The Story of Cosmetics

The latest cartoon short from Annie Leonard, the Story of Cosmetics, tackles the nasty world of cosmetics. Have you ever stopped to read the back of your shampoo bottle? You’ll find ingredients you’ve likely never heard of and perhaps a few carcinogens despite claims of being “organic” and “natural.” These words are meaningless in an industry that has never been properly regulated and where the manufacturers make up their own rules. Shocking that profit margins and sales outrank safety and health.

Frightening to think of what is actually our beauty products that are really a “mindfield of toxins” made of petro-chemicals, lead, carcinogens, neurotoxins, not to mention a whole host of unassessed, untested and often unlisted chemicals that are grossly untested. These products don’t even need to be FDA-approved, nor does the FDA even require that all ingredients be listed on the back of the bottle! For anyone who uses health and beauty products, you should definitely take a look at this short (7 minute) video to get a better understanding of what goes into your beauty care products and to find out what you can do to make sure that our government makes better policies about regulating this industry.

Today, the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, was introduced in Congress. It is groundbreaking legislation that will require companies profiting on health and beauty products to create more responsible, less-toxic products. Here is a summary of what is covered by the act, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:

* Phase out ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects and developmental harm;
* Create a health-based safety standard that includes protections for children, the elderly, workers and other vulnerable populations;
* Close labeling loopholes by requiring full ingredient disclosure on product labels and company web sites, including the constituent ingredients of fragrance and salon products;
* Give workers access to information about unsafe chemicals in personal care products;
* Require data-sharing to avoid duplicative testing and encourage the development of alternatives to animal testing;
* Provide adequate funding to the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors so it has the resources it needs to provide effective oversight of the cosmetics industry; and
* Level the playing field so small businesses can compete fairly.