Did you know ….
Your Personal Care Products and Household
Cleaners May Affect the Health of Your Family?
Table of Contents

The Cosmetic Conspiracy

Protect Yourself & Your Family ……
“Keep Out of Reach of Children”

The Truth about Secret Ingredients

Did You Know?

Harmful Ingredients …..
“Contents May be Harmful or Fatal …”
“May Cause Irritation to Skin”
“Avoid Contact With Eyes”
“Prolonged Use May Damage Skin …”
“May Cause Severe Hair Damage”

“Contact Poison Control”

Harsh, Toxic Industrial Chemicals Are Invading Our Lives

Products Targeted to Children Contain Hazardous Chemicals and Ingredients
Not Found Safe for Kids

Fluoride Resources
The Cosmetic Conspiracy
Are you paying top dollar for bottom-of-thebarrel products? In the personal care industry,
expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.
When you purchase cosmetics, your skin is at
the mercy of big business. And at $28 billion a
year, the cosmetics industry is pretty big
business.
They’re more interested in the promotion and
profit potential of their products than your
health. After all, what they’re selling is an image, not necessarily a safe and effective
product. Unfortunately, the FDA has very few regulations to protect you from the
cosmetic and personal care industries. In fact, they’re not allowed to review cosmetic
products or their ingredients before they reach the market place and your home --- they
can’t even require companies to do safety testing of their products.
According to the FDA’s own website (www.fda.gov), they have little power to ensure
that companies make realistic and truthful claims about the performance of their
products. It’s up to you to protect yourself from the powerful persuasiveness of the
cosmetics industry.
How many times have you seen the words natural or hypoallergenic on the front of a
skin care product? Cosmetic companies are slick advertising and buzzwords like these
to convince you that you’re buying a safe product. The catch is that products labeled
natural and hypoallergenic aren’t necessarily either of these things.
There are no industry-wide standards for what the word natural refers to. Your
standards are likely to be a lot higher than those of the decision-makers at the cosmetic
companies who are guarding their Christmas bonuses more carefully than they’re
guarding your health.
Every week companies introduce new products that are supposed to be better,
healthier, and more effective. But are they? Let Revlon Director of Public Relations,
Dan Moriarty, answer the question.
He admits that in Revlon’s New Age Natural
cosmetics line, “the base formulas are the same as our conventional products.”
Many of the so-called new and improved products are old formulas in flashy new
packaging designed to appeal to today’s consumer. All this does is up the price, not the
quality. Consumers do have one protection. Cosmetic companies have to at least list
the active ingredients on product labels. Yet big corporations always seem to find a
way of getting around pesky regulations that might decrease their profit margins, and
the rule about active ingredients is no exception. Companies selling personal care
products hide controversial or dangerous ingredients under the label of “trade secrets.”
Because of the intense competition in the industry, if a company believes it uses an
ingredient that is relatively new to the industry or makes their product unique, it can
petition the FDA to prevent disclosure of that ingredient by granting trade secret status.
This spells delight for the company and disaster for you.
It means that even if you are conscientious enough to read and decode the product
label, some of the ingredients may not even be listed, In that case, you’re totally at the
mercy of the cosmetic industry and since companies aren’t required to safety test their
products, who know what harm those “trade secrets” may cause?
Even if there are no “trade secrets” on the label of your personal care products,
companies have one other mask to hide behind – scientific jargon. Many of the
ingredients on the labels are so scientific that even if you do read them, there’s no
guarantee they’ll help you understand what’s actually in the products.
Senator Edward Kennedy drew attention to finds
made by the investigative branch of Congress, the
General Accounting Office, during a Congressional
debate on how to strengthen the FDA. The GAO has
identified more than 125 cosmetic ingredients
suspected of causing cancer – and others that may
cause birth defects.
~ Boston Globe September 6, 1997~
For example, propylene glycol sounds innocent enough – it’s a common ingredient in
moisturizers – but did you know it’s also a main ingredient in antifreeze and brake fluid?
If you could tell that from the label, you probably wouldn’t be so quick to clean your face
with it.
There is some hope. The FDA does act on complaints about unsafe products once they
have been released to the marketplace, but don’t be too comforted by this – the FDA
estimates that manufacturers receive about fifty times as many complaints as the FDA.
This doesn’t’[t even come close to accounting for the number of people who have
problems and either don’t report them or are never able to trace them back to their
cosmetics in the first place. If you can’t trust the cosmetics industry and the FDA isn’t
protecting your health, then it’s up to you to protect yourself and your family. If you’re
willing to read labels and learn to decipher some of the chemical jargon, you will find
products that are both effective and safe.
Understanding the long term effects of these dangerous chemicals and what products
contain in them is the first step on avoiding disastrous results for you and your loved
ones. If nothing else, this information will make you a more informed consumer, one
aware of potential health risks. Most importantly, it could save your life.
Protect Yourself & Your Family ….
“Keep Out of Reach of Children”
Every day you try to protect your children from the dangers of crime in their school, gang
violence, abduction, and countless other problems that threaten them outside the walls of your
home.
What you may not realize is that the dangers in your home are
just as likely to harm your children as anything outside.
Products that your children use every day contain ingredients
that studies have linked to cancer, blindness, and death.
What you don’t know about these products could kill your
children before you even know there’s a problem. The solution
to this new plague is as simple as reading product labels.
One of the worst and most widespread of these dangerous
ingredients is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It’s an artificial detergent derived from coconut oil
that’s used in a variety of products. SLS is absorbed through the skin and is retained in the
brain, heart, and liver. Studies show that SLS also affects other areas in the body, such as your
children’s still-developing eyes. SLS has been shown to retard the proper development of eye
tissues, causes cataracts, slow the healing of other eye problems, and even cause blindness.
The dangers of SLS are hardly a secret to the medical community. In fact, SLS is used in labs
and medical facilities as a standard skin irritant. Scientists use it to purposely harm the skin n
order to test healing agents.
Many toothpaste and soap companies include warning labels such as, “Keep out of the reach of
children” or “Not for use by children under six”.
Of course, you’ll have to search to find these warnings buried under instructions for use and
ingredient lists. But aren’t your kids worth the time it takes to read a label? As a detergent, SLS
makes the products it is combined with more creamy or lather up better. Manufacturers use it
primarily because it is cheap and readily available. Some of the
products that can contain this cheap filler are: shampoo, soap,
toothpaste, and lotion. You don’t have to stop using these products
altogether – all you need to do is use quality brands that avoid SLS.
You probably make sure that your children’s toothpaste contains
fluoride because that’s what dentists have been recommending for
years.
However, most toothpaste contains enough fluoride in four ounces to
kill a small child. A study done in 1990 states that fluoride has been
shown not to reduce cavities. What’s worse is that scientists are now
linking fluoride to dental deformity, arthritis, allergic reactions, and
about `10,000 unnecessary deaths a year from cancer. Research
also indicates that swallowing toothpaste can lead to Crohn’s disease
(a chronic disease involving scarring and thickening of the bowel wall).
You’ve learned to keep anything potentially dangerous out of reach of little hands, and now is
the time to permanently retire the fluoride toothpaste as well. At the lease it can corrode the
ename3l on teeth. At the worst, fluoride is deadly.
Another ingredient that can cause lasting harm to your children is the alcohol in your
mouthwash. Some brands of mouthwash contain as much as twenty-five percent
alcohol, and when ingested by children, even small amounts can be toxic. One ounce
of mouthwash can cause seizures and brain damage in toddlers and five ounces can be
fatal. Mouthwash is artificially sweetened and is seldom packaged in child-resistant
containers. Most brands are sold in quantities that can kill a two –year-old. The
American Association of Poison Control Cents recently reported that in the last five
years, over 10,000 children under age six have ingested high-alcohol content
mouthwash. If you have a baby, check the labels on the products you use on your baby
for an ingredient called propylene glycol.

