Who regulates cosmetics? NO ONE! In 1938 the cosmetic industry was granted self-regulation. Nothing has changed since 1938. The FDA isn't even authorized to approve cosmetic ingredients.
The U.S. federal government doesn't require health studies or pre-market testing on personal care products. Manufacturers are free to use almost any ingredient they choose. As a result, we are exposed to chemicals that cause: neurodevelopment disorders, lung, liver & kidney tumors, genital abnormalities, reproductive/infertility problems, skin allergies, learning disabilities and cancer.
In the U.S., 80,000 ingredients are used in our cosmetics. Of those 80,000, only 200 have been tested for safety. Of those 200, only 11 ingredients have been banned by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel. Only 11!?!? In Europe, they have a much stricter regulatory environment. The Eurpoean Union has banned hundreds of ingredients.
YOU need to be responsible for regulating what you buy, what you put on your skin, and you need to learn what chemicals to stay away from.
Did you know our skin is our biggest organ? We absorb up to 60% of what we put on our skin. The average woman exposes herself to 167 chemicals on her body and face during her daily beauty regimen. The average for men is 100. Children's bodies absorb 40-50% more than adults. They are at higher risks for diseases later in life when exposed to toxins. Over 300 contaminants have been detected in the umbilical cord of newborns.
I used to be a product whore. I loved buying different scrubs, masks, and cleansers. My shower was so full of product I had no where to put my leg up when I needed to shave. Sigh. My linen closet was just as bad. I had so many products in there I started to run out of room for towels. My makeup addiction was worse, how many different shades of pink lipstick does a girl need?
These products contain chemicals, very harmful chemicals, that I slathered on my skin with every day. I never thought twice about what I put on my skin. I figured what they sold in the store was regulated and since it was ok to sell it, it would be ok to use it. Boy was I wrong.
My eyelashes were my pride and joy. They were long, thick, and amazing. People always used to compliment me on them. My mascara of choice was Diorshow. Oh how I miss Diorshow. I had tubes of it everywhere, in my makeup bag, in my car, and in my office. I couldn't live without it. Then my lashes fell out.
I went to my primary doctor, then to my dermotologist, then back to my primary doctor. I was finally given a prescription that cost $100 and had to be picked up from a compound pharmacy. It was a cream I applied to my lash line every night. My lashes started to grow back within a few days. Once I had stubs, I got Novalash extensions. These lasted until my eyelashes almost fully grew back. Phew. Now back to the Diorshow.
About eight months later, they fell out again. This time I didn't go to the doctor. Instead I started researching. I wanted to find out what could be causing this to happen. I read that castor oil is a hair growth stimulant. Castor oil is an all natural liquid laxative that has been around for years. I went to the store and bought it. I started applying it on my lash line at night. My eyelashes grew back. Faster and thicker than they did before.
While researching, I read article after article about how harmful the chemicals are in makeup. The more I read, the more I realized it wasn't just makeup. It's the face wash I use, the shampoo I use, the shave gel I use, and even my deodorant. I became obsessed with learning more. The more I read about it, the more product I started throwing away. I would go on vacations, read books, come home and throw out more products.
What a difference two years makes. Now, my shower contains only seven products. Three of those seven products I made. The other four were purchased from chemical and toxin free companies. I don't wear mascara at all anymore. The only makeup I own is a pot of concealer, a pot of bronzer, one pink lipstick and one red lipstick. I am an expert at reading labels. I know what chemicals to look for and stay away from. I educate my friends and I want to educate others, so I created this blog....
