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Entry bubble Taking the Mystery out of Makeup

By: Nicole | May 09, 2008 | Category: Health

One early morning in college, I was putting on makeup and accidentally dropped a bottle of foundation. LipstickIt exploded into shards of glass and a thick goop that covered the sink. After removing the glass, I scrubbed the porcelain surface for at least 10 minutes, trying unsuccessfully to remove the oily substance and peach-colored stain it left behind. All the while, I kept wondering: What is in this stuff anyway!?

Well, now I have an answer. A research group called the Environmental Working Group has developed the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which allows you to search by product to learn what is in your makeup and whether the ingredients are harmful. Skin Deep uses 50 different regulatory and toxicity databases to research the ingredients in common cosmetic products. It then assigns an overall hazard level for the product and for each of its ingredients.

I searched one cosmetic product I use everyday and discovered that it earns a level 4 hazard rating (10 is extremely hazardous). It contains ingredients associated with cancer, toxicity, allergies, and irritation. I couldn’t believe the detailed information I was able to find, and I couldn’t believe I’d been putting this junk on my face for the last five years.

The database will also tell you whether a cosmetics company has signed the Compact for Safer Cosmetics agreement and whether the company does animal testing. 

In addition, the FDA provides helpful articles about cosmetic products. The FDA also provides highlights about recent changes in cosmetics regulations. CosmeticsInfo.org, a site developed by the cosmetics trade industry, is another source of product information.

So, before you hit the makeup aisle, do some research to avoid the really nasty stuff.

| Comments [2] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: beauty  blush  compact  cosmetics  eyeshadow  foundation  lipstick  makeup  mascara  powder  safety 

Comments:

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JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE TOUCH AND USE HAVE SOME LEVEL OF HAZARD TO IT. BUT MANY MAKE-UP COMPANIES LIKE AVON AND MARY KAY HAS TAKEN SPECIAL EFFORT TO CREAT MAKE UP LESS OF A PROBLEM IT IS TRUE THE MORE YOU SPEND ON MAKE UP THE MORE QUALITY IT MAY HAVE THEN CHEAPER ITEMS BUT IT HAS LESS OF AN HAZARDS THEN KISSING SOME UNKNOWN PERSON? WHO'S MOUTH COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE. SO SAY NO TO HAZARDOUS THINGS LIKE UNSAFE DATING AND RISK THE POWER POINT RED LIPSTICK PURCHASE...

Posted by THE UNBIG SCARE on May 09, 2008 at 12:33 PM EDT #

BEAUTY IS A ENHANCER AND I THINK IT'S MORE SAFE THAN WHAT SOME MEN USE TO ENHANCE CERTAIN THINGS AND HAVE THE NERVE TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY IN A TUBE OF LIPSTICK I DON'T THINK SO BUDDY!!!

Posted by ENHANCING SAFETY on May 09, 2008 at 01:11 PM EDT #

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