Smarter cosmetic shopping
So what can you do to reduce your exposure to phthalates and other potentially harmful cosmetic ingredients? Reading labels
is a start but it is not always helpful, especially in the case of phthalates. That's because while phthalates are used in
fragrances added to many products, including deodorants and lotions, fragrance ingredients don't have to be broken out because
they're considered trade secrets and can be quite numerous. Manufacturers need only list the word "fragrance" on the label
to cover all the chemicals in these formulas. In a 2002 study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Health Care Without
Harm, and Women's Voices for the Earth, 52 products, including perfumes, deodorants, hair gels, mousses, hair sprays, and
hand and body lotions, were found to contain one or more phthalates, but none listed them on the label. So what can you do?
Cut back
If you use perfume, consider skipping it every other day-or drop it altogether if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Seek out deodorants, hair sprays, body lotions, and other products that don't list in their ingredients the word "fragrance" (or "fragrance/parfum"), which might indicate phthalates. Be aware that even if a product says "unscented" or "fragrance free" on the label, there's no guarantee it's phthalate-free. Some "fragrance free" products include a masking fragrance to cover up the chemical smell of the raw ingredients.
Check before you buy
Get the EWG's free "Shopper's Guide to Safe Cosmetics" at www.ewg.org/skindeep/cr. The brochure has a list of ingredients to avoid and tips on safer shopping. Also check out the Skin Deep database at www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep. The site has safety ratings of more than 14,000 personal-care products, including lipstick and face cream. You can find products that received the EWG's "green," or low-concern, safety rating by clicking on "How does your brand stack up?" Alternatively, click on "Custom shopping list" to search for products that are free of skin irritants or that have links to reproductive toxicity and other problems. For a printable purse-size list of ingredients to avoid, check out the Breast Cancer Fund's Product Safety Tip Card at www.breastcancerfund.org/safecosmetics. And for details on FDA regulations, go to www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-toc.html. The FDA site also carries news of warnings and recalls involving cosmetics and other widely used consumer products.
SPEAK UP
Let the makers of your favorite cosmetics know that you don't want ingredients that could pose avoidable health risks. If you decide not to buy a product because, for example, it has phthalates or is inadequately labeled, call or e-mail the company and explain why you stopped using the product or switched to a different brand. "Change could happen fast if consumers demand it," says Stacy Malkan of Health Care Without Harm. You can also go to www.safecosmetics.org, where you can send a message to the cosmetics industry and pass along information to family members or friends who might find it useful.
Cut back
If you use perfume, consider skipping it every other day-or drop it altogether if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Seek out deodorants, hair sprays, body lotions, and other products that don't list in their ingredients the word "fragrance" (or "fragrance/parfum"), which might indicate phthalates. Be aware that even if a product says "unscented" or "fragrance free" on the label, there's no guarantee it's phthalate-free. Some "fragrance free" products include a masking fragrance to cover up the chemical smell of the raw ingredients.
Check before you buy
Get the EWG's free "Shopper's Guide to Safe Cosmetics" at www.ewg.org/skindeep/cr. The brochure has a list of ingredients to avoid and tips on safer shopping. Also check out the Skin Deep database at www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep. The site has safety ratings of more than 14,000 personal-care products, including lipstick and face cream. You can find products that received the EWG's "green," or low-concern, safety rating by clicking on "How does your brand stack up?" Alternatively, click on "Custom shopping list" to search for products that are free of skin irritants or that have links to reproductive toxicity and other problems. For a printable purse-size list of ingredients to avoid, check out the Breast Cancer Fund's Product Safety Tip Card at www.breastcancerfund.org/safecosmetics. And for details on FDA regulations, go to www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-toc.html. The FDA site also carries news of warnings and recalls involving cosmetics and other widely used consumer products.
SPEAK UP
Let the makers of your favorite cosmetics know that you don't want ingredients that could pose avoidable health risks. If you decide not to buy a product because, for example, it has phthalates or is inadequately labeled, call or e-mail the company and explain why you stopped using the product or switched to a different brand. "Change could happen fast if consumers demand it," says Stacy Malkan of Health Care Without Harm. You can also go to www.safecosmetics.org, where you can send a message to the cosmetics industry and pass along information to family members or friends who might find it useful.
