Some popular brands of cosmetics and personal care products contain chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. Worse, most chemicals have never been evaluated for health and safety. The good news is it’s easy to keep your medicine cabinet, bathroom products and makeup safe. And by making smart choices, you can change an industry.
READ BETWEEN THE LINES:
- Read the ingredient labels on the products you use most often and choose homemade or safer alternatives.
WHAT TO AVOID:
Some of the industry’s worst offenders include nail polish, hair dye, hair relaxer and skin lighteners.
- Nail treatments and nail polish often contain cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (also found in perfume and hair spray).
- Hair dye and hair relaxer often contain lead acetate and coal tar (also found in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams).
- Eye drops, some ointments and deodorants can contain mercury.
- Mascara often contains ethylacrylate and petroleum distillates (also found in perfume, foundation, lipstick and lip balm).
- Parabens, a preservative and suspected carcinogen, can be found in cosmetic and personal care products.
THE COST OF BEAUTY:
- Contrary to popular belief, pricy shampoos, toothpastes and beauty products are not always safer. In fact, many high-end products labeled “natural” are actually quite toxic.
CHECK YOUR PRODUCTS:
- More than 600 companies have pledged to replace toxic ingredients in their products with safer alternatives. Visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Compact for Safe Cosmetics Web page to find out which of your favorite brands is working to ensure your family lives healthy and well.
For More Information:
Visit Skin Deep, an online database of over 25,000 cosmetics and personal care products cross referenced against 50 toxicity databases. Look up the safety scores of products you use.
Download “Unmasked: 10 Ugly Truths Behind the Myth of Cosmetic Safety,” a brochure from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, at www.breastcancerfund.org/unmasked.
Read additional recommendations from the Breast Cancer Fund for reducing our exposure to toxic chemicals found in cosmetic products.
  
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