We are used to most of the food products we consume having increasingly detailed labels required by regulators that are very specific on their ingredients.  Food products are broken down by percentages and grams of fats (the good kind and the bad!), cholesterol, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, etc.  A detailed list of specific ingredients are also included and in descending order of volume.  There is even safety information if an item is manufactured in a facility that uses nuts in its products.  Lastly, there is an expiration date.  These reassuring labels leave us feeling safe and protected consuming those products.

What about cosmetics?  What is required on a cosmetic label and who regulates it?  Is the same level of safety there?  Did you know that it is the manufacturers' responsibility to ensure that its products are labeled properly?  How come the reassuring phrase "FDA Approved" is never seen on cosmetics?  What do some of their phrases mean? 

Be informed!  Find out more about cosmetic label requirements and their meanings at:

http://www.ourlittleplace.com/label.html

and

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/CosmeticsLabelingLabelClaims/default.htm

and

Interview: 
A video of Mark Schapiro, an investigative journalist and author of published book "Exposed" talks about the dangers of toxic substances in an everyday used products.

The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products

Two pieces of legislation purporting to improve and increase regulation of the cosmetics industry are making their way through Congress. The "Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011" and the "Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012" each promise to update federal regulations and put more power into the FDA's ability to monitor the industry.

Originally introduced in 2010 (where it died in committee) the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 is sponsored by Democratic representatives and contains strong provisions requiring the phasing out of ingredients linked to cancer. The Republican backed Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012 does not call for an outright ban on ingredients, but does attempt to create more formal processes for the FDA to review ingredients and set safety levels.

Details including how to pay for the expanded regulation and how to reconcile the two bills remain to be worked out. However, testimony before Congress earlier this year revealed two very salient facts:

1. The FDA cosmetic oversight program is staffed by just 53 people, compared to the more than 3,000 who work in the FDA drug review program.

2. The number of chemical ingredients banned in the United States is 10. In contrast, the European Union has banned more than 1,200 ingredients.

Seems like some kind of update to regulations first crafted in 1938 is a good idea. Even most of the cosmetics companies agree.

Information on the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011

Congress urged to modernize cosmetics laws

Everyone hates the thickness of glasses. Everyone loves the invisible of contact lenses. Contact lenses are becoming popular because of obvious reasons we all love: being invisible, enhancing the color of the iris, making the eye brighter or larger, and changing the eye’s color. They have dozens of colors that would match your needs and comfort.

However, we usually go for the loveliness of fashion that we forget about the risks contact lenses contain.

·         Dry eyes
·         Allergic reactions
·         Eyelid inflammation
·         Problems with cornea, swelling, hazy vision, corneal scratches, and changing in cornea’s shape
·         Eye infection
·         Possibility of blindness

These risks occur due to the underestimation of how damageable cosmetic contact lenses are to the eye. A lot of people nowadays buy contact lenses without an eye test simply because contact lenses have become a fashion. With so many colors available, the lenses provide opportunities to change one eye’s natural color. They stand as an accessory which people, mostly women, find as casually as sunglasses.

Plus, these lenses can easily be bought online without any secure test. Manufacturers of quality products require testimonies to insure that the colored part of the lenses is cushioned so they won’t put pressure on the eye. By buying online, consumers take off the chance to guarantee they’re getting qualified lenses. Poor-quality lenses cause scratches and holes in the cornea that can lead to blindness.

What most people don’t understand is that cosmetic contact lenses are not just a normal pair of glasses one simply put on one’s eyes. It’s not easy as taking them out whenever your eyes are tired or uncomfortable. The chemicals contained within contact lenses greatly increase the risk of infections which can deprive the eye of oxygen. You can enjoy moments of coolness, but the causes afterward worth heavily more than those short self-satisfaction.

More often than not, we all want what we can’t have. When it comes to hair types and styles, women will pay a lot of money for a different look. Women with straight hair get perms to have ringlets, and women with curly hair pay for relaxers and flat irons to heat their curls flat. In addition to relaxers, a new revolution has come about called the Brazilian Blowout. The purpose of a Blowout is to give women with curly, frizzy, or unmanageable hair a straight and tamed hairstyle that lasts up to six months. This sounds like a dream come true to those who spend hours a day taming their big hair, but at what cost? The Chemical and Engineering Journal has done studies that reveal what is really in the Brazilian Blowout treatment. They found that Brazilian Blowout contains levels of up to 12% formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen when inhaled, however the Brazilian Blowout company denies this claim. Despite the harmful chemicals used to break the protein bonds in hair to temporarily change its nature, women "just don't care." 