The two most common forms of childhood cancer,
leukemia and brain cancer have increased over
twenty-five percent in the last twenty years.

There is enough fluoride in four ounces of most
brands of toothpaste to kill a small child.

Mouthwashes
containing
more
than
twenty-five
percent alcohol can prove dangerous to your
children – one ounce can cause seizures and brain
damage and five ounces can kill.
Propylene glycol, like sodium lauryl sulfate, is an ingredient that is commonly used
as humectants (additives to keep products moist) and a preservative. It’s supposed to
make skin feel smooth and slippery. While it may appear to moisturize their ski’s
surface, it actually steals moisture from the underlying layers of your baby’s skin.
Propylene glycol is not only ineffective, it’s dangerous. It’s derived from petroleum
products and is commonly used in antifreeze, deicers, latex paint, and laundry
detergent. As if the thought of using the main ingredients is antifreeze on your baby’s
delicate skin isn’t horrifying enough, here are a few results from research on propylene
glycol.
The Material Safety Data Sheet (required by the federal government for any hazardous
chemical) on propylene glycol warns against contact with eyes, skin, and clothing.
If inhaled, propylene glycol can cause irritation of nasal and respiratory passages in
both adults and children, and if ingested, it can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Research also shows that it alters cell membranes and causes cardiac arrest. It is
possible to keep your baby from falling prey to propylene glycol and still have the
convenience of baby lotions and liquid soap – safe products are out there, just be aware
of product labels.
Only you can protect your children and yourself from these dangerous ingredients.
“Contact Poison Control”
Did you know that some mouthwash contains
concentrations of alcohol than beer, wine, and liquor?
even
high
According to the National Cancer Institute, mouthwashes with a
twenty-five percent or higher concentration of alcohol increase your
risk of oral and throat cancer.
They found that out of those who use mouthwash, men had a sixty
percent higher risk and women had a ninety percent higher risk of
these cancers than those who didn’t use mouthwash.
Many types of toothpaste and other kinds of tooth whiteners contain
dioforms. These extremely abrasive substances can damage your
teeth’s enamel, wearing out your teeth and weakening their
protective shell.
Sodium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient in toothpaste, dries out
the mucous lining in your mouth, making you more susceptible to
canker sores and other irritants.
Be careful what products you put in your mouth to brighten your
smile and freshen your breath. The ingredients may cause more
harm than good.
The Truth about Secret Ingredients
James Mason, M.D., received his degree from the University of Texas at Galveston. He is a boardcertified dermatologist who has been in private practice in
Texas, for sixteen years.
I treat all types of skin problems, from childhood rashes
and teenage acne to skin cancer, moles, tumors, and
rashes in adults. I have found most people want fewer
fragrances, preservatives, animal-by-products, and
man-made ingredients in the skin care products they
buy.
This trend toward natural, safer skin care
products shows people want to be able to take care of
their skin.
When young women start using make-up, they get into the habit of using a lot of
products that they don’t need. They put excessive amounts of chemicals on their faces
that dry out their skin, throw off its pH balance, and allow secondary infections to occur.
Natural products that contain plant extracts don’t have the contaminants or chemical
irritants that cause these problems, so there is less potential for irritation and damage to
the skin.
Acne is another skin problem that strikes many of my patients. Acne results from an
increased production of sebum (oil on the skin) which blocks the pores. People with
acne need to thoroughly clean their skin, apply natural products to keep pores
unclogged, and of course, have a balanced, nutritional diet.
Organic products work really well for young people and adults who have sensitivity to
chemicals found in many cosmetic products. Certain preservatives, fragrances, and
mineral oils in cosmetic products can cause itchy rashes, skin damage, and asthma-like
symptoms. A significant portion of dermatological complaints can be traced back to
chemically applied, non-natural substances.
Over 800 chemicals available for use in cosmetics have been
reported to the government as toxic substances.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Some women come in to my office with rashes that have gone on for months. Because
they had never really associated their problem with a cosmetic, they’d continued t use
the irritating product or even applied additional synthetic materials to try to heal the
rash. This, of course, only made things worse. The problem is that many cosmetic
companies don’t print their ingredients on the labels of their products. That’s part of the
mystique and competitiveness of these companies – they don’t want to let their secrets
out.
For patients who are allergic to certain chemicals – or anyone who wants to make sure
that the products they use are safe – their only protection is to educate themselves
about ingredients and then read the labels of any product they use.

