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Killing Yourself to Be Pretty?

by Myscha Theriault on 25 February 2008 9 comments
Photo: Wili Hybrid

Ever wonder what exactly is in the personal care products you use? As I’m finding out lately, the answer is rarely as straightforward as one might hope. Thanks to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep project and their cosmetics database, you can find out exactly how your favorite brands measure up for toxicity and animal testing. Wanna know more? Read on . . .

This database takes popular name brand cosmetics and rates them on a scale of zero to ten in terms of toxic safety risk. Just enter a search based on product category, and the site will index the results from the lowest risk to the highest. Nail polish, shampoo, fragrance, basic skin care and cosmetics are all among the categories of products available to generate a report on.

Got a product that’s not in their database? No problem. You can submit the product and they’ll put it on the list to be checked out. How does it work? They have an additional database of ingredients known to be allowed by the government to be included in various personal care products. When a product is added to be analyzed for a safety percentage rating, it’s ingredient list is used to help determine the result.

They are also apparently working to change the laws about what the companies are allowed to do with labeling and ingredient inclusion. Currently there’s also an interesting You Tube video on fragrance embedded in the home page on the lower right. It covers what’s in fragrance, what’s allowed through the labeling loop holes and what risks go along with certain allowed ingredient items.

Want to check it out for yourself? Click here.

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25 Feb. 2008 | 5:24 PM Lucille

The page was down when I tried to go to it (the database).

I noticed I can't stand lots of perfume any longer, the cheaper the worse the issue. I did some looking online and ran across a Canadian study that pointed out how perfume has changed in recent years. Many perfume companies are using chemicals to make their scents instead of the old traditional ways of using essential oils and such to create perfumes. It mentioned some of the chemicals and substances, many of them known to be really toxic.

I also have gradually moved my cosmetics over to mostly mineral makeup. I never realized how much my skin was being irritated by regular chemical based cosmetics until I quit using them. I also noticed after changing the old ones had been contributing to me wheezing after putting them on. Never noticed until I quit using them and didn't wheeze after putting on makeup. They kind of go with that whole green cosmetics. I also love that they don't go stale like oil based foundation and such.

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25 Feb. 2008 | 11:33 PM Hilary

The database is more than just cosmetics, think things like soap and shampoos and toothpaste. A lot of those are pretty harmful as well.

I've been slowly switching out most of my products but there are a few I haven't been able to let go of so I'm just not using them as often (waterproof mascara ... there's not exactly a natural alternative to the waterproof aspect there.)

Even if you don't use that database to check every product, start reading ingredient labels. Just because something is labeled "natural" or "mineral" doesn't mean it's quality. I know several of the drugstore brands (not all) basically just re-branded some of their existing products and slapped "mineral" on them because it's the hot new buzzword and isn't regulated. And no, I don't think the FDA should get involved ... but I'll leave that rant for some other time.

Myscha Theriault's picture
26 Feb. 2008 | 8:08 AM Myscha Theriault

I'm thinking that with all the interest and people spreading the word, we might have overwhelmed their server. Although they routinely get over a million readers / visitors a month. It really is a cool site. Hopefully they'll be back up and live soon.

Thanks for stopping by, you guys. Have a great day.

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26 Feb. 2008 | 8:22 AM Hayden Tompkins

1. EVOO - I wear it as a moisturizing mask. Or put it in my hair. Is there nothing olive oil cannot do?

2. Sugar - Perfect as an exfoliant. Everywhere but your face.

3. Baking Soda - Perfect as exfoliant for your face. It's gentle.

4. Tea Tree Oil - Good for killing bacteria. (acne)

5. Neosporin (cream) - CAN be good for killing bacteria. (acene) Some people have reactions, so be careful.

6. Frownies - Because wrinkles suck.

Plus I have a bajillion Aveeno moisturizers. I am pretty confident that all of my stuff is 'natural'.

Myscha Theriault's picture
26 Feb. 2008 | 8:36 AM Myscha Theriault

I too LOVE sugar scrubs. Thanks for chiming in.

Guest's picture
26 Feb. 2008 | 1:15 PM BigRed

the term "chemicals" is being misused here--I think you mean to differentiate between purely synthetic chemicals that are manufactured in large vats in Camden NJ, right? Because the components of olive oil, Aveeno products, etc., are also chemicals.

Sorry, I am a PhD chemist, and the term "free of chemicals" is a complete misnomer, unless you're talking about plasmas...

:)

Myscha Theriault's picture
26 Feb. 2008 | 1:19 PM Myscha Theriault

Cool to have someone with your knowledge chiming in. This whole category of posts I've been doing is showing me just how hard it is to be a completely informed consumer. I think I try hard to be one, but there are so many areas to consider for every single purchase these days . . .

Thanks again for stopping by.  

 

Guest's picture
27 Feb. 2008 | 10:57 PM Beth Terry

I second Hayden about using olive oil as a substitute for many other things. In fact, I wrote about one such use here:

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/02/plastic-free-sex-part-1-reducing.html

Amanda from the Skin Deep Database was tickled that I mentioned them in a post about personal lubricant. But yes, you can look up your lube on the site as well as your lipstick and blush.

Myscha Theriault's picture
28 Feb. 2008 | 5:24 AM Myscha Theriault

Good one Beth. You go, girl!