Get Rid of Toxic Lip Gloss Guilt

Our Mission: We ignite the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. Donate »

Blog

Jessica Marie Little

Saturday, July 24, 2010

I wrap up my hair under my helmet, strap on my biking shoes, and generously apply a red, thick, viscous lip gloss before heading out. As I scoop out the red, clear plastic is exposed, reminding me I need to buy more. I stare at the wand for a moment. And the guilt creeps in. Why?

Because the ingredients label lists some highly suspect chemicals (Ascorbate, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Red 7)

Why does lip gloss have to be dangerous?

The process of de-toxifying my life and being more environmentally conscious is a never ending project. Sometimes it’s fun, sort of like a craft project. Other times it’s expensive, and I wonder whether it’s worth it. And when it comes my red lip gloss that I know is harmful, but I just can’t live without, I feel a whole lot of guilt. How about you? Do you have a personal care product you know isn’t the safest, most eco-friendly option, but you just can’t live without?

What if we could get rid of the guilt? (without shelling out big bucks for an “organic” version)

Would you support a bill that requires baby lotion, bubble bath, body wash, lip gloss, foundation, eye shadow, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, face lotion, sunscreen, deodorant, mascara, blush, concealer, hair cream, hair spray, and face wash TO BE SAFE?

For the first time in more than 70 years, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that will shift the beauty industry away from hazardous chemicals. Current law – the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938 (we know quite a bit more now about toxicity than we did back then!)– allows the cosmetics industry to make its own decisions about what’s safe, with very little government oversight. Check out this video debate about the flaws of the current regulation and the intentions of the newly introduced Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 will require manufacturers to be fully transparent about what’s in personal care products, and will set up a fair system to assess the safety of cosmetic ingredients and phase out the most harmful substances.

Take action today to tell your Congressional Representatives to support this important legislation - and know that a healthier future lies ahead.

Find Out More:

image courtesy of vidrio / CC BY-SA 2.0