That infants and toddlers exposed to baby lotions,
shampoos, and powders carry high ….
Concentrations of hormone-altering chemicals in
their bodies that might have reproductive effects?

That more than half of the baby products recently
tested, including those market “gentle” and
“pure”, were found to contain trace levels of
carcinogens formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.?

The FDA believes that trace amounts of carcinogens are acceptable?

A 2009 study that tested blood and urine from pregnant women during their second
trimester of pregnancy, found their bodies contaminated with chemicals found in a wide
variety of consumer products?

That talc increases risks of ovarian cancer and is part of the asbestos family?

That the EU (European Union) has banned 1100 harmful ingredients while the US has
only banned 10?

A product that kills 50% of lab animals through ingestion or inhalation can still receive
the federal regulatory designation "non-toxic" (Doris Rapp, "Is This Your Child's
World?")

Of the 17,000 chemicals that appear in common household products, only 30% have been
adequately tested for their negative effects on our health; less than 10% have been tested
for their effect on the nervous system; and nothing is known about the combined effects
of these chemicals when mixed within our bodies. (World Resources Institute, The 1994
Information Please Environmental Almanac.)

No law requires manufacturers to list the exact ingredients on the package label. (Debra
Lynn Dadd, Home Safe Home (Tarcher-Putnam, 1997)

Worldwide, over 100,000 synthetic chemicals are now on the market, and about 1,000
new ones are added each year.

There are absolutely no warnings on products about possible negative effects of longterm exposure. This is unfortunate because most diseases linked to chemical exposure
are the result of long-term exposure.

Personal care products refers to just about anything we use to clean our bodies or make
ourselves look or smell good. The closes thing to a regulatory agency for the personal
care industry is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and their power is extremely
limited.

Neither personal care products nor their ingredients are reviewed or approved before they
are sold to the public

Manufactures are not required to list the exact ingredients on the label.

Even if harsh and dangerous active ingredients are listed on package, often times the
remainder of ingredients are lumped into a category known as "inert" (not active)
ingredients. This term may lead you to believe that these chemicals are not toxic or
hazardous. In fact, many of the 1,000 different chemicals used as inert ingredients are
more harmful than the active ingredients.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not require manufacturers to identify
most inert chemicals, or disclose their potential harmful effects. Even suspected
carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) are used as inert ingredients in household products.
(John Harte, "Toxics A to Z" (University of California Press, 1991)

One New York study found that 85% of products they examined had incorrect warning
labels. Some were labeled poisonous, but weren't; others were poisonous, but not labeled
as such; others gave incorrect first aid information. (Debra Lynn Dadd, "Home Safe
Home")

Chemical names are often disguised by using innocuous "trade names." So even if the
chemical is listed on the label, you may not recognize it for what it is.

The Cosmetics and household industries have been self-regulated since 1938. The FDA
classifies products but does not regulate them.

The FDA cannot require recalls of harmful personal care products from the marketplace.
(United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA Authority Over Cosmetics (Office of
Cosmetics Fact Sheet, 1995)

"We look good, we smell good and we expose ourselves to 200 different chemicals a day
through personal care products." U.S. News & World Report

Dibutyl phthalate, a known hormone disruptor and an ingredient in nail polish, has
shown up in pregnant American women in
damaging concentrations.

Household cleaners are the leading cause of
poisoning reported by the Poison Control Center.
Cosmetic and Personal care products rank #3.

Triclosan, a commonly used anti-bacterial ingredient in products like hand lotion and
dish detergent, is listed as a most hazardous pesticide by the Environmental Protection
Agency.

According to several current published reports, low-dose chemical exposures have
harmful and disruptive effects on human health.

Sodium Lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient in toothpaste, contributes to mouth ulcers.

Over 800 chemicals available for use in cosmetics have been reported to the government
as toxic substances. The FDA has very few regulations to protect consumers from the
ingredients used by the cosmetic and personal care industries. The FDA cannot require
companies to do safety testing of their products, prior to their release into the
marketplace.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analyzed 2,983 chemicals
used in personal care products. The results were as follows:







884 of the chemicals used were toxic;
314 caused biological mutation;
218 caused reproductive complications;
778 caused acute toxicity;
148 caused tumors; `
376 caused skin and eye irritations
(Judith Berns, "The Cosmetic Cover-up," Human Ecologist 43 (fall 1989)

The NIOSH isolated 125 known cancer-causing agents in personal care products, and
many more suspected of causing birth defects.

The National Cancer Institute has stated that mouthwashes with 25% or higher
concentration of alcohol increase your risk of oral and throat cancer.

Dr. Kenneth Green, Ph.D., D.Sc., of the Medical College of Georgia warns that eyes
affected by sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) -- found in many shampoos, lotions, toothpaste,
and other products -- take five times as long to heal.

There is enough fluoride in 4 ounces of most brands of toothpaste to
kill a small child.

Mouthwashes containing more than 25% alcohol can prove dangerous
to young children -- one ounce can cause seizures and brain damage
and five ounces can kill.
The World Health Organization has linked aluminum to Alzheimer's disease. Several
brands of deodorants and cosmetics contain aluminum.


