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cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma, in hair-dye users.” These studies also ratify the belief that darker shades of permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes, such as black, dark brown or red, intensify the cancer risk.” cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple Many cosmetic companies have read the writing on the wall, so myeloma, in hair-dye users.” to speak, and are apparently launching "natural" products. But These studies also ratify the belief that darker shades of not all of these are legitimate choices. Some, as they say, are old permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes, such as black, dark wine in a new bottle with a new label. There are no standards for brown or red, intensify the cancer risk.” what "natural" means. So the only way you can know what you're buying is to read the fine print on the product label.82 We just can't seem to get rid of them... It comes as no surprise that many so-called "natural" products Evidently cosmetics, supposedly beauty products, are not really also contain chemicals. The best you can do, then, is to compile a so beautiful in terms of our well-being. The toxins they package list of hazardous ingredients, likewise of safer alternatives, and are a major health issue, and not only because of our direct circulate both to your friends and loved ones. exposure. You could choose to do away with your entire array of So where do you go from here? Certain public interest groups cosmetics and you would still be at risk of being contaminated by have launched websites, such as Skin Deep,* that function as an toxins, albeit at a significantly lower risk—assuming that you live interactive personal care product safety guide. Skin Deep's in a relatively clean environment, which not all of us are fortunate searchable database, for instance, features brand-by-brand safety Ss to. rankings and in-depth information on over 14,000 shampoos, that toxins in cosmetics lotions, deodorants, sunscreens and and personal care products, after use, other products from almost 1,000 make their way into our environment. brands. This service was designed by Soapy water, shampoo rinse and so on the Environmental Working Group, a are all washed down the drain into The fact is that toxins in Campaign for Safe Cosmetics partner, both for consumers and manufacturers, encouraging both to sewer systems, thereby contaminating waterways and soil and poisoning cosmetics and personal plants and marine life. Once let loose care products, after use, switch to genuinely safer alternative in the environment, these chemicals . a formulas.” make their way back to our homes by make their way into our way of the food chain, and often their environment. The last word: naturalism reappearance is in a heightened At the end of the day, you quite intensity. Given our increasing literally have to choose which night collective concern about toxins in food, créme to apply to enhance your it is somewhat ironic to find that our beauty. But pay heed, for, as your penchant for cosmetics may be body seeks to rejuvenate overnight, aggravating our own problem. the mask on your face may perhaps be seeping below and firmly Yet there is no reason to feel demoralised by our own lodging itself in your body, only to cause future mayhem. Your heightened awareness. The need of the hour is to be aware and beauty sleep may perhaps work its miracle more effectively spread awareness until our global society turns to the perpetrators without any added assistance. of these toxic products and demands answers and a permanent The pretty face on beauty products often does not know or care solution. for what she is endorsing. Advertising is a money racket, and the best you can do is to stay clear of its net. Carefully choose Where to from here? products that really use natural ingredients you recognise—or, Using the words "a permanent solution" may sound slightly better still, buy a good book containing do-it-yourself recipes, facile in view of the veritable chemical cocktail that has been and consider forming a group with your friends and enjoy making continues to be tried and tested every day for future use on our (and using) your own shampoos, crémes, soaps, lotions, etc.” delicate, living skin. The moot point is: Do we really have a When it comes to your health and the well-being of your loved realistic choice when it comes to alternatives? How good (or bad) ones, there is no limit to how far you can go. Walking the extra are the alled alternatives? mile will, in this case, undoubtedly take you that much further This calls for an extension to our newfound awareness. from disease and unhappiness. oo cosmetics and personal care products, after use, make their way into our eee environment. Where to from here? Using the words "a permanent solution" may sound slightly facile in view of the veritable chemical cocktail that has been and continues to be tried and tested every day for future use on our delicate, living skin. The moot point is: Do we really have a realistic choice when it comes to alternatives? How good (or bad) are the so-called alternatives? This calls for an extension to our newfound awareness. Endnotes asm/ab_0901-0950/ab_908_bill_ archive/2006/01/09/EDGMKGJGL61. 1. Hearn, Kelly, "Chemical Soup and 20060131_history.html ran am. ibid Federal Loopholes", AlterNet, posted 11 5. "Industry Kills Bill to Inform Public 9. wattle im ‘II health March 2005, http://www.alternet.org/ of Toxic Cosmetics", published 26 s Quote sat a we SoA envirohealth/21468/; also see Lewis, August 2004, oe ener see . 7 Wares vo . . _ 96citizenspetitiondea.html and in Carol, "Clearing Up Cosmetic http://www.exodusnews.com/ National Toxicology Program, "S h Confusion", california/California063.htm eR. wee) aA rogram, us. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/ 6. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/03- noua Gait on aremnogens 2 398_cosm.html 04/bill/asm/ab_2001-2050/ab_2012_bill_ _ DePartment of Health and Human 2. "Avoiding toxic cosmetics", 5 20041130_history.html; adie ah sane easy ’ September 2003, at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/member (iim a a i eal al4R http://www.ecocycle.org/askeco-cycle/ s/A49/accomplish_2004.htm Se pe pac a OO f . anna g Carcinogens&col=005main&charset= 20030905.cfm 7. Swan, Shanna, San Francisco iso-8859-1 3. Hearn, ibid. Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com/ 1S0- . 4, http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/ cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/ Continued on page 78 asm/ab_0901-0950/ab_908_bill_ 20060131_history.html 5. "Industry Kills Bill to Inform Public of Toxic Cosmetics", published 26 August 2004, http://www.exodusnews.com/ california/California063.htm 6. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/03- 04/bill/asm/ab_2001-2050/ab_2012_bill_ 20041130_history.html; sembly.ca.gov/member s/A49/accomplish_2004.htm 7. Swan, Shanna, San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com/ cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/ NEXUS = 31 The fact is that toxins in DECEMBER 2006 — JANUARY 2007 www.nexusmagazine.com