Are chemicals in your cosmetics putting you at risk?

WHAT ARE THE RISKS? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is not required to review cosmetics for safety before they appear on store shelves. Aside from certain color additives and a handful of prohibited ingredients manufacturers can use any ingredient they deem safe, and safety testing is voluntary.

Some ingredients you'll come across are linked to known hazards at certain doses. One example is formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that has been used in small quantities as a hardener in nail treatments. Lead acetate is another example. It's a probable carcinogen that can be used as a color additive in some progressive hair dye products, provided it's only used on hair on the scalp in limited quantities.

Other ingredients you'll see are still being evaluated for health implications. One example is a group of chemicals called parabens. Frequently used as preservatives, parabens are found in shampoos, lotions, makeup, and other products. Some limited evidence suggests certain types are linked to reproductive disorders.

There are other questionable chemicals you might not see on the label. One example is the family of chemicals known as phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates), which may be linked to developmental and reproductive health risks. They're used to help fragrances linger in perfumes, lotions, and other products, and to take the stiffness out of hairspray.

WHAT YOU CAN DO. While health risks are debatable, here are some steps you can take to avoid potentially harmful ingredients:

• Get to know chemicals of concern. To err on the side of safety, find out which chemicals pose potential health risks. For a list of ingredients to avoid, check out GreenerChoices.org. Keep in mind that some ingredients, including phthalates, might not be listed on the label, since fragrance ingredients are considered "trade secrets." What's more, even if a product says "unscented" or "fragrance free" on the label, it can still contain masking fragrances, so there's no guarantee it's phthalate-free.
• Search before you shop. You can find out which companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics (also known as the Compact for the Global Production of Safer Health and Beauty Products). Signers have pledged to manufacture cosmetics that comply with rules in the European Union, where more than 1,000 chemicals have been banned.
• Cut back. If you use perfume, consider skipping it every other day, or drop it altogether if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Speak up. Let the makers of your favorite cosmetics know that you don't want ingredients that could pose avoidable health risks. You can send a message to the cosmetics industry at SafeCosmetics.org. You can also submit a complaint to the FDA.

—Kristi Wiedemann, science and policy analyst, CR Greener Choices