In addition to these chemicals being directly applied and diffused into the hair, the toxins get into the air and people surrounding the area in which the treatment is being given are set up to inhale the chemicals from the treatment. The procedures that women are willing to undergo just for a different look are more dangerous today than they were twenty years ago. People must realize the potential harms they face and cause others to be exposed to as well and assess the true worth of the treatment. There are other alternatives to decreasing frizz which are less harmful to the environment such as different hair products, flat irons, and hair dryers. 


http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i45/Hair-Straighteners.html

Getting a manicure is one of the many ways women relax and enjoy as a leisurely activity. When there is an event, it is always fun for women to go get a manicure and match their nail color to their planned outfit or accessories. Before 2010, a regular manicure would last about one week before the nail color would start chipping, no matter how professionally it was applied. In May 2010, a new type of nail color was invented called gel polish, or shellac. A shellac manicure consists of three different coats: A base coat, the color coat, and a top coat. Each coat consists of extremely strong chemicals that make the color shine and last up to two weeks before they stop looking as fresh. Many women think shellac saves them money in the long run because since the color lasts longer, they do not have to keep going back for a manicure or polish change. 
Shellac may save money in the short run, however the damage caused by the harshness of the polish could last a very long time. Due to the strength of the chemicals in each shellac coat, removing the color is a very harmful process. The nails must be soaked in pure acetone for 10-15 minutes to soften the color, followed by manually scraping the nails with a metal tool. In a study done by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, they observed the thickness of the nails of 5 different women before and after shellac manicures. Before the gel polish was applied, the average thickness of the left thumb was 0.063 cm. After removal of the gel polish, nails were noticeably thinner and more brittle and averaged a thickness of 0.050 cm. This is a significant drop in nail thickness. 
This study also found that it was unclear whether it is the harsh chemicals in the coats of gel polish or the removal process that causes such damage to nail health. However, the removal process is inevitable at some point after applying gel polish so it is difficult to clarify this gray area. 
Shellac manicures are great in that they look fresher for a longer period of time, but it is to each their own when it comes to deciding if the fresh appearance is worth the real underlying damage.

Did you know that up to 10% of the population will develop some type of allergic reaction to cosmetics during their lifetime?  Did you know that some of these allergic reactions may develop after years of seemingly successful use of a product?

Cosmetics, including shampoo, perfume, soaps, and cologne, are a daily part of almost every American's lives.  Some ingredients used in making these products can cause allergic reactions.  These reactions can occur within minutes, hours, days, or weeks after being exposed to them.  Sometimes persons develop a reaction to an ingredient in cosmetics that they may have used for years.  This can make detecting the cause of the condition challenging and cosmetic allergies can often go misdiagnosed.  These reactions can include skin irritations, rashes, and even respiratory issues.

Frequently we look for some terms on labels that we think make cosmetics safer or healthier for us.  That may not be the case.  The term "hypoallergenic" is a term that is not regulated and has no scientific meaning, but it implies a level of safety that doesn't exist.  "Natural" merely means that it is from nature, either plant or animal, and has nothing to do with whether you might be allergic to it or not.  The same goes for "Organic."  "Unscented" and "Fragrance Free" also may contain ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions.  These terms all imply a low or no allergic reaction product; however, virtually all cosmetics can create allergic reactions.  Reactions generally come from specific ingredients in cosmetics, but can also come from improper use or storage.  What else might you not know?

Be informed!  Learn more about cosmetics and allergies, as well as safety, detection, and prevention strategies at:
www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/cosmetics?print=true
and
www.livestrong.com/article/246070-allergies-to-cosmetics/

Chemicals in many different cosmetics have environmental impacts that ought not be ignored. Although around 60% of the cosmetics we use is absorbed by our body, the other 40% usually goes down the drain in the shower or sink, and this can greatly effect nearby ecosystems, especially when they drain into water sources (lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, aquifers...)
Many countries, mainly in Europe, have already begun banning these chemicals due to their impacts both on individuals who choose to use them, as well as the environment around them. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen associated with immune dysfunction. The Alkanolamine family Diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), monoethanolamine (MEA) are hormone disruptors. EDTA is not biodegradable and has been shown to bind with toxic heavy metals (like mercury, lead and cadmium), building up in aquatic ecosystems. Triclosan: found in breast milk, as well as 80% of US rivers & lakes. Just to name a few of the most hazardous. The environmental impact of PPCP's (pharmaceuticals and personal care products) is shown more thoroughly in the link through the image to the left.

