UNMASKED:
1. TOXIC CHEMICALS ARE IN OUR BEAUTY
PRODUCTS—AND IN OUR BODIES.
Every day we use multiple personal care products—
from shampoo to deodorant, lotion to make-up—that
contain toxic chemical ingredients that are absorbed
through the skin, inhaled or ingested. Some of these
chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, learning
disabilities and other health problems that are epidemic
in our society.
2. SMALL EXPOSURES CAN ADD UP TO HARM.
The cosmetics industry says it’s safe to put toxic
chemicals into personal care products because the
amount in each product is too small to matter. But
none of us uses just one product a day—and small
amounts of toxins can add up to harm. Chemicals
linked to cancer and birth defects do not belong in
personal care products, period.
3. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
PROTECTING US, BUT IT’S NOT.
Major loopholes in federal law prevent the government
from requiring safety testing or approving
the safety of cosmetics and body care products. In
the United States, the cosmetics industry—not the
government—is in charge of product safety.
4. YOU CAN’T BELIEVE
INDUSTRY SAFETY CLAIMS.
Manufacturers say their products are safe. But what
do those claims really mean? They may mean the
company has tested its products, but only to ensure
the ingredients don’t cause rashes, swelling or other
acute reactions. Companies
are not required to test their
products for long-term negative
health effects, such as cancer or
the inability to have a healthy child.
One third of personal care products contain at least
one chemical linked to cancer, according to the Skin
Deep report by the Environmental Working Group, a
partner in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
5. THE $50-BILLION U.S. COSMETICS
INDUSTRY ROUTINELY OPPOSES LAWS
THAT WOULD PROTECT CONSUMERS AND
THE ENVIRONMENT.
The Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance Association
(CTFA) has lobbied against laws that would control
pollution at cosmetics manufacturing plants, require
recycled content in packaging or add more consumer
safety information on labels. The industry says it
doesn’t need laws because it can voluntarily regulate
itself.
THE TRUTH CAN ALSO BE BEAUTIFUL
Many companies are already making safer products,
and are striving to make even safer products in the
future. More than 600 companies have signed the
Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to remove hazardous
chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives.
Unfortunately, none of the major brands
found in most drug stores—such as Revlon, L’Oreal,
Estee Lauder or Proctor & Gamble—have signed the
pledge. Help us give the cosmetics industry a
makeover! Take action at www.safecosmetics.org.
Because
“USE DAILY”
shouldn’t be
dangerous
advice
Due to this lax regulation, many personal care products have the word “organic” in their brand name or otherwise on their product label, but unless they are USDA certified, the main cleansing ingredients in particular are usually made with conventional not agricultural material, combined with petrochemical compounds.
A new study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association found the carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane in a large number of leading personal care products misbranded as organic, including Giovanni, Natures Gate and JASON (
Many of these companies misbrand “Organics” on their labels but consumers should look for products certified under the USDA [place link to our recommended products page here], because there are other weak so-called “organic” standards that a product can become “certified” under, which do not allow ethoxylation and 1,4-Dioxane, but allow hydrogenation and sulfation of conventional, not organic material, to make cleansing ingredients preserved with synthetic preservatives.
OCA’s Coming Clean Campaign is focused on cleaning up the organic personal care industry by ridding of fraudulent labeling that is misleading consumers. Over 400 organic businesses have signed on to support this campaign (see a list of supporting businesses