Every 30 seconds a child is poisoned in the United States, and of those children that are
poisoned, 60% of them are under the age of 6?

The most common products involved in these poisonings are first, cosmetics and personal
care products, second, prescription drugs, and third, cleaning agents?

Every year more children are poisoned to death by personal care products and other
chemicals than are accidentally killed playing with guns?

In 1997 the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that 146,661
children had been poisoned.

This year over 563,000 Americans are expected to die of cancer. That’s more than 1,500
people per day. In fact, more people have died from cancer in one year than the total
number of American soldiers who have died in combat over the last 100 years. Nearly 5
million lives have been lost to cancer since 1990.

For many years our skin was considered the perfect barrier protecting the body from
harmful elements. However, research has found that one the of skin’s main functions is to
transport nutrients from the surface of the skin to the bloodstream.

Scientific research is discovering that many ingredients in personal care products may
actually pose potentially serious long-term health threats when used over an extended
period of time. Researchers have identified numerous chemicals in personal care products
that are toxic and carcinogenic; meaning that they can potentially cause cancer.

Products such as the "diet patch" and the "nicotine patch" were developed to utilize the
skin’s very unique delivery system. Now it’s very common to see transdermal delivery
systems in a variety of health related products.
However, the ability of the skin to transport
elements from the outside of our bodies to the
inside can also create major health concerns. For
example, if the skin transports nutrients to the
bloodstream and personal care products contains
harmful and even carcinogenic ingredients, then
many of these chemicals and toxins are absorbed
by the body through the skin. If you continue to use these products for long term the
toxins can build up in your liver, kidneys, and other vital organs, and tissues.

