Showing posts with label cosmetics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cosmetics. Show all posts

Ever wonder what's in your shampoo or bath wash...

Or in your baby's?

In 2007 a study was released about the dangerous ingredients found in popular children's and adult's products. Here's an excerpt:

"A hidden cancer-causing petrochemical has been found in dozens of children’s bath products and adults’ personal care products, in some cases at levels that are more than twice the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s lenient recommended maximum.

Laboratory tests released today revealed the presence of 1,4-Dioxane in products such as Hello Kitty Bubble Bath, Huggies Baby Wash, Johnson’s Baby Wash, Scooby-Doo Bubble Bath and Sesame Street Bubble Bath. The tests also found the carcinogen in Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo, Olay Complete Body Wash and many other personal care products.

1,4-Dioxane is a petroleum-derived contaminant considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a clear-cut animal carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program. It is also on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to cause cancer or birth defects. Because it is a contaminant produced during manufacturing, the FDA does not require it to be listed as an ingredient on product labels."

To read the rest of the article, is actually frightening. They provide a list of common soaps, shampoos, and bath wash from multiple companies, in which this known carcinogen is highly present. To me - this is extremely upsetting. What kind of chance to we have to lead healthy lives, if our trusted brands and soaps aren't even safe? David Steinman, author, says, “Consumers who have young children, as I do, have the right to expect the highest purity in children’s products... I call on American consumers to say no to dangerous petrochemicals in their children’s cosmetic and personal care products.” To read the entire article, click HERE.

Ever read the back label on a bottle of Johnson's Baby Shampoo, No More Tears? Check this out... A website called Organic Passion recently posted this:

Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, PEG-150 Distearate, Fragrance, Polyquaternium-10, Tetrasodium EDTA,Quaternium-15, Citric Acid, Yellow 10 and Orange 4.

Quaternium-15 is a preservative found in many cosmetics and industrial substances that releases formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is one of the largest indoor pollutants in our homes. It is a recognized carcinogen, an immunotoxin, a reproductive toxicant, and a neurotoxin that can cause CNS & neurological disorders.

It is a common ingredient found in many products in your home such as air fresheners, rug cleaners, bubble bath, perfume, liquid scouring cleansers, toilet bowl cleaners, floor finishes, pressed board furniture, toothpaste, hair spray, soap, floor wax and furniture polish to name a few, but worst of all babyshampoo!

Symptoms caused by formaldehyde include allergies, cancer, asthma and cold like symptoms from immediate exposure.

Nice, huh? Thanks to all you companies out there who keep our babies smelling so sweet and clean, right? Thanks from all the millions of us who have unknowingly lathered our little ones in poison! Many other people have written on this same topic. HERE's another site. Google it yourself. The information is out there...

I know many people who use the above products - and I wish I had the knowledge at the time when I needed it, to tell them what's going on with these new findings. I wish I could reach every mom and dad out there and show them these numbers and give them an alternative. I wish I could go to every baby shower and share with those moms-to-be some information about what they will be using for their baby. But, at least I can share a bit now.

This year Shaklee came out with a new line of baby products: shampoo/wash, lotion, massage oil, and diaper rash cream. This is their promise: "Formulated with natural
ingredients, Shakleebaby personal care products are pediatrician tested to be safe and effective - without all the things that don't belong on your little one's skin. After all, babies are the most precious gifts in the world, and it's up to us to keep them safe and healthy. And because a baby's skin is 5 times thinner and more permeable than an adult's, we make sure to keep chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, and sodium lauryl sulfate out - and leave all the good stuff in."

If you have little ones at home, look at the ingredients on those bottles and see what's really entering their skin - the biggest organ of our bodies. And while you're at it, look at your own cosmetics and shampoos. Gentlemen, inspect your shampoos, soaps, shaving creams... If you don't know what all the scientific names mean (and I can guarantee you I don't - I can barely pronounce the words!) look it up, or call the company. You may be surprised with the findings.

Dirty Dozen Consumer Products!

The National Cancer Prevention Coalition provides a list of "avoidable" consumer products which have been linked with cancer. This list was an eye-opener to me, and was the number one reason why I switched out so many of my cosmetic and cleaning supplies. I think you are going to be shocked by what you find on this list! They offer "safe alternatives," and so does Shaklee. Check them out and see if you use any of these items!

Click here to read Article 1. Click here to read Article 2.

FOOD

1. Beef Frankfurters - (eg. Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation)

2. Whole Milk - (eg. Borden or Lucerne)

COSMETICS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

3. Talcum Powder- (Johnson & Johnson. Inc.)

4. Cover Girl Replenishing Natural Finish Make Up (Foundation) (Procter & Gamble. Inc.)

5. Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste - (Procter & Gamble. Inc.)

6. Alberto VO5 Conditioner (Essence of Neutral Henna) (Alberto-Culver USA. Inc.)

7. Clairol Nice 'n Easy (Permanent Haircolor) (Clairol. Inc.)

Indoor Air Pollution: Cleaning Up Cleaning Habits... Most people spend more than half of their lives indoors. The significance of indoor air-quality, has become more important in recent years as a result of efforts to make our homes more energy efficient. As we tighten up our homes to prevent heat exchange, we also prevent air exchange and pollutants released into the home environment are trapped for long periods of time. Second-hand cigarette smoke, gas stoves, and wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are major sources of indoor air pollution. But home products like cleaning agents, aerosols, air fresheners, and disinfectants contribute to the problem. These products may also contain hidden cancer-causing ingredients.

Q. What kinds of chemical ingredients should I be wary of? A. There are a large number of chemicals included in air fresheners and cleaning products that are suspected of causing human health problems. Cancer Prevention Alert No. 8, Hazardous Ingredients in Household Products, lists these in detail. The Safe Shoppers Bible, written by CPC Chairman Dr. Samuel Epstein and Board Member David Steinman, is also a good resource for choosing household products. Carry such a resource along when shopping for cleaning products because many products do not disclose all ingredients, claiming that ingredients are "trade secret."

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

8. Ajax Cleanser (Colgate-Palmolive. Inc.)

9. Zud Heavy Duty Cleanser (Reckitt & Colman. Inc.)

10. Lysol Disinfectant Spray (Reckitt & Colman. Inc.)

11. Zodiac Cat & Dog Flea Collar (Sandoz Agro. Inc).

12. Ortho Weed-B-Gon Lawn Weed Killer (Monsanto Co.)

13. Blue Glass Cleaner (NYCO PRODUCTS)

14. Professional Windex Concentrate Glass Cleaner (S.C. Johnson Wax)

15. Big D Concentrated Aerosol Room Deodorant (Big D Industries)

16. Heavy Duty Institutional Formula WHISTLE All Purpose Cleaner with Ammonia (Drackett Products Company)

17. Dee All-Purpose (Aerosol) Cleaner (Dee Janitorial Supply)

If you are interested in more detailed information, please contact me...