| What you put on your skin is as important as the food | | | | Natural -- may contain all natural ingredients, a few or |
| you eat. Chemicals that come in contact with your skin | | | | none at all |
| can be absorbed into your bloodstream. Many of the | | | | Hypoallergenic -- may be tested or based upon |
| ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care | | | | manufacturer belief; no proof is required |
| products are toxic, even though they may not cause | | | | Fragrance free -- means no detectable odor; |
| any reaction on the skin. Some cause cancer. Some | | | | fragrance ingredients may still be added4. More is Not |
| of the most commonly used ingredients combine with | | | | BetterChoose products with fewer ingredients, not |
| other ingredients to form cancer-causing substances. | | | | more. Besides the fact that most ingredients have not |
| Here's a list to help you choose safer and healthier | | | | been adequately tested, those that have been tested |
| cosmetics and personal care products:1. Read the List | | | | have only been tested individually, not in combination |
| of IngredientsMost products are labeled to "sell" rather | | | | with other ingredients. Nobody knows the effects of |
| than provide accurate information about the product. | | | | the many different ingredients used in thousands of |
| The sales pitch on the label doesn't tell you anything | | | | different combinations, the effects of using numerous |
| about the safety and quality of the ingredients in the | | | | different products, one on top of the other, or the |
| product.You need to read the ingredients list rather | | | | effects of repeated use of ingredients or products |
| than the label for more accurate information about the | | | | over time.5. Buy From Companies Truly Committed to |
| product.The ingredient list may not be easy to find and | | | | Healthy ProductsAs consumers are becoming more |
| it may be so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read | | | | conscious of using safer and healthier products, many |
| it because that's not what the manufacturer wants | | | | manufacturers are tapping into that consciousness and |
| you to see. The ingredients are required by law to be | | | | producing pseudo-healthy products. The label looks like |
| listed on the product label in order of quantity. The | | | | the product is natural and healthy, but if you read the |
| ingredient present in the largest quantity is listed first, | | | | ingredients, that's not the case. On the other hand |
| the ingredient in the smallest quantity is listed last.2. | | | | there are companies dedicated to producing safe and |
| Check the Ingredients for SafetyThe cosmetics and | | | | natural cosmetics and personal care products. Many |
| personal care industry is very poorly regulated. There | | | | of these are small companies that were started |
| are more than 12,000 ingredients that can be used in | | | | because of the lack of availability of healthy products |
| cosmetics and personal care products and most of | | | | and many of them use organic and food grade |
| them have not been adequately tested, many not | | | | ingredients.We live in a toxic world and there are some |
| tested at all. The manufacturers are not required to | | | | things that we have no control over, like air pollution. |
| prove the claims they make about their products or to | | | | However, we do have control over what we put into |
| test them for safety. Many products contain | | | | our bodies and what we put on our bodies -- if we just |
| cancer-causing ingredients along with ingredients that | | | | take the time to educate ourselves and make safe |
| enhance absorption of the product through the skin into | | | | and healthy choices. With the increasing number of |
| the bloodstream. To make sure the products you're | | | | chemicals in everything these days, it's important for |
| buying are safe, check the ingredients against a reliable | | | | everyone to become health conscious. Taking control |
| safety list.3. Beware of Words That Are Used to Sell | | | | over what you put into your body and on your body |
| Rather Than Provide Accurate InformationMany of the | | | | will affect your quality of life and may just be a matter |
| words manufacturers use on labels to promote their | | | | of life and death!Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. is "The |
| products do not have "official definitions" so they can | | | | Ingredients Investigator." She has been researching |
| be used to mean anything that the manufacturer | | | | ingredient safety since 1991 and is the author of three |
| wants. These terms are very often misleading.Some | | | | books, including the new, second edition of DYING TO |
| words to watch out for include: | | | | LOOK GOOD. |