The personal care industry has grown so large and the number of ingredients so
extensive, it’s almost impossible for the government to regulate them. In addition, these
huge corporations have tremendous resources to fight and delay any governmental action
to limit the use of these dangerous ingredients.
Harmful Ingredients Can Kill
“Contents May be Harmful or
Fatal..”
Beware of harmful ingredients. When it comes to
personal care products, the most important action
you can take to protect your family‘s health is to
learn what ingredients can hurt you. The
shampoo and soap you use every day may
contain toxic chemicals that can cause dangerous
side effects. Find out for yourself what ingredients
may be hazardous to your health and find safer
products for your family.
Don’t be fooled by beautiful packaging and big promises. The beauty products you trust
may kill you.
Have you ever noticed that several brands of deodorant and cosmetics contain
aluminum? The World Health Organization has linked aluminum to Alzheimer’s
disease, the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly in the United States.
Regular use of antiperspirants containing aluminum can triple your risk of developing
Alzheimer’s.
Fluoride is another hazardous chemical. Researchers linked fluoride to cancer years
ago, but no one listened. Fluoridated toothpaste is especially dangerous to children,
who tend to swallow after they brush their teeth.
Add propylene glycol to the danger list. It’s an ingredient in most shampoos,
conditioners, lotions and many other products. Overexposure to propylene glycol can
cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage, according to the compound’s Material
Safety Data Sheet. (The federal government requires an MSDS for any hazardous
chemical.)
Consumers have an inalienable right to know what
ingredients are in the products they use daily.
~The Safe Shopper’s Bible~
Are you putting harsh chemicals on your body every day? Propylene glycol is a major
ingredient in automatic brake fluid, antifreeze, paint, floor wax, liquid laundry detergent
and varnish.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), found in most brands of shampoo, conditioner, lotion,
and toothpaste, is also a major ingredient in car wash soap, engine degreaser, and
garage floor cleaner. Exposure to SLS can lead to a burning sensation, coughing,
wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and vomiting, according to
this compound’s MSDS. SLS penetrates your eyes, brain, and liver, and remains there
long-term. It degenerates cell membranes because it’s a mutagen that can change the
genetic information in your cells.
SLS can also damage your immune system, cause blindness, induce certain types of
ulcers, and react with other ingredients to form a potent cancer-causing compound
known as NDELA.
Carefully check for these dangerous chemicals on the labels of all your personal care
products to save yourself from an early death.
“Prolonged Use May Damage ……
Your face is part of your body’s largest organ …. Your skin. You wouldn’t expose an
organ like your heart to harsh chemicals, right? Why expose your face? You probably
didn’t even know that many of the skin care products you use on your face every day
have harsh chemicals that erode your skin.
The bentonite mineral and kaolin clay in facial masks dry out your skin and forms an
impenetrable barrier. This barrier traps toxins, including carbon dioxide, in your skin
and keeps oxygen out. If your skin can’t breathe, it can’t stay healthy.
Alcohol, the main ingredient in astringents and several other facial cleansers, makes
your face feel cool and refreshed, but it is really damaging your skin. As it cleans, it
strips away the natural oils protecting your face. After the skin’s surface has been
stripped, it takes almost twenty-four hours for it to repair itself. Your face needs
moisture to stay healthy and young-looking, not harsh chemicals.
Liquid foundations often contain mineral oil, a substance that
suffocates and dries out your face. They usually also have
petrolatum and isopropyl myristate in them. Petrolatum can’t
be absorbed by the skin and it clogs pores. Isopropyl myristate
is comeogenic, meaning it causes skin to break out. Many
powder foundations have talc and zinc stearate, both of which
are carcinogenic (cause cancer).
Most blushes contain
mineral oil, talc, and zinc stearate.
When it comes right down to it, the giant skin care and
cosmetic companies are charging you big bucks too ruin your face. Don’t let them keep
selling you treatments for problems their own products cause. Become aware of the
ingredients in their products and their side effects. Don’t let big business take
advantage of you.
“Avoid Contact with Eyes”
Your shampoo could ruin your eyes!
A main ingredient in most shampoos is a chemical
compound known as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).
Scientific studies have proven that this compound
damages protein formation in the eye tissue of young
animals, and it poses the same risk for your eyes. After
the damage has been done, your eyes can’t even heal
properly because SLS retards your eyes’ healing
process. Kenneth Green, Ph.D.D.Sc., of the Medical
College at Georgia warns that eyes affect by SLS take
five times as long to heal.
SLS can lead to cataract formation and eventually, blindness. SLS is able to cause
permanent eye damage even if it doesn’t directly enter your eye – it does just as much
harm to your eyes even if it’s only absorbed by your skin.
Mascara is another product which can injure the eyes of the user.
Lacquer is a waterproofing ingredient used in many brands of mascara.
Though it keeps the product from running, it also causes eye-lashes to
fall out over time.
Examine closely the products you use on your eyes. Protect your sight
and throw away all products which have SLS as an ingredient. Sight is a sense rarely
appreciated until it is fading. Fail to protect your eyesight, and it may fail you.
“May Cause Irritation to Skin”
Your skin is a protective barrier against outside harm, but
many of the products you use to take care of your skin
actually weaken this barrier. Commercial skin care
products that claim to pamper and nourish your skin may
contain harmful ingredients that cause lasting damage.
Mineral oil, an inexpensive petroleum product, is used to
make baby oil, lotion, and moisturizer. It appears to make
your skin soft and smooth because of the oily coating, but it actually dehydrates your
skin by inhibiting the oils you product naturally. It can cause breakouts by clogging the
pores on the outer layers of your skin.
Industrial uses of mineral oil include cutting fluid and lubricating oil. When mineral oil is
manufactured, it often contains high amounts of carcinogens.
Like mineral oil, the collagen in many creams and lotions only coats your skin and adds
to the price. Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate your skin and moisturize
because they’re derived from either cattle hide or bird feet.
This ingredient makes your skin feel artificially smooth, but underneath the collagen
coating, your skin is as dry as ever.
And what about alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs), a hot rend in the cosmetic industry?
Advertisers’ claim AHAs reverse the effects of aging and renew your skin. However,
AHAs actually makes your skin age faster, according to skin care experts. They remove
the outer layer of your skin and prematurely expose new skin to the damaging effect of
the environment.
You need your outer layer of skin as a barrier, so losing it is very dangerous.
AHAs may temporarily give the illusion of fewer wrinkles by inflaming the skin, but they
can cause long-term damage. They come at a high price to your pocketbook and your
skin.
Propylene glycol, an ingredient used to thicken most lotions and moisturizers, does not
belong on your skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, propylene
glycol irritates the skin and can cause severe reactions even at low levels of
concentration.
Last but not least, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) – an ingredient in lotion, moisturizer,
liquid soap, bubble bath, bath gel, and facial cleansers – can damage the outer layer of
your skin and cause it to become rough, dry, and scaly. Since the a1950s, researchers
have been using SLKS as a standard skin irritant to test the effectiveness of other skin
products.
The Material Safety Data Sheet for SLS specifically warns that it may be harmful if
absorbed through the skin and that prolonged or repeated exposure should be avoided.
The intended use of SLS is as an ingredient in engine degreaser, car wash soap, and
garage floor cleaner.
Find out how healthy your skin can be when you stop using these harmful ingredients.
After all, your skin deserves better. Reading the labels on your skin care products can
save you a lifetime of skin problems.
“May Cause Severe Hair Damage”
Complaints about shampoos are among the most frequent made to the
FDA. People have often complained about various brands of shampoo
that have caused everything from scalp irritation and swelling to severe
hair damage.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), an ingredient in ninety percent of
commercial shampoos and conditions, corrodes the hair follicle and
impedes hair growth.
SLS has been blamed for many cases of premature hair loss in both men and women.
It takes hair longer to grow when it has been affected by SLS. Di you know that many
companies put formaldehyde in their shampoos? Do you really want to be embalming
your hair? Formaldehyde is not only an inexpensive preservative and disinfectant; it’s
also a suspected cancer-causing toxin. Many kinds of shampoo designed to treat
dandruff and flaky scalp contain coal tar, although you won’t be able to find it on any
product’s list of ingredients. It is disguised with the names FD&C or D&C color. Coal
tar has been found to cause potentially severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks,
headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness, lack of concentration, and cancer.
Alkyl-phenol ethioxylades are chemicals in shampoos that have been proven to
reduce sperm count. Protect yourself from dangerous shampoo ingredients. Spending
a few minutes now to read the ingredients on the back of that bottle may save your hair
and your life.
Harsh, Toxic Industrial Chemicals Are Invading Our Lives
FACT: Surgeon General requires WARNING LABELS on
cigarette products in 1970’s.
all
FACT: 20 years later the nation faces a health calamity that
could cost trillions of dollars and millions of lives
FACT: Many of our personal care items have WARNING
LABELS as well… That we don’t know are there or we
ignore them
FACT: When some of these ingredients interact with other
substances they can increase the risk of cancer.
FACT: In 1938, when the FDA grandfathered these ingredients as safe, no studies
were done on long-term use of products with so-called acceptable amounts of these
ingredients.
FACT: It is NOW known these ingredients do get into our bodies through their intended
use.
20 years from now, what will we have proven about these ingredients, their use and
their effect on our health? Or will we still be asking the wrong questions?
Are there any clues today that might help?
We Think So!
Incredible, but true!
Before you dismiss this, go to your bathroom and check some labels. You’ll find
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Propylene Glycol (not to mention dozens of other chemicals)
in toothpastes, conditioners, cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and many other common
products …
….. You and your loved ones use several times, every day
Could these ingredients possibly have any long-term side
effects?
 WHY is the rate of cancer soaring?
 WHY is the rate of heart disease soaring?
 WHERE did Alzheimer’s come from?
 WHY do so many people need glasses or
contacts?
 WHY does the USA lead the world in the
proliferation (increased rate of incidence) of
degenerative diseases?
 WHAT does the USA spend a TRILLION dollars annually on health care for
anyway? Shouldn’t overall health be getting better?
