STEP ONE: KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT PRODUCTS
THE TRUTH IS, there have been no new laws or significant update in regulations for the US beauty and personal care industry since 1938. Think of all the synthetic ingredients and product formulas that have been developed since World War 2. There are thousands of ingredients being used in products that are untested and unregulated. These are the products you are using on your skin and hair every day!
“The law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, to have FDA approval before they go on the market… Neither the law nor FDA regulations require specific tests to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients. The law also does not require cosmetic companies to share their safety information with FDA.” – FDA website
Europe has banned nearly 1,400 chemicals from beauty and personal care products, Canada has banned 600, the United States has banned 30.
Why the disparity in numbers? Simply, the Europe Union is being proactive in personal care product safety. They are banning known harmful ingredients and seeking to identify other concerning ingredients. Companies are required to prove the safety of ingredients before they can be used in products. On the other hand, US laws are weak and passive. Companies selling in the US are self-regulating and can use any ingredient without needing to prove its safety first.
There are known links between ingredients commonly used in US products and diseases like cancer, hormone diseases, early puberty, ADHD, anxiety and depression, and many other conditions. It is shocking, horrible and unacceptable.
Here are just a few examples of concerning ingredients commonly used in your products:
Lead is banned from house paint but it’s not regulated in lipstick and has been found in high levels including “organic” or “natural” options! [Read more about lead and heavy metals..]
“Fragrance” is an umbrella term that enables thousands of ingredients to be used without being separately listed in the ingredient panel. [Read more about fragrance…]
Preservatives are required for beauty and personal care products containing water. Without preservatives, bacteria and mold can grow very quickly. Preservatives are needed as personal care products can sit on store shelves and in our bathroom cabinets for months. Unfortunately, preservatives commonly used are connected with hormone disruption and other health problems.
Without full ingredient disclosure, regulatory testing, or industry accountability, there is absolutely no way to know if your products are safe.