Are You Using Toxic Cosmetics?

When placed on the skin, any molecule with a molecular weight of under 500 can get absorbed through the skin. This is called the “500 Dalton Rule”.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the average U.S. woman uses 12 personal care products and/or cosmetics a day, containing 168 different chemicals. Most men use fewer products and are exposed to about 85 chemicals daily. Teens, whose developing bodies are especially vulnerable to chemical exposures, use an average of 17 personal care products a day and are exposed to even more. Many of these chemicals have a molecular weight of under 500 and can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

EWG tested teens to find out which chemicals in personal care products were found in their bodies. They detected 16 different hormone-altering chemicals, including parabens and phthalates.

You might be surprised that potentially harmful chemicals exist in your body lotion, deodorant, shampoo, and cosmetics. Only after a product is deemed to be harmful, adulterated, or misbranded can the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take regulatory action and it rarely does. Now a bipartisan group of lawmakers, who are fed up with the addition of dangerous chemicals to beauty and skin care products, are calling for much-needed change.

In Europe, more than 1,300 chemicals are banned from use in lotions, soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics, and other personal care products. Contrast that to in the US, where just 11 are banned.

The bottom line is that you need to be your own healthcare advocate, read labels and check products for their potential toxicity. A great source to check on products is the EWG Cosmetics Database.

Products bearing the USDA 100% Organic seal are among the safest if you want to avoid potentially toxic ingredients. Beware that products boasting “all-natural” labels can still contain harmful chemicals, so be sure to check the full list of ingredients.

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