Blog
Some Major Cosmetics Companies Using Fewer Toxic Chemicals
Janelle Sorensen
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Last month, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released new test results for beauty products from many leading manufacturers. The testing revealed that some cosmetics companies have reduced the number of toxic chemicals (many of which were unlisted on the ingredient label) used in manufacturing over the past few years.
Why the change in the production process recently? Public awareness campaigns and vigorous consumer demand for safer, non-toxic products have galvanized product manufacturers to clean up their acts.
The tests follow up on the 2002 report Not Too Pretty, which revealed that out of 72 name-brand, off-the-shelf cosmetic products tested – including shampoos, deodorants, fragrances and other products – 52 contained phthalates, a large family of industrial chemicals linked to permanent birth defects in the male reproductive system.
In the original tests, 12 products contained more than one phthalate and five products contained very high levels of diethyl phthalate (DEP), an irritant and suspected hormone disrupter that is absorbed through the skin and can accumulate in human fat tissue.
In the recent round of testing, an independent lab analyzed those same products still available on store shelves and found that:
• None of the products contained more than one phthalate, even though previously some contained combinations of five different phthalates.
• Some companies are still using high levels of diethyl phthalate (DEP), which recent human studies link to DNA damage in sperm and feminization of the male reproductive system. The five perfumes and colognes with the highest levels of DEP in 2002 all still showed more than 20,000 parts per million of that phthalate.
• Three of the fragrances – Charlie, Wind Song by Prince Matchibelli and White Diamonds Elizabeth Taylor – had higher levels of DEP in 2008 than they did in 2002. Charlie Cologne Spray, manufactured by Revlon, had more than twice as much DEP in 2008 as the same product had in 2002.
• Perfumes don’t need to contain phthalates. Poison perfume by Christian Dior – which in 2002 was the most contaminated product with four phthalates (DBP, DEHP, BBP and DEP) – had no detectable levels of phthalates in three of the four bottles tested in 2008, and low levels of DEP in the fourth bottle.
“After decades of irresponsible use of phthalates, some companies are finally getting the message that consumers don’t want to rub and spray these toxic chemicals on our bodies,” said Lisa Archer, National Coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “However, the problem is not solved. Some companies are still using high levels of phthalates, even though safer alternatives are available.”
It’s reassuring to witness this kind of progress and its a testament to how consumer demand can influence the marketplace. For more information, visit our friends at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
Posted by Joane on 06/09/2009 at 06:26 PM
I’ve read somewhere that every year we each absorb an estimated 2 kilograms of chemicals through beauty and cosmetic products!!! Chemicals found in lipsticks, skin lotions and hair dyes have been linked with tumours, cell mutation, allergies, reproductive complications, endocrine disruption and cancer.
Isn’t it time we all paid more attention to exactly what goes into the eye shadows, body washes and deodorants we love to use? Clearly, a new mindset is needed, focusing on preventing hazards like this from occurring, not only from governing organization but for us as end user.
Posted by Kairol Rosenthal on 01/15/2009 at 09:28 AM
I’m a 30-something cancer patient and author of Everything Changes: The Insider’s Guide To Cancer In Your 20’s & 30’s. I have been using the Safe Cosmetics database to check for parabens in lipstick, and other cosmetics.
Parabens are a preservative that have shown up in breast cancer tumors (see link below for research information). There are many kinds of parabens that have prefixes like metholparaben, etholparaben.
For clear gloss I use olive oil. For lipstick I use Bare Essentials. Not all of their products are paraben free but their lipsticks are. They cost about $13 at Sephora.
Best,
Kairol
More comments:
Posted by Andrea on 10/05/2009 at 08:14 AM
Thank you for sharing this info. I know my step mom wears one of the perfumes mentioned in this article and I will definitely be forwarding it on.