Your Client’s Food Isn’t the Only Thing Causing Sickness, Inflammation, and Disease: It’s Time to Clean Up Personal-Care Products, too.
What You Are About to Read Will Shock You.
In our related posts, we’ve covered why it’s important to go organic with your food. Now, let’s talk about something else your body ingests daily: your personal-care products. The skin is our largest organ, and it ingests just about anything you put on it, channeling it straight into your bloodstream and carrying it to multiple organs throughout your body. Think about this whenever you apply a product. It’s just like eating it because the skin absorbs much of what you put on it. And personal care products can be loaded with chemicals that can be toxic to the human body.
The average adult uses nine personal-care products daily, exposing him or her to 126 chemicals every day (for many women, the numbers can be higher). This statistic accounts for personal-care products alone—not the chemicals in your foods, environment, or home.
Here are some interesting facts about personal-care products sold in the U.S. marketplace today:
Fact: The Food and Drug Administration unfortunately does not have control over what goes into personal-care products. In fact, the FDA has confirmed its inability to control what goes into them. Essentially, the agency has no oversight with respect to chemical ingredients in products, which means manufacturers can put just about anything they want into them: plasticizers, degreasers, surfactants, carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or endocrine disrupters.
Additionally, our government does not mandate safety testing of industrial chemicals that are used as base ingredients in everyday personal-care products like shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, makeup, deodorant, detergents, spot removers, and air fresheners—and the list continues!
Fact: Eighty-nine percent of the 10,500 ingredients the FDA has determined to be used in personal-care products have not been evaluated for human safety by the FDA, Cosmetic Industry Review Board, or any other accountable institution.
Fact: One-third of all personal-care products contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens. And of the chemicals that have been tested, many are known by manufacturers and the government to be carcinogenic.
In a letter written by Richard Wiles, executive director of the Environmental Working Group, to the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he states: “More than 750 personal-care products sold in the U.S. violate industry safety standards or cosmetic safety standards in other industrialized countries.”
You see, the government took the position long ago that small doses of chemicals in personal products—along with all of the other products on the market—are not a threat to human health. At the time these decisions were made, no one knew these chemicals were a threat to human health; however, what they’ve failed to take into consideration is the repetitive, everyday use of personal, cleaning and food products, in addition to the environmental pollutants we’re exposed to daily.
Our continuous, daily exposure to chemicals has created a chemical cocktail in the human bloodstream, and science is there to prove it. The human body can eliminate some of these chemicals, but not all of them. In fact, chemicals can be stored in the fatty tissue of the human body. Additionally, they can interfere with the normal functioning of the human body, becoming endocrine-disruptor chemicals (EDCs)—any synthetic chemical found in consumer products that are absorbed by the body and interfere with the normal functioning of the human hormone or endocrine system by mimicking normal hormones in the human body.
Remember: The goal of our certification courses and blog posts is to get you into prevention with green living, and choosing healthy, green personal-care products is your next step in helping yourself and your clients each day. It’s part of a holistic approach to fitness and wellness.
Refer to our important point earlier: Most cancers result from genes that become damaged during our lifetimes. Mutations may result from “internal factors such as hormones, or the digestion of nutrients within cells or external factors such as tobacco, sunlight, and chemicals.” Thus, it’s critical for you to reduce your daily exposure to toxic chemicals to achieve your goal of becoming healthy with green living and prevention.
Frankly, it’s time we updated our laws and our practices, as other countries have. In January 2003, the European Union modified its cosmetic directive (76/768/EEC) to ban the use of chemicals known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects. They’ve outlawed more than 1,000 chemical ingredients found in personal-care products because they believe they’re a threat to their citizens’ health. The amendment went into effect in September 2004, banning carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and mutagens from cosmetics.
What this means for international cosmetic manufacturers is they’ve had to reformulate their products if they want to sell them in the European Union. Otherwise, their products would be considered illegal by the government. Manufacturers however are selling their products here in the United States with the same ingredients that have been outlawed by other countries because of health risks (something is wrong).
