Personal Care Products

After looking up Biore Pore Strips and Suave Moisturizing Shampoo, Almond and Shea Butter on the Safe Cosmetics Database: http:www.ewg.org/skindeep/. After looking up these products I found that Biore Pore Strips are generally pretty safe however, areas of high concern are methylparaben due to endocrine disruption, allergies/immunotoxicity, biological and cellular changes. It also contains PEG-12 Dimethicone and Titanium Dioxide both ingredients which cause organ system toxicity (non-reproductive). There are more ingredients, but these ingredients are which gave the Pore Strips a score of 2 and are the most concerning ingredients. I use this product to get rid of whiteheads and to learn that it contains things that cause not only organ system toxicity but also causes changes at the cellular level is startling!

The second product I looked up was Suave Moisturizing Shampoo, Almond and Shea Butter. This product received a score of 5.  The first three ingredients the fragrance, dmdm hydantoin (formaldehyde releaser) and methlylisothiazolinone are the of highest concern. Allergies/immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity, ecotoxicology, cancer, and neurotoxicity. This was surprising to find out. Even though whenever a product seems cheap or affordable, I've always asked myself why.  I am very selective about what I put inside my body however I have to admit when it comes to hair products I tell myself, "It's fine to use cheap products." Seeing this database causes me to rethink my it's fine approach to certain products I'm currently using that contain concerning ingredients. I am definitely going to stop using this shampoo and conditioner and select products with safer ingredients.

Many of us including me are blinded by low prices. This database shows us that everything comes at price. Everyone should be aware of not only what ingredients their foods contain but also their personal care products that can have adverse effects on our health. It's important to at least know what we are constantly putting in our hair and on our skin and make a conscious decision after if we want to continue using it or not. We have the power to decide for ourselves if spending less than 4 dollars on shampoo is worth it if it comes with cancer causing neurotoxic ingredients.
Safe Cosmetics Database Score: 2
Safe Cosmetics Database: 5
Ken Cook's presentation "10 Americans" is excellent and sheds light on solutions to the silent chemical epidemic. Cook is right in stating that low doses have a significant impact and for company's to make a baseless claim that their product is harmless or not as toxic because it contains 30 ppb or less is false. If erection medication and other products can work at this amount or lower, the effects of chemicals can be harmful. I thought that our government regulated every product thoroughly before being put on the market. I was shocked to find that 80% of products only take 2 weeks to receive approval and get placed on the shelves of stores without having to undergo any rigorous screening process. The Kids Safe Chemical Act is right in demanding that products be considered unsafe until proven otherwise. It's astonishing to hear that from 10 blood samples taken from umbilical cords, 212 industrial and pesticide breakdown products that have been banned were found circulating through a mother's womb. That is terrifying and we should all be advocating for stronger regulations for the products we use. 

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