There is something going on… and it’s not pretty. When you know the facts about what
these chemicals found in our everyday products are and where they come from and
what they cause…
…. You’ll be shocked … and then you should get angry.
The tobacco industry faces a monumental scandal. It’s NOT only about what they knew
regarding tobacco use… but, WHEN did they know it?
Where it’s 10 years from now or 20 or 30 – if producers of personal care items get
called on the carpet to account for the use of these chemicals, will we be asking the
same questions –WHEN did they know it?
The simple truth is… we already know it! These chemicals are found in industrial
compounds and their Material Safety Data Sheets warn of cancer causing side effects,
extreme skin irritants, etc. There’s even a medical study that shows exposure can
retard eye development in young mammals!
Could this possibly include our children? Hmmmmm
Products Targeted to Children Contain Hazardous Chemicals
and Ingredients Not Found Safe for Kids
2010 – Environmental Safety Group
Most Americans believe the
government ensures the
safety of personal care
products before they are sold.
Most also assume products
marketed for babies and
children are necessarily
milder, gentler, and safer.
Wrong on both counts.
In fact, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has no
authority to require pre-market testing of personal care product ingredients for safety.
Instead, FDA states that the manufacturers of personal care products, with few
exceptions, "may use essentially any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market
the product without an approval from FDA" (FDA 1995). Worse, FDA does not have the
power to require the recall of a harmful product – recalls are voluntary company actions,
and the mere act of FDA suggesting a recall requires that the Agency have firm
evidence of potential human harm.
In place of government authority to ensure safety, the personal care products industry
polices itself through an industry panel called the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
This industry-funded panel of scientists has reviewed just 11% of all ingredients in
cosmetics, including many no longer in regular use. An EWG investigation found that
the panel chooses criteria regarding sensitivity and irritation for 80 percent of its safety
recommendations, ignoring more serious health concerns such as cancer, birth defects,
and hormone disruption, and as a result finds more than 99 percent of ingredients
reviewed safe as used. What's more, companies are not bound by the panel's
restrictions or recommendations – compliance is entirely voluntary.
As it stands, it's up to individual cosmetic companies to make decisions about safety –
for us, and for our children. Some companies make personal care products safe enough
to eat; others make products using ingredients with documented links to birth defects in
humans, or ingredients laced with cancer-causing impurities.
Companies are also free to represent their products in any way they choose - marketing
claims for personal care products are entirely unregulated. For example, 19% of the
children's products we examined were labeled "natural." There is no legal definition for
the term "natural," and many parents might be shocked to learn that 35% of all
children's products labeled this way are not fully natural at all, but contain one or more
artificial preservatives linked to allergic reactions, hormone disruption, or nervous
system problems in laboratory studies. And 80% of children's products described as
gentle, soothing, non-irritating, hypoallergenic, dermatologist approved, or free of harsh
ingredients contain ingredients linked to allergies and skin irritation.
FDA tried establishing official definitions for terms like "natural" and "hypoallergenic,"
but these protections were overturned in court (FDA 2000). As a result, personal care
product manufacturers can use marketing claims "to mean anything or nothing at all."
According to FDA, "Image is what the cosmetics industry sells through its products, and
it's up to the consumer to believe the claims or not."
Products made and marketed especially for babies and children are not required to
meet any additional health and safety standards. In fact, at least 41% of all products
identified in our survey or made especially for children warn parents to "keep out of
reach of children." These products contain ingredients that may harm children if not
used according to directions, allowing children to absorb more than typical amounts
though the skin or lungs, or through swallowing the product. Product safety is any
company's choice, and any parent's guess.
Personal care products provide an appalling example of the inadequacy of current
chemical regulations in the U.S. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the law
governing cosmetics safety, does not require companies to test products for safety
before they are sold. The Toxic Substances Control Act, the law that regulates all
industrial chemicals in the United States, was created over 3 decades ago, and
assumes chemicals in everyday products are innocent until proven guilty. The products
we use each day on ourselves and our children can contain thousands of ingredients
that have never been tested for safety. Worse, they can contain impurities contaminants formed when a raw material was manufactured, or when it breaks down
within a product - which never appear on a product's ingredient list.
We cannot continue to allow a self-regulating industry to make decisions about the
health of our children. Health protective reform of chemical standards must include:
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Premarket testing of products and their ingredients for safety.
Protective purity standards for ingredients.
Attention to the effects of mixtures of chemicals on human health.
Safety standards that protect babies and children – our most sensitive
populations.
This new children's products safety guide helps parents navigate around bogus claims
and find safer products with fewer ingredients linked to allergies, cancer, and other
concerns for children.
Choose safer products.
Diaper cream
A baby's delicate skin is more easily penetrated by many
chemicals in diaper creams and other products. Our survey shows
parents using diaper cream typically apply it to their children once
a day. Safer diaper creams are free of BHA and "fragrance," and
do not contain boric acid or sodium borate, ingredients that the cosmetic industry's own
safety advisory panel says are unsafe for infants.
Avoid these ingredients:
 BHA - Banned in other countries because it can cause skin
depigmentation
 Boric Acid and Sodium Borate - Industry authorities caution against use on
infant or damaged skin
 Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxin or hormone-disrupting
chemicals
Body wash and liquid soap
Let's keep our kids clean - and free of harmful chemicals. Avoid unnecessary
ingredients like antibacterial agents, suspect preservatives, and "fragrance" in your
children's products. Bar soaps often contain fewer chemicals of concern than body
washes and liquid hand soaps.
Avoid these ingredients:
 Triclosan - Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap
water
 DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing
contaminants
 Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting
chemicals
Toothpaste
Fluoride is great for teeth, but it can be harmful if swallowed.
High doses cause ugly blotches to stain teeth, and have
neurotoxic effects. The American Dental Association
recommends fluoride-free toothpaste for children under 2.
For children under 6, the Centers for Disease Control
recommends "child-strength" toothpastes with around 0.08%
fluoride (0.075% W/V fluoride ion or sodium
monofluorophosphate 0.35% or sodium fluoride 0.12%), or
about 1/2 of what's found in regular strength toothpaste. Low fluoride children's
toothpaste is common in the E.U. but hard to find in the U.S. If your children use a
fluoride toothpaste, make sure they use a pea-sized amount and thoroughly spit and
rinse.
Avoid these ingredients:
 Fluoride - Neurotoxic agent that can discolor teeth at high doses
 Triclosan - Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap
water
 PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing
impurities
Sunscreen
Stay safe in the sun! Our survey was administered in the summer so 3/4 of our parents
reported using sunscreen on their children. Infants under 6 months don't belong in the
sun. For older babies and children, use sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB
protection, and reapply often. Our Sunscreen Investigation can help you choose safer
and more effective products for you and your children.
Avoid these ingredients:
 Oxybenzone - In sunlight, can produce allergy- and cancer-causing
chemicals
 DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing
contaminants
 Triethanolamine - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing
contaminants
Wipes
Wipes should leave babies clean - not exposed to traces of harmful chemicals. Choose
wipes with fewer potential health concerns. Avoid wipes with added "fragrance" or
preservatives like 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (or Bronopol) and DMDM Hydantoin.
Avoid these ingredients:
 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol (or Bronopol) - Allergen and irritant that
can form cancer-causing contaminants
 DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing
contaminants
 Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting
chemicals
Lotion and moisturizer
Soft, smooth skin has a healthy glow - take care not to use harmful chemicals to
moisturize your baby's skin. Avoid harsher soaps to keep your child's skin from drying
out. Choose moisturizers free of harmful preservatives, "fragrance," and petrochemicals
laced with impurities.
Avoid these ingredients:
 DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing
contaminants
 Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting
chemicals
 Ceteareth and PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain
cancer-causing impurities
Diaper cream
A baby's delicate skin is more easily penetrated by many chemicals in diaper creams
and other products. Our survey shows parents using diaper cream typically apply it to
their children once a day. Safer diaper creams are free of BHA and "fragrance," and do
not contain boric acid or sodium borate, ingredients that the cosmetic industry's own
safety advisory panel says are unsafe for infants.
Avoid these ingredients:
 BHA - Banned in other countries because it can cause skin
depigmentation
 Boric Acid and Sodium Borate - Industry authorities caution against use on
infant or damaged skin
 Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting
chemicals
Baby powder
Just like auto exhaust or secondhand smoke, tiny airborne particles from baby powder
can damage a baby's delicate, developing lungs. Parents who use baby powder on their
children typically apply it daily. It's best to avoid using baby powder altogether. If you
must use it, choose powders without suspect preservatives, "fragrance," or sodium
borate, an ingredient that the cosmetic industry's own safety advisory panel says is
unsafe for infants.
Avoid these ingredients:
 DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing
contaminants
 Sodium Borate - Industry authorities caution against use on infant or
damaged skin
 Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting
chemicals
Play makeup
Dressing up can be fun, but it shouldn't pose risks. Many children like to wear cosmetics
or nail polish. Make sure they're using safer products, and applying them appropriately,
sparingly, and infrequently.
Avoid these products:
 Lipstick - can contain harmful impurities that children swallow in small
amounts
 Nail polish containing dibutyl phthalate and toluene - Linked to hormone
disruption and cancer
 Cosmetics in powder form - Children can inhale these powders, damaging
their lungs
 Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting
chemicals
FLUORIDE RESOURCES

