News Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: December 5, 2011

Article: Slide Show: The Ten Most Toxic Cosmetics: What's On Your Face

Summary:

Just because a cosmetic is popular and being sold around the world does not mean that it is safe. In the United States no one regulates cosmetics and thus many contain harsh chemicals with links to serious diseases. Among the brands cited in this article? Almay, Aveeno, Avon, Revelon, Smashbox, Nars, Estee Lauder brands and Johnson & Johnson

WHY IT AFFECTS YOU

- The Average American woman uses up to 12 products on her face every single morning (cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation, concealer, eyeliner, eye makeup, bronzer, blush, lipgloss, mascara, powder... oh and let's not get started on your nightime routine!!!) ... do you have any idea what is in the products you are using? Actually no one really does because NO ONE is regulating what chemicals are used in beauty products... no one.

- Eighty-nine percent of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the FDA

- Companies do not have to disclose their 'secret recipes', even when commonly used products from the brands that women rely on the most contain chemicals that have been linked to cancer, organ failure and birth defects.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

- Look up your favorite products in the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database to see how it rates and what chemicals it could possibly contain.

- Next time you go shopping for a beauty product take a look at the Environmental Working Groups highly rated cosmetics listed at Body Sense

-Limit the amount of products you use on a daily basis, especially if it contains FRAGRANCE (this is another word for phthalatean endocrine disruptor that causes reproductive disorders in boys, early puberty in girls associated with increase risks of breast cancer, among other things)