Because our government hasn’t taken the necessary steps to protect the health of its citizens from chemically laden personal-care products, it’s time for you to become an empowered consumer. By the way, this applies to all price points in the cosmetics department: the inexpensive to the super-expensive department store brands. This even applies to the products that carry the “doctor-” or “dermatologist-recommended” label.
Remember this information is not meant to scare you but to empower and motivate you to make smart, healthy choices. The good news is that, for every product out there that’s loaded with toxic chemicals, there is a safe and effective alternative.
Understand Which Ingredients Are Safe—and Which Aren’t
Start by familiarizing yourself with the ingredient lists on the personal-care products you currently have at home, in your drawers, cupboards, purse, and anywhere else you may keep them. This includes your toothpaste, deodorant, makeup, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, face wash, and scrub—anything and everything you put on your body each day! While you’re in the shower, pick up your shampoo bottle, and see how many ingredients you can identify and pronounce. While you’re brushing your teeth, flip over your toothpaste tube and read the list of ingredients found there. You’re likely to be surprised. As you begin to do this, compare the ingredients with the list that follows on the next page. It’s a condensed version of thousands of chemicals on the market.
As you become proactive, you will begin to become familiar with more ingredients on the market. You’ll read about them in the news, magazines, and online publications. You will notice that chemicals are often given more than one name and that many manufacturers fail to fully disclose their product ingredients. By law, manufacturers are not required to list all ingredients on their packaging because laws protect “proprietary information.” Thus, be on the lookout for manufacturers that list vague ingredients like “fragrance,” “parfum” or “emollients,” rather than divulging specific ingredients. You will also notice that manufacturers are required to list the “active ingredients” in their products, such as active antibacterial ingredients, but not the inactive ingredients. I choose products from companies that fully disclose their ingredient lists. That way, I know there aren’t any hidden chemicals in them.
As you continue exploring product labels, you may be further surprised at what’s in them. When I began to learn about the health risks associated with my expensive, high-end beauty products, I immediately wanted to toss them. It’s not easy to get rid of your trusted beauty products—the ones that took years to find and that work with your skin chemistry. But once you understand the health risks associated with many of these chemical ingredients, your choices become much easier.
We have two simple recommendations for clients and readers who are about to make these transitions. You can immediately replace your products and toss them; frankly, that’s not environmentally friendly and can get expensive. Or, you can replace your products with more natural versions as you run out of them—and that’s exactly how I did it. It’s then a simpler, easier process that doesn’t add another layer of stress and expense to your life.
Keep in mind, when transitioning to purer natural products, your skin may initially break out because of the real essential oils in them and the overall purity of the product. Plants and herbs can be irritating, just like anything else. But stick to your new regimen. Your skin will adjust within a couple of weeks.
When switching out your products, remember to consider everything—from the soap you use to wash your face, to the cleansing mask used weekly, down to the mascara and lipstick you wear daily. Don’t forget your sunscreen and nail polish, which can be big offenders. Chemicals can be absorbed through the body via the nail bed. Nail polish can contain some heavy-duty toxic chemicals that are suspected or known to cause cancer or birth defects. Specific chemicals include toluene, acetone, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), among others. In animal studies, the Environmental Working Group found:
“DBP is a developmental and reproductive toxin that in lab animals causes a broad range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairment in males [when] exposed in utero and shortly after birth.
DBP damages the testes, prostate gland, epididymis, penis, and seminal vesicles. These effects persist throughout the animal’s life.”
If you have your nails done at a salon, we highly recommend bringing your own nail polish for your manicurist to use.
How to Shop for Nail Polish
Shop for water-based formulas that are free of formaldehyde, toluene, and phthalates. Some can actually be peeled off, so you don’t need to use nail polish remover. For nail polish removers, look for those that are acetone-free.