The Fluoride Debate: A response to the American Dental Association's booklet,
"Fluoridation Facts"
www.fluoridedebate.com

Fluoride Action Network (Excellent Resource, Very Up-to-Date)
www.fluoridealert.org

Fluoride: Protected Pollutant or Panacea? (Elkie Babiuk's site)
www.fluoridation.com
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New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation
www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof/

Fluoride Controversy, the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
www.tldp.com/fluoride.htm

Citizens for Safe Drinking Water (Mountainview, California)
www.nofluoride.com
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More Scientific Facts on Fluoride
www.all-natural.com/fleffect.html
Fluoride Research Journal
www.fluoride-journal.com
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Preventive Dental Health Site
emporium.turnpike.net/P/PDHA/health.htm

America Overdosed on Fluoride - Lynn Landes (Includes e-mail correspondence
in which an ADA spokesperson refutes news reports that non-fluoridated bottled
water causes cavities, and what you can do to ban fluoride and educate others.)
www.zerowasteamerica.org/Fluoride.htm

Ellie Rudolph's site (Find out if your Pennsylvania town or city water is
fluoridated.)
www.penweb.org/issues/fluoride/index.html

The Toxic Effects of Fluoride (Be aware that they are selling a fluoride removal
system.)
www.wholywater.com/fluoride.html

Fluoridation Debate (Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 105, Number
11, November 1997)
ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1997/105-11/forum.html

Fluoridation: The Overdosing of America - Fact or Fiction? (Slides by Gerald H.
Smith, D.D.S.)
www.icnr.com/FluoridePres.html

