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Details on Women's Personal Care Product Ingredients
Parabens
"Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, cleansing gels and personal lubricants. Parabens have been found to cause skin irritation, contact dermatitis, or allergic skin reactions," according to Wikipedia. There was also a study showing parabens present in breast cancer tissue samples, this was linked to use of underarm deodorants, but many say there needs to be more research carried out before a causal link between parabens in cosmetics and breast cancer can be proven. You might not see the word parabens, but that does not mean they are not there, as these chemicals might be listed as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben or butylparaben.
Phthalates
This group of industrial chemicals is linked to birth defects and is used in many cosmetic products from nail polish to deodorant. Phthalates are not listed as ingredients on product labels; they can only be detected through laboratory analysis. In April 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC)—a coalition of environmental, social justice, and consumer groups—learned that the FDA has completed a study on the safety of phthalates in cosmetics but is refusing to release its findings. According to preliminary information uncovered by the CSC, two-thirds of health and beauty products analyzed by the FDA late last year contained phthalates.
Two of the most toxic phthalates, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), have been banned from cosmetics products sold in the European Union but remain unregulated in the U.S. In response to the FDA's refusal to publicly release this information, Friends of the Earth, a founding member of the CSC, has filed a a href="http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/toxic-cosmetics.htm">Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the study. OPI Products, the world's largest nail polish manufacturer, has removed dibutyl phthalate from its European product lines, but OPI refuses to remove the toxic phthalate from nail products it sells in the U.S.
Perfume
"Thousands of different chemicals are permitted to be used in perfume and they do not have to be listed on the product label. Fragrances have been linked to breathing difficulties and allergies. A typical cosmetic can contain 50-100 chemicals in the perfume. About 2,600 chemicals are commonly used in perfume; 95% of chemicals used in perfumes and as fragrances in cosmetics are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. Because perfumes are of low molecular weight they can easily penetrate the skin," according to the Guardian.
Petroleum
"Mineral oil and petroleum are the basic ingredients in many cosmetic products today. Both mineral oil and petroleum have the same origins in fossils fuels. Cosmetics such as foundations, cleansers, and moisturizers often contain mineral oil. By locking moisture against the skin, mineral oil sits on the skin's surface and can potentially block pores. This may cause the appearance of pimples because the skin cannot properly 'breathe'. Fragrances in lotions, shampoos, and many other cosmetic products are composed of aromatic hydrocarbons. Perfumes and products containing fragrance can contain many hundreds of chemicals to produce a distinct scent. A significant number of these aromas are derived from petroleum. One popular chemical additive that carries moisture in cosmetics is propylene glycol. It is also a derivative of petroleum. Past research links propylene glycol to serious health problems as liver and kidney damage as well as respiratory irritation or nausea if swallowed." Thanks to The Organic Makeup Company for the info.
Plastics in sanitary pads
"Since 1985, the trend has been towards thinner sanitary pads using less wood-based pulp and increased use of synthetic super absorbents made from petroleum. Apertured plastic film is mostly used as a cover on sanitary pads and liners today, and is often called the 'Dri-weave top sheet'. In reality, it is simply just loaded polyethylene film - or plastic with holes in to you and me... Disposal of used sanitary products is either by flushing out to sea, incineration, or depositing in landfill sites. Various pollutants, including dioxins, are continually deposited in the sea through sewage waste and air pollution from incinerators. This not only irreversibly damages and contaminates fish and other sea life; it inevitably results in human exposure to these toxins when we consume these plants and animals," according to NatraCare.
Carcinogenic coloring
"The Environmental Working Group found that seventy one hair dye products contain ingredients derived from carcinogenic coal tar. Coal tar hair dyes are one of the few products for which FDA has issued consumer advice on the benefits of reducing use, in this case as a way to potentially 'reduce the risk of cancer' (FDA 1993)."
Details on the E.U. Cosmetics Directive
In September 2005, an amendment to the E.U.'s Cosmetics Directive took hold, which requires companies doing business in Europe to eliminate chemicals in their cosmetics that are known or strongly suspected of being carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins. Of the thousands of questionable chemicals in these products, the directive targets about 450. (Compare that to the nine chemicals the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned or restricted in personal care products.) However, California has followed the EU's lead. Hoping to emulate the EU's efforts, California state senator Carole Migden has introduced the California Safe Cosmetic Act of 2005. This bill would require manufacturers selling cosmetic products in California to provide the state Department of Health Services with a list of their products and to identify products that contain chemicals identified as carcinogens or reproductive toxins. And another recent bill (AB 908), introduced by Assemblywoman Judy Chu would ban phthalates DBP and DEHP from cosmetics sold in the state.
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