We strongly recommend that you read nail polish labels before you buy to avoid bringing home products that contain phthalates. By law, phthalates are required to be listed on nail polish bottles and on the box. They can be listed as:
- DBP (dibutyl phthalate) – other terms for DBP include Butyl ester or Plasticizer
- DMP (dimethyl phthalate)
- DEP (diethyl phthalate)
By the way, the European Union has banned all phthalates from cosmetics, and they are still in the products we sell in the United States.
Some Nail Polish Solutions
- Zoya Nail Polish: Doesn’t contain formaldehyde, toluene, or dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Zoya polishes are the longest-wearing natural nail lacquers and come in more than 60 colors. They are also free of many other potentially dangerous chemicals.
- No-Miss Nail Polish: Doesn’t contain formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, or camphor. Cosmetic colors come from the earth. The company also has a nail strengthener and base coat.
- Color ‘N Peel: Perfect for anyone who cannot use solvent polishes due to allergies, odor, and other personal issues. It’s great for kids and young adults.
- Go Natural
- Fironze
Nail Polish Removers
- Almost Natural Polish Remover
- Go Natural
Fironze
Many of these products can be found at your local natural and organic food and beauty stores.
Consider Your Toothpaste
You also need to carefully consider your toothpaste, particularly if you have young children. Most toothpaste contains fluoride, which helps reduce tooth decay, but it’s a confirmed toxin.
Children are the most susceptible to fluoride’s health risks, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the switch, too. Remember: We’re into preventive medicine here. Fluoride has been described as “an emerging neurotoxic substance” that may damage the developing brain. The National Research Council has identified fluoride as an “endocrine disruptor” that may impair thyroid function, while research from Harvard University found a possible connection between fluoride and bone cancer. Fluoride was also found to be an equivocal carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute’s Toxicological Program. It’s also been found that young children who are overexposed to fluoride develop dental fluorosis, damage to tooth development that presents as yellowing of the teeth, white spots, and pitting or mottling of the enamel.
Dr. Hardy Limeback, a National Research Council Panel member and head of preventive dentistry at the University of Toronto, states:
“In my opinion, the evidence that fluoridation is more harmful than beneficial is now overwhelming, and policymakers who avoid thoroughly reviewing recent data before introducing new fluoridation schemes do so at the risk of future litigation.”
He further stated in a later interview: “It is illogical to assume that tooth enamel is the only tissue affected by low daily doses of fluoride ingestion.”
In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters’ Union stated: “In summary, we hold that fluoridation is an unreasonable (health) risk.”
In July 2005, the Environmental Working Group stated: “Over the past 10 years, a large body of peer-reviewed science has raised concerns that fluoride may present unreasonable health risks, particularly among children, at levels routinely added to tap water in American cities.”
Further, the American Dental Association and a growing number of dental researchers made a sweeping recommendation that children younger than 12 months should not consume fluoridated water, while babies younger than 6 months should not receive any fluoride drops or pills.
As you can see, science and medical evidence are mounting about the health risks of fluoride. So, when it comes to toothpaste, you have a couple of choices. The first is to decide if you want fluoride. The second is choosing to buy a conventional brand or a more natural brand, like Jason or Tom’s of Maine. I caution: If you choose to go with a conventional brand, it can be full of artificial sweeteners like saccharine or aspartame, and it may contain other preservatives and chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfates/laureth sulfates (SLS), which we get into in more detail later. SLS can be found in just about everything that foams, from your face wash to your detergent, shampoo, and hand soap, all the way down to your toothpaste. That said, the more natural toothpaste has multiple versions, and some contain fluoride and sodium lauryl sulfates/laureth sulfates SLS, as well. Thus, no matter what you buy, it’s important to take 15–30 seconds to scan ingredient labels to find what’s inside.
