Did you know that most lipsticks contain lead? It’s a scary fact, which makes it hard to trust anyone regarding the safety of beauty products. Best in Beauty — with their program Labels for Life — is trying to change that though. They believe that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) should pre-screen cosmetics before selling them to the public and require companies to provide the public with a full list of ingredients, just like the nutrition facts listed in the foods we eat. Although many experts say the chemicals in cosmetic products are so miniscule that they won’t cause any damage to a person’s health or skin over time, many others say that these products have been linked to serious health problems. In fact, the European Union has banned 1,300 chemicals in cosmetic products due to potential harmful effects; the U.S. has only banned ten.
I think the best thing to do in a situation like this is to research the two sides, weigh them out, and make an opinion for yourself. So, that’s just what I did. Here’s a list of ten of the most harmful chemicals that are still allowed in U.S. cosmetic products. Best in Beauty has come up with a nice little slogan to remember them by “Pretty Products For Healthy People Minus Many Lousy Chemical Substances.” It’s long, but it may be worth remembering in the long run. Check out the possible side effects of these chemicals on the Best in Beauty site. Here is another article that discusses the same 10 chemicals and defends the FDA’s approval of leaving them in our products.
After reading both, I would have to say, whether or not these chemicals are actually “okay” for us to wear, I’d rather be safe than sorry. The FDA has been wrong before. And just like the tobacco companies that 50 years ago claimed smoking was okay for your health, I would rather not risk the chance of trusting claims that could — or could not — be true.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where all of our products were completely natural? Well, now you can. Check out the Best in Beauty site for a list of products sans the chemicals. You can also check out the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetics Database to help you decide what’s best for you. If you still want to wear that bright red lip gloss you’ve liked for 20 years, go for it. I’m not here to judge. I’m here to inform. I just want everyone to evaluate the situation and make an opinion for themselves. That way when the truth does come out, you won’t have to say, “I had no idea.”
