When it comes to cosmetics and personal care products, most people are under the assumption that there is some government agency out there that is watching out for everyones safety. Unfortunately that is not the case.

 

The FDA does not require the testing of any ingredient before it is used in a personal care product, and they do not properly regulate ingredients to protect the public.

 

 Why should I use truly natural cosmetics and skin care products?

-Natural and Organic products are made without all of the toxic chemicals that are used in conventional products and that are known to be damaging to your health. New studies and reports are released, almost daily, regarding toxicity in mainstream product ingredients.

-There are over 10,000 chemicals used in the manufacture of conventional cosmetics and personal care products and only about 11% have ever been tested for safety.

 -A cosmetics industry-funded group, the Cosmetics Ingredient Review Panel, is currently in charge of reviewing the safety of cosmetics, not the FDA or any other government agency.

 -In the United States, only 10 ingredients have been banned for use in cosmetics. In the European Union, over 1100 ingredients are banned.

 

What is wrong with ‘fragrance’?

-The FDA considers ‘fragrance’ to be a trade secret, so manufacturers do not have to reveal which ingredients are used that make up a ‘fragrance’. There are approximately 4000 different ‘fragrance’ chemicals in use, the majority are petroleum based, and these cause most allergic reactions.

-When many conventional products are analyzed in a lab, known toxic chemicals are found that are not listed on the label. These chemicals are usually hidden under the term ‘fragrance’.

-Strangely, even ‘fragrance-free’ or ‘unscented’ products can have a ‘masking fragrance’ used to cover up the foul smells of the chemicals used.

-And, worst of all, most ‘fragrances’ contain phthalates (“thal-lates”), fixative chemicals used to make the ‘fragrance’ last. Phthalates are estrogen mimickers. If a pregnant woman uses a conventional perfume or a product with ‘fragrance’, the chemicals go through the skin, into the bloodstream, and start dosing the baby with what the body thinks is estrogen.

-‘Fragrance’ is in 96% of all cosmetics and personal care products.

And this is why all of the products we carry at About Face + Body are scented with only essential oils and hydrosols, which are natural plant based, and we avoid all commercial and synthetic ‘fragrances’.

 

 I have allergic reactions to many conventional products. Will these Natural and Organic products work for me?

We have many customers that have suffered for years with conventional products getting headaches, breaking out in hives and rashes, burning eyes, and much worse. Even the most sensitive types find relief using gentle natural & organic products.

 

Visit the Environmental Working Groups Cosmetic Safety Database - Skin Deep at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 42,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind. You can look up conventional toxic products and see why you should avoid them.

They have a wealth of information about the safety of cosmetics. Most people find it frightening, and enlightening.