelines and recommendations to manufacturers that their products should not contain greater concentrations of 1
4
than 10 ppm
or parts per million. Even with this lenient guideline
some 15% of the products tested exceeded this limit. Some of the products that contained the highest level of 1
4
that were tested included: Clairol Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shampoo
Oil of Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins
Johnson and Johnson’s Watermelon Explosion Kid’s Shampoo
Hello Kitty Bubble Bath
Disney Clean as a Bee Hair and Body Wash
and Gerber Grins and Giggles Gentle & Mild Aloe Vera Baby Shampoo.

If this is alarming to you
beware
because the list doesn’t end there. Until the cosmetics industry is more regulated
consumers must exercise caution while shopping. A greater knowledge of ingredients and their effects will keep you and your families safe.