When these chemicals accumulate in sewers, and eventually get deposited back into the environment where much of the repercussions exist in aquatic ecosystems. It is like our "second-hand smoke" of cosmetic use, and it is at the cost of the environment. The fish don't need our cosmetic chemicals!

• Earth-Friendly Makeup: How To Be Nicer To Your Face And Your Planet
• The Environmental Impact of Chemicals Used in Cosmetics

Just in the United States, Americans spent $33.3 billion dollars on cosmetics and other beauty products in 2010! That’s more money spent on cosmetics than new foreign cars ($27 billion) and on TV’s ($25 billion). On average, a person uses up to 15 different cosmetic products a day (shampoo, hair gel, cologne, toothpaste, etc.). And with all the products that we pour into our hair or rub on our skin, about 60% of if gets absorbed into our bloodstream!
The problem is that the majority of these products we use contain some very harmful ingredients. A few of the most common that should be avoided include:

• Phthalates: Endocrine disruptors and developmental toxins linked to asthma. They can be found in nail polishes and in blended fragrances used in many personal care products. Phthalates are banned in Europe.
• Parabens: a family of preservatives that has been detected intact in breast cancer tissue, mostly used to prevent microbial growth in makeup. Banned in Japan and Sweden.
• Formaldehyde: a carcinogen associated with immune dysfunction, commonly used in lotions, mascara, nail polish, and makeup remover. Banned in Europe.
• Triclosan: antibacterial agent used in body wash and hand wash. It’s been found to build up in breast milk, and has been detected in 80% of US rivers and lakes.

With all the harmful chemicals out there in our beauty products, it can be hard to figure out what’s right for you. Below is a link to the website “Skin Deep”, with over 68,000 products ranked it’s a very useful site to help figure out what the safest options are for you. They rank each item from 1-10 (1 being the least hazardous).
The link for “Skin Deep”:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Cosmetics are a daily part of millions of American's lives.  We use them routinely to brighten our lives and to make us feel better without much thought or worry.  Like other products, we presume they are safe and we presume they are approved by the appropriate government regulators.  Neither is always the case.

Do you know that, unlike most products, cosmetic manufacturers may use almost any ingredient they wish?  What else might you not know?

Find out how much you really know about cosmetics by taking the online FDA survey titled "How Smart are You about Cosmetics?"  It is a quick 6 question True / False interactive survey which will provide you new insight into something we use every day.  Be informed!

The link for "How Smart are You about Cosmetics?" is:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/videos/CFSAN/costf/costf.cfm

We take for granted soaps, shampoos, colognes, toothpaste, makeup and many more products that we put on our skin on a daily basis. For many of us it's such a habit we don't even think about it, but as an experiment, take a moment to catalog the different kinds of chemicals that touch your skin every day. For myself, I came up with this list for a typical day:

• Bar
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hair gel
• Deodorant
• Cologne
• Lip balm
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Aftershave

On certain days this might be supplemented with:

• Sunscreen lotion
• Antiseptic cream
• Dry skin lotion/foot cream

That's quite a list, and I haven't even stepped out of the house yet! 
One survey lists 168 ingredients in the products the average woman uses on a daily basis and 85 ingredients for the average man.

Because they are not food or drug related, the FDA does not regulate these products as strictly as those in other categories. No premarket approval is given or required for these products before they go on sale. Given that, and the number of chemicals involved, it might be time for all of us to check out some alternatives with more natural ingredients. You may find you look just as good, and you might feel even better about reducing your own personal chemical footprint.
The FDA will tell you all about how cosmetics are regulated (or not):
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm074162.htm
If you like statistics, some interesting ones related to personal care products can be found here:
http://www.reneeloux.com/natural_beauty/by_the_numbers_personal_care__/