Did you know that we come into contact with 100,000 chemicals daily? And less than 5% of these chemicals have been thoroughly tested for their long term effects on humans? Those are pretty scary numbers for those of us striving to live greener lives whether by buying organic clothing or recycling. Head over to your medicine cabinet (or wherever you keep your makeup, your skincare products, your shampoos), and start reading the ingredient labels. One facet of our lives we forget to make greener is what we put on our skin every single day.
Cosmetics are not regulated by governmental agencies. That shampoo you put in your hair this morning and that moisturizer you put on your face? Their safety is determined by the cosmetic manufacturers. Does that thought scare you?
Thankfully, there are some things you can do. First, do NOT buy products that contain phthalates, formaldehyde, phenols, sodium laureth sulfate, coal tar, toxic dyes, and synthetic fragrances. Next, do not believe that a product is “natural”, because it is labeled as such. There are many products out there labeled as “natural” and “organic” that still contain paraben and formaldehyde preservations. You also do not have to sell off your firstborn child to be able to afford true organic beauty products. There are many inexpensive natural cosmetic lines that work just as well as the super expensive ones.
Another important thing to remember is you will NOT look like a celebrity. Do not fall into the advertising trap and buy a product just because your favorite celebrity wears it. Photoshop is their best friend. If you actually see a lot of the celebrities out there without makeup, they look more like us than you would believe.
You also don’t need a special moisturizer for your face. Save yourself some money and remember that less is more. Pay attention to what ingredient is listed first. In the US and Canada, any chemical above 1% by weight has to be listed in order by concentration. You do not want your first ingredients to all be chemicals. You should also choose items that come in sustainable packaging. Companies like Cargo pack their products in packaging that contains real plant seeds. On average, a plastic shampoo bottle would take 450 years to degrade in a landfill. A bottle made from glass can be recycled and a bottle made from corn and soya takes 30 – 40 days to biodegrade.
No one has ever disputed the safety of products like coconut oil, aloe vera extract, chamomile infusion, or green tea. They have been tried by millions over the ages, and their safety proven. Why are we using products with ingredients that can cause diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s which are worse than the problem we were trying to solve to begin with?
The amount of items in my own bathroom made me ill when I realized how many chemicals my family was using on a regular a basis. It doesn’t matter if you are using a bamboo towel if you are lathering your body with a product that has serious side effects!
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Excellent article! I often say, save money and save your face! The toxic chemicals mentioned above are found in 90% of the personal care products sold on store shelves. Unfortunately the personal care industry in America has very little regulation and the words organic, natural and pure don’t mean a thing. For example; 1 ingredient in herbal essence shampoo is organic, thus they can state this on the label, leading consumers to believe that the product itself is organic. NOT TRUE. Be smart, buy safe & build sustainability! The health of the entire world depends on it.
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