What Should You Look for When Buying Eco-Friendly Personal Care Products?

We would all love to believe that “what they sell is obviously safe or they wouldn’t sell it.”  However, as we have all learned, manufacturers are not always perfect.  For one thing, there is often a rush, as a result of limited capital, to get a product to the market.  This means that products are not always thoroughly tested before heading to the public.  A few years later, the product that was once loved and thought to be safe, can suddenly turn out to be anything but.  In other instances, the Food and Drug Administration allows for a certain level of some chemical or material, which is thought to be safe at such a low level.  However, as years go by and more and more of the product is used, the levels within the body can build up causing serious problems.  In much this same way many beauty products, which have been adored by women all over the world for many years, are suddenly being looked at more closely.  As it turns out, many are not as safe as we had thought they were.

Next time you head to the counter with a beauty product in hand, stop first to read the ingredient label.  There are several contents that are now raising suspicions.  Among them are toluene, aluminum chlorohydrate, petroleum by-products, and mercury.  If your product contains any of these, then it might be time to put it back and find another that doesn’t.

Toulene is frequently found in nail polish and gives it the varnish-like finish.  However, this chemical is also known as nervous system toxin in higher quantities.  As one polishes nails over and over again for several years, this substance could be building up within the body and causing severe damage to the nervous system.  Aluminum chlorohydrate is more frequently found in deodorant, and it causes known allergic reactions in many users.  It is also linked to Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Petroleum by-products are perhaps the most despised by the new wave of smarter consumer.  They are often used to make face creams and can include carcinogens.  Another to watch for is mercury, which is known to cause brain damage, yet is still found in some mascaras and some commercial eye drops.  These are not the only chemicals and substances that can be dangerous, so it is important to become wise to the growing list of dangers that can be present in even small compacts and eye shadows.  Read labels and try to find alternatives that are listed as “all organic.”  Those “made with organic ingredients” might combine organic features with much scarier materials.

It is also important to understand that being eco-friendly and good to your health doesn’t have to be expensive.  You don’t have to rush out and replace all of your personal care products at once, but try to make the switch as you replace them.  This can be healthier for you and the environment over the long-term.  Though, it might be wise to immediately replace those products that present the greatest risks.  For instance, lip sticks, moisturizers, and foundations are absorbed quite rapidly by the skin.  Each dose can bring with it a hefty amount of toxic ingredients. If you have concerns about the brands you use, or are just plain curious, there are websites that discuss each product in greater detail.  For instance, Skin Deep is website that rates products on the level of danger they carry with them.  A score of 0-2 is the best, whereas a score of 7-10 should raise many red flags.  So, if you are currently using Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse, you could go on the site and find that it has a score of 3.  This isn’t too bad; however, though the makeup doesn’t contain known carcinogens, it can be harmful in other ways.  So, maybe it would be best to use up what’s left then say hello to organic alternatives.  On the other hand, CoverGirl Classic Color Blush receives a score of eight.  This places it in the worst category and means that it contains known cancer-causing agents.  Products scoring this high should probably be the first to go.

Finally, before you make the switch to any product, keep in mind that false advertising does exist.  Just because it says ‘natural’ doesn’t mean that it is safe.  Before investing your money and your health in a new company, do a bit of research.  Take a look at the company site and search the internet for signs that the company is failing to tell the truth.  You might even search each included ingredient on the label, if you really want to be sure.  There are companies that are making conscious efforts to be eco- and health-friendly.  For instance, Burt’s Bees now offers a wide variety of personal care items that are entirely organic.