Here are some toothpaste recommendations:
- Jason
- Tom’s of Maine
- Dessert Essence Toothpaste Herbal Choice Body
- Peelu
When it comes to dental floss, we recommend choosing a nonconventional brand because many are coated with a type of Teflon called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). There has been a tremendous amount of controversy over Teflon chemicals; thus, I recommend reducing and eliminating your exposure to Teflon-coated products.
Here are a few dental floss recommendations for you:
- Dessert Essence Floss
- Eco-Dent
- Tom’s of Maine
Note: All can be found at local natural food markets and online.
Labels to Look Out for In Your Personal Care Products
Note labels that use the terms “hypoallergenic,” “all-natural,” “dermatologist tested,” “doctor recommended” and even “organic.”
These are all nice labels, but many (with the exception of organic) are unregulated terms that any manufacturer can place on products. An “all-natural” product that’s “dermatologist recommended” could be loaded with synthetic chemicals and preservatives. I don’t have any ill feelings toward dermatologists or doctors, but it’s rare to find those who are educated on the safety of chemicals in our products.
Even the certified organic label can be confusing unless you know how to read the label. This reminds us to go back to sourcing. Even products with certified organic ingredients can contain unwanted ingredients. So, take 30 seconds to flip over the product and determine how many ingredients are organic.
Hand Soaps and the Overuse of Antibacterials
Over the years, product manufacturers have preyed on women’s concerns about germs and have turned many into bona fide “germaphobes.” Women now keep instant hand sanitizers in their cars, purse, home, and office, which is really chemical overkill. Antibacterial hand soaps are now commonly found in homes, restaurants, retail stores, and numerous other public spaces. Many contain an ingredient called triclosan, which degrades rapidly when exposed to chlorinated tap water—thus producing potentially toxic byproducts. It’s also a known endocrine disruptor. Triclosan can also be found in detergents, dish soaps, laundry soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, creams, toothpaste, and mouthwashes, so be wary of this ingredient and all antibacterial products.
Overusing antibacterial products has many in the medical and scientific communities concerned about excess consumption. These products will lead and have led, to stronger strains of bacteria that will become resistant to antibiotics—a serious public-health risk. Studies have shown simple soap and water will do the trick.
Some Hand Soap Solutions:
- Miessence liquid hand soap
- Deep Steep Foaming Hand Wash
- Bio-Shield Hand Soap
Taking Stock of Your Personal-Care Products
A big step in transitioning to a healthy green life is to begin taking stock of your personal-care products. It’s therefore important to begin scrutinizing what you are really ingesting when you apply these products to your body. Remember: The skin is our largest organ, and it ingests a lot of what you apply, channeling it into your bloodstream.
As you get dressed each morning and go about your daily routine, make a note of every personal-care product you apply to your body.
This includes shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotion, shaving cream, dental floss, toothpaste, deodorant, nail polish, nail polish remover, perfume, cologne, face wash, face lotion, wrinkle creams, skin whiteners, acne creams, exfoliants, scrubs, oils, liquid hand soaps, mousse, foam, gels, tooth whitening and any other products you apply.
Ladies remember all your makeup, such as eye shadow, foundation, powder, blush, eyeliner, lip liner, lip gloss, lipstick, mascara, eyebrow liner, and anything else I may not have mentioned. Write down every product you put on your body daily in the space provided below. If necessary, go back to your bathroom’s medicine cabinet and drawers, and pull out everything you use daily.
Next, count the products. How many personal products do you meet on a daily basis? Remember to include any antibacterial hand washes and soaps you may use at the office, gym, or any other public place. Don’t forget the antibacterial hand sanitizer you may keep in your purse and car.
What are some more personal products you use often, but perhaps not daily? Think about perfume, cologne, masks, nail polish, and nail polish remover. If necessary, head for your medicine cabinets and look again.
How many of your personal products contain sodium lauryl sulfates? Look at your shampoo, conditioner, hand soaps, dish soap, liquid hand soap, bar soap, toothpaste, facial cleaner, hair color/bleaching, body wash/cleanser, exfoliants, scrubs, moisturizer, mouthwash, facial moisturizer, treatments, and anything else that foams that I may not have mentioned.
