Chemicals in Cosmetics

The cosmetic industry has been under fire for including harmful chemicals in makeup, perfumes, and soaps. However, continued regulation and eco-conscious companies have turned the industry around, and now savvy consumers can research their cosmetic products to see what they're really made of.

Safe Cosmetics: Provides a downloadable .pdf file of all companies who have signed a compact with their organization. Their organization, The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, seeks cosmetic companies who will agree to make their products safer and to make their ingredients known to consumers. They also desire to see laws changed so that cosmetic companies will be required to be more responsible with the chemicals they use in their products.

Inspired Living: Lists a number of chemicals commonly found in beauty products. Under each chemical is information from the chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This site is an advertisement for organic products, but it provides very useful information on chemicals and their effects.

EcoChildsPlay: Focuses on hormone-altering chemicals found in teenage girls that are a direct result of cosmetic use. It warns that there is no federal regulation regarding chemicals in cosmetics, and 16 chemicals were found in the blood and urine samples of 20 teens studied, some of which can alter development.

The Green Guide - The Dirty Dozen: Lists 12 chemicals that should be avoided, especially in long-term use. Each chemical is followed by its risk and in what products it is most commonly found.

The Environmental Working Group: Reports that 61% of the bath products marketed for children that were tested for this site contained two chemicals that are known carcinogens. Those chemicals are formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, and this report focuses primarily on those two chemicals and the consequences of the presence of those chemicals in our baby personal care products.

United States Food and Drug Administration: Originally appearing in 1994, this article gives a run-down of the most common chemical ingredients in particular cosmetics. These products include moisturizers, antimicrobials, solvents, and color additives, to name a few. However, this site does not speculate the possible risks any of these chemicals may have to the consumer or any responsibility the manufacturer may have or should have.

High Blood Pressure Info.org: Claims that certain chemicals, when applied to the skin, or even when absorbed through the skin, can cause hypertension in some individuals. Our body maintains a pH of 7.5, and when our body absorbs certain chemicals, it becomes too acidic and inflamed, causing secondary hypertension. The site goes on to identify certain cosmetics that may be of particular danger to the user.

American Council on Science and Health: Likens concern of chemicals in cosmetics little more than a “scare” that began to take shape in 2004. They attributed the fear to certain groups who hyped up the public about chemicals in cosmetics and their dangers, and then calculated in the media’s response and grandstanding.

Chemicals in cosmetics may be poisoning us: Such is the claim of this associated press writer. He states that our bodies have large amounts of mercury, and we have acquired this mercury through the use of cosmetics and toiletries.

Colipa - The European Cosmetics Association - REACH and Chemicals: Explains the new REACH regulations in Europe was is legislation designed to control potential risks to consumers when using cosmetics and toiletries. Companies are required to identify and control potential hazards in their ingredients. This legislation has been in effect since June of 2008.

Pure Prevention: Choose Safe Cosmetics: Urges consumers to choose cosmetics that do not contain toxic ingredients. They list ingredients to avoid and products to avoid. They also warn against using any baby products containing formaldehyde and/or 1,4-dioxane, a common ingredient in many products such as shampoos and bubble bath liquids.

California Safe Cosmetics Act: In January 2007, California passed the act to require manufacturers to release and identify potential toxic ingredients in their products. There is a brief explanation as to why California felt it was necessary to pass this legislation.

Organic Beauty: Explains to consumers to be cautious of makeup products that claim to be organic, since they may or may not comply with organic beauty standards.

Idea Marketers: Teaches how to identify organic makeup and explains why organic makeup is better for your body. It also makes the point that the environment is also spared the chemicals that are used to process the synthetic cosmetics and toiletries.