Lead in Lipstick? Not So Sexy:: Toxic Chemicals in Your Personal Products

The Story of Cosmetics

If you haven’t yet seen Annie Leonard’s latest production, The Story of Cosmetics, watch it here.

Two years ago, my good friend Melody and I discovered some questionable compounds in our favorite shampoos and conditioners: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and parabens. We read a few things about them, then plunged into the lore on toxics in our personal cleaning products.

Before I knew anything about toxic chemicals, I trusted that my friendly, milk-white Dove shampoo and soap was doing everything it could to keep my skin happy and safe. That Dove, a business, was interested in my health more so than its profits. I also trusted that some officious governmental agency, such as the FDA, was on top of its game, and wouldn’t let anything harmful get into my silky shampoo. Turns out that’s completely false.

We learned that SLS is a major skin irritant that causes skin allergies in many people, including myself. We also read that research says parabens have estrogen-like activity, meaning our bodies confuse parabens as an estrogen hormone. Too much estrogen is an implicated cause of some types of breast cancer, because estrogen promotes breast cell division: when there’s too much unregulated estrogen, cancer cells form. Some breast cancer drugs shut off estrogen productivity in order to reduce tumor cell growth. And it’s not just parabens that mimic estrogen – pesticides, phthalates, food preservatives, and plastics are all estrogen-mimicking compounds. What’s worse is that these estrogen imposters don’t break down easily and instead accumulate in your body fat, where they have time to build in quantity, and can do some real hefty damage later on.

Melody’s favorite Jillian Michaels, trainer on the show The Biggest Loser, has a good point: with all the environmental estrogens we are forcibly exposed to, why voluntarily expose yourself to more estrogens?

So we made the switch. We started transitioning to more wholesome, plant-based non-toxic personal care. We bought bar soaps made from whole plant oils such as coconut oil, castor oil, and avocado oil. I made sure they had as few chemical ingredients as possible, and the difference was instantaneous. Normally, I have dry skin patches on my hands, in the form of eczema. After a natural soap treatment, my dry skin is gone. Melody also reports no more after-shower redness on her face. I’ve tried many brands of naturally-derived shampoos, but have lately settled on a shampoo bar by an Etsy lady at Sweet Creek Herbs. Most recently, after hearing about the baking soda and apple cidar vinegar (no ‘poo!) treatment, I’ve decided to transition to that.

After using a shampoo bar, it’s obvious that my hair doesn’t fall out as much and has much more volume. Soap bars make my skin much happier. I am quite certain commercial products irritate my skin and hair more so than they help it, and would never ever go back. Now that I know the government does barely anything to regulate the influx of chemicals in my personal care products, I’m on my own to find the best solution for myself.

photo by weglet

Toxics In, Toxics Out

If the compounds on the bottle are toxic, how were they made? We often don’t consider the countless other substances used in the synthesis and production of such compounds. For example, SLS is made using, among other things, the known carcinogen 1,4-dioxane that Annie Leonard references. This means every time you see a bottle that contains SLS (usually the most abundant ingredient next to water), it also contains a little bonus splash of 1,4-dioxane tagged along with the SLS.

SLS and parabens are the two most ubiquitous compounds in personal and home cleaning products. There are, of course, many other dangerously toxic chemicals to be aware of. If you want more information on chemicals, check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website.

From formaldehyde to lead to parabens – these toxic compounds can be found in every one of your conventional cosmetic and personal or home cleaning products.

How can you protect yourself from these products? How can you be a smart shopper?

Being a smart shopper means being aware of what’s toxic, and maintaining skepticism at the store. Here are a few tips to help you make your next purchase:

Rule #1: Don’t trust the bottle.

Even if it says ‘natural’ or ‘organic’, don’t trust that it’s true. These terms don’t yet have legal status on personal care and home cleaning products. These products include body lotions, cosmetics, hair care, soaps, window cleaners, counter cleaners, etc. Prepare yourself with a list of chemicals you don’t trust, and avoid those as much as possible. Don’t fall for greenwashing.

Rule #2: Arm yourself. Know your worst intruders – SLS derivatives, parabens, PEG, phthalates, polythene glycol, etc. Avoid these compounds as much as possible.

If you are new to this process, check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website. Or look up your favorite product or ingredient at EWG’s Skin Deep cosmetics database cataloguing the toxicity of a wide variety of compounds.

Coconut oil, saponified oils of avocado. These are good signs of a more environmentally and personally healthy product. Stick to plant oils when possible.

Alternatives to Toxic Products:

1. Make your own vinegar and baking soda household cleaners.
2. Make your own cosmetics.
3. If you’re inclined to make a purchase, buy from brands like Method, Seventh Generation, or Trader Joe’s, that contain natural plant oils and less harsh detergents.
4. Use body care products with no SLS or parabens.

Spread the word on dirty cosmetics, share the Story of Cosmetics with your friends. Take action. Support toxic-free products and safe cosmetics legislation. Have fun! Indulge in newly awakened skin!

**Lead in lipstick; Not so sexy; Toxics in, Toxics out; are all titles taken from Annie Leonard’s Story of Cosmetics and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics