Protect Your Health - Personal Care Products

This information was provided by the Safe Cosmetics Action Network, www.safecosmetics.org. 1/2009

Simplify

Choose products with simpler ingredient lists and fewer synthetic chemicals. Avoid synthetic fragrance (look for the word “fragrance” on labels), and use fewer products overall. Ask yourself if you really need that product and all those extra chemical exposures. For example, bubble baths with heavy fragrances and synthetic dyes are good to avoid.

Research Products Yourself

Since the beauty industry is largely unregulated, it’s up to individuals to do our own research to find the safest products. There are no legal standards for personal care products labeled as “pure,” “natural” or “organic,” so look beyond the marketing claims and read labels carefully. You can use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database to assess your favorite products for toxicity.

Get Involved

While it’s possible – and relatively easy – to reduce toxic exposures in your home by buying safer products, it’s not possible to just shop our way out of this problem. Even if they're not in your home, toxic chemicals from personal care products can still end up in our air and drinking water, and in the homes of people who don't have access to safe products.

The solution: help us change the rules of the game! It shouldn't be legal to sell cosmetics that contain dangerous ingredients. We're working to pass new laws that protect our health and give consumers better information to make smart choices.

Stay informed, speak up and spread the word—all in our Get Involved section.