My Redken shampoo has over 40 ingredients in it, most of which I don't recognize. The first is water, but it goes downhill from there, with substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and immune system suppression. On the front of the bottle, the company highlights one ingredient--grapefruit extract--I guess because this sounds natural and healthy. But guess what? Grapefruit extract is the 43rd, and final, ingredient. I doubt that this small amount offsets the toxicity of the parabens, sulfates, and propylenes that precede it.
Redken and Procter & Gamble and lots of other skin care companies want us to think their products are filled with green, organic goodies, but they're not. Labels are misleading and ingredients are often known to be toxic and carcinogenic. How can this happen? The cosmetics and skin care industry is loosely regulated; FDA oversight is weak, and cosmetics firms themselves determine the safety of their products. Annie Leonard's new video, The Story of Cosmetics, gives an excellent overview of the current, dismal situation.
New federal legislation proposed last month hopes to change this. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 will phase out harmful ingredients, raise safety standards, improve labeling, and fund enforcement. For those who wish to support this legislation, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a good place to start.
In the meantime--while we're still unprotected--consult the Environmental Working Group's data base, "Skin Deep." It provides detailed information about known and suspected problems with a host of chemicals.
I've seen too much cancer in myself and in family and friends to think there's no correlation between our environment and our health. Profiteers will surely not look out for us. If we don't work to protect ourselves and our children, who will?
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