To help get you going on swapping out your old products for new ones, here are a few product recommendations.
Deodorant Recommendations
Miessence Certified Organic makes the best all-natural deodorant.
Skin Care Product Recommendations
- Miessence Certified Organics
- Dr. Hauschka
- Jurlique
- Naturopathica
- Natural Balance Face Care Essentials
- Weleda products
Makeup Product Lines We Recommend
- Jane Iredale
- Miessence Organics
- Burt’s Bees
- Gabriel Cosmetics
- Dr. Hauschka
Mouthwash
- Tom’s of Maine
- Jason
- Herbal Choice Body Care
Hairspray Solutions
Shop for an unscented, nonaerosol, phthalate-free hairspray at your favorite salon, grocery store or drugstore.
Phthalate-free solutions include:
- Aussie Mega Styling Spray
- Helene Curtis Finesse Touchables Silk Protein Enriched
- Helene Curtis Thermasilk Heat Activated Firm Hairspray
- Suave Naturals Aloe Vera Extra Hold Hairspray
Shaving Cream Solutions
- Tom’s of Maine Natural Shaving Cream
- Burt’s Bees Shaving Soap
- Nonie of Beverly Hills
- Lavera Shaving Cream
After Shave Solutions/Recommendations:
- Jurlique Herbal After Shave
- Lavera Aftershave
- Nonie of Beverly Hills
If you color or lighten your hair, ask your stylist if she uses natural, low-chemical or vegetable dyes. Avoid any dyes that contain coal tar.
Tampons and Panty Liner Solutions
- Seventh Generation’s Chlorine Free Panty Liners
- Seventh Generation’s Chlorine Free Tampons
- Seventh Generation’s Chlorine Free Ultra Thin Pads With Wings
- Seventh Generation’s Chlorine Free Maxi Pads
- Organic Essentials tampons – Trader Joes, Whole Foods Market
Buying chlorine-free and preferably organic cotton tampons and panty liners (that are also deodorant free) are very important. Dioxins are present in chlorinated products and are considered toxic chemicals. When looked at closely, the number of dioxins present in these products may look tiny. A study done in Great Britain reported that 130 parts per trillion (ppt) dioxins in tampons and 400 ppt in panty liners. However, one of the dioxins present tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), has been called the most toxic chemical ever produced. TCDD is a chemical that is easily absorbed through the skin, and a known carcinogen that causes birth defects, sterility, and liver damage, and suppresses the immune system.
Where Can I Learn More?
If this topic interests you, you will also want to consider professional training, certification, and career opportunities as a Certified Holistic Nutrition Coach, Certified Holistic Life Coach, Certified Master Health and Wellness Coach or Stress Management Coach.
You can also check out these other blogs posts:
- What is Green Living?
- Can a Green Living Lifestyle Help Prevent Disease?
- Reasons That Going Green and Sustainable Living Makes Sense
NESTA and Spencer Institute has been helping people like you since 1992. To date, over 65,000 people from around the world have benefited from our various certifications, programs, continuing education courses and business development systems. We are here for you now and in the future. Feel confident in your decision to work with us as you advance your knowledge and career. We are here for you each step of the way.
That’s it for now.
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PS: Click here to see many helpful business/career resources
Fluoride Action Network, Science Watch from National Research Council Report, March 28, 2006 http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/epa/nrc/excerpts.html
Fluoride Action Network, Health Effects: Fluoride and the Thyroid, http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/thyroid/
DeNoon, Daniel J., Does Fluoridation Up Bone Cancer Risk? April 6, 2006 http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20060406/does-fluoridation-up-bone-cancer-risk
Dadd, Debra Lynn Home Safe Home Creating a Healthy home Environment by Reducing Exposure to Toxic Household Products, Penguin Group, 2004, p.227