Darryl W. Roundy, D.C. - Fluoride Research
www.atlaschiro.com/fluorideresch.htm

Fluoridation Fluoride Toxic Chemicals In Your Water
www.holisticmed.com/fluoride

Does water fluoridation have negative side effects?
doctoryourself.com/fluoride_cancer.html
Recommended Resources
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"The Politics of Cancer Revisited", Dr. Samuel Epstein
"The Breast Cancer Prevention Program", David Steinman, Dr. Samuel
Epstein
"The Safe Shopper's Bible", Dr. Samuel Epstein and David Steinman
Cancer Prevention Coalition (press releases and articles)
www.preventcancer.com
"Beauty to Die For", Judy Vance
“Toxic Beauty” Samuel Epstein, M. D.
"Cancer: Why We're Still Dying to Know the Truth", Phillip Day
"Lifespan Plus", Sigmund Miller, Julian Miller, Don Miller
"Our Stolen Future" Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, John Peterson
Myers
"Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients" Ruth Winter, M.S.
"Project Censored: Is the Press Really Free?" Peter Philips
"B-17 Metabolic Therapy in the Prevention and Control of Cancer" a
technical manual - complied by Phillip Day
"Great News" on cancer in the 21st century by Steven Ransom
"Health Wars" Why is Our Healthcare Service killing us? by Phillip Day
"Food for Thought" complied by Phillip Day
"The Mind Game" Why there is no such thing as a "mental disease" by
Phillip Day
"World without Aids" Dismantles one of the world's greatest fears and
exposes the deceit, fraudulent science and needless fear-mongering lying
at the heart of this supposed global epidemic. by Steven Ransom and
Phillip Day
"The Essiac Handbook" by James Percival
Resources for Information on
Harmful Ingredients / Chemicals in
Personal Care and Household Products-Testimonies
I really encourage everyone to do their research on the harmful products that we
expose our family on a daily basis. Here is a list of resources that will help you get
started
In 1997, in the Boston Globe, Senator Edward Kennedy reported that the GAC had
reported and identified more than 125 known carcinogens in our daily used personal
care products.
1. www.safecosmetics.org -Company Signers for the Campaign for Safe
Cosmetics
2. http://www.coalition4cancerprevention.org/-Third party Articles and
Information about chemicals in products
3. http://www.cehn.org/ -Children's Environmental Health Network
4. www.checnet.org -Children’s Health Environmental Coalition
5. List of Carcinogens from the US Government
6. www.nottoopretty.org Not Too Pretty, Page about the "No Phthalates
Company"
7. www.ewg.org Environmental working Group
8. www.osha.gov Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
9. EWG Research Shows 22% of All Cosmetics May Be Contaminated With
Cancer-Causing Impurity
10. MSNBC - Toxic Chemicals Don't Just Hurt in Big Doses - Feb 2007
11. Dioxane Found In Baby Products - February 2007
12. Consumer Reports - What You Should Know About Chemicals In Your
Cosmetics - 2007
13. Consumer Reports - Take a Whiff of This - 2007
14. Babies In Womb Exposed to 'Gender-Bending' Chemicals - Sept 2006
15. Unborn Babies Soaked in Chemicals, Study Finds - July 2005
16. There's Something Fishy About Some Air Fresheners - Oct 2006
17. Activists Win Victory for Safe Cosmetics - January 2006
18. New California Environmental Health Program Will Measure Pollution in
People - Sept 2006
19. Environmental Toxins Passed Down Through Generations - Sept 2006
20. Chemicals destroy chances of sons becoming fathers? - Oct 2006
21. A Collection of 3rd Party Articles (1MB)
22. US News & World Report: Chemical Good Looks - November 1997
23. CBC Marketplace - Cosmetics and the Cancer Connection - January 2003
24. Children polluted with chemicals: Report
25. Wall Street Journal - Good News for Kids Who Hate Baths
26. Shampoo Linked to Decline in Sperm Quality
27. Body Burden — The Pollution in Newborns July 14, 2005 A benchmark
investigation of industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides in umbilical
cord blood
28. American Cancer Research
29. Bras and Breast Cancer
30. Breast Cancer Action
31. Cancer Prevention Coalition Website-Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, MD
32. Cancer Control Society Website
33. Cancer Risks -Mercury News
34. Cancer Study Washington Post
35. Colorado Cancer Research Center
36. Cancer is Made, not Born
37. Cancer Reform Bill
38. Cancer Study Washington DC
39. Cancer Killer with Roundup
40. Facts on Carcinogens at Home
41. Health Alert
42. Latex Gloves and Hidden Dangers Chemicals
43. Scientific Causes and Prevention of Cancer
44. Stop Cancer Website: Cancer Cured or 100% Refund
45. Young Women at Greater Risk of Cancer
46. Would you Like to Know how to Avoid Cancer In your Home?
47. Natural News Insider Alert ( www.NaturalNews.com )
Download a short list of commonly used harmful ingredients in our personal care
products, i.e. Toothpaste, mouthwash, lotions, cosmetics, shampoo, conditioners,
shaving gel, deodorant, perfumes, fragrances, lipstick, lip balm, suntan lotion,
sunscreens, soaps, bubble bath, powders with talc, etc.
Quote from Safe Shoppers Bible, (written by Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.)
"Not a single cosmetic company warns consumers of the presence of carcinogens in its
products - despite the fact that several common cosmetic ingredients or their contaminants
are carcinogenic themselves or are carcinogenic precursors. Consumers have an
inalienable right to know what ingredients are in products they use daily, and to be certain
that chemicals posing chronic health risks will be phased out when alternatives are
available. I have reviewed the Neways products, and confirm their safety and absence of
any carcinogenic ingredients or contaminants and deem them one of the safest personal
care product lines in the world."
Samuel S. Epstein, MD, Professor emeritus, Environmental and Occupational Health, University of
Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health; and Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
They wouldn't sell it if it wasn't safe ....
would they?
Note: The European Union bans 1100 ingredients in personal care products, the
U.S. bans 10 and Neways International chooses not use more than 3000.
Click Here to learn more about my favorite effective, toxin free products.