Category Archives: Fragrance and Cosmetics

Health Canada and Chemicals in Fragranced Products

This report from the Auditor General of Canada came out in 2016. Nothing has changed as far as I have seen, and I keep my eyes open for these kinds of things.

“The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) conducts independent audits and studies that provide objective information, advice, and assurance to Parliament, territorial legislatures, boards of crown corporations, government, and Canadians.”

Here’s a short video, followed by the transcript,  more from the report, and some relevant bits from a follow up by Health Canada:

Chemicals in Consumer Products and Cosmetics

 

Video Transcript

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We Know (Some of You) Try

 

Guest post poetry by Sandy Lippert

You probably think you are all fragrance free,

But it doesn’t wash away so easily.

I’m certain of all your efforts and know how hard you try,

But when you come to visit, I’m just getting by.

I probably look just fine to you Continue reading

Show You Care, Clear the Air!

Apparently fragranced items (including toys) are  top sellers as Christmas gifts (and for other occasions). Unless you have told everyone you know NOT to get you anything fragranced, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve recently received something aromatic, something that you may or may not understand the consequences of having and using.

Most people have no idea that these and other products that stink contain harmful chemicals that damage our health (as well as the health of future generations). We don’t know because these ingredients are secret (unlabeled), unregulated, and we have not been educated.

For those of you who are beginning to understand there’s a problem,  and having been the unfortunate recipient of a toxic gift from a well-meaning friend or family member, but have wondered what exactly you can do about it (other than thinking of regifting it * please don’t), here is an up and coming post-gift-giving-receiving activity you can take to let vendors and manufacturers know you won’t accept their toxic secrets!

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Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Are Costly to ALL of Society

(not just those of us who are adversely affected before others)

“Global experts in this field concluded that infertility and male reproductive dysfunctions, birth defects, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurobehavioral and learning disorders were among the conditions than can be attributed in part to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).”

New research estimates the cost in Europe alone to be in the billions of dollars. As these endocrine disrupting chemicals have been inflicted on the global population, and are found in countless everyday products and materials, the costs to society are huge (and the profits to the chemical and pharmaceutical companies are equally huge).

“The overwhelming majority of the reported costs were from “lost cognitive potential”
Dr Leonardo Trasande

I’ve posted about EDCs a few times, including here:

Endocrine Disruption… Huh? Why Should We Care?

Many of us have no idea what “those people” are talking about when they mention endocrine disruptors. Sounds like something foreign and insignificant, or at least it did to me, until something caught my attention a few years ago. …

Here are links to some of the news articles and how you can avoid some EDCs:

 

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Personal Care Products, Pesticides, Health and Water…

The Toxic Evidence Piles Up and Doesn’t Wash Away

We all breathe the air. We all drink water. We all eat. We all wash ourselves.

We should be able to do this safely.

SO WHY ARE

so many toxic chemicals used in everyday products and materials, and found in our air, in our water, in our food, and in our brains and bodies?

Did you consent to this?

New reports have been released about toxic chemicals and health harm from products and materials most of us are exposed to a multitude of times on a daily basis…

Personal care products and pesticides

Poisoning Our Future
“Poisoning Our Future: Children and Pesticides”

PAN AP launched a (free) book on insidious effects of pesticides on children

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20 Petrochemicals to Avoid in Personal Care and Laundry Products

 

Re-posting with permission

20 of the most common Petrochemical Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid

The Organic Natural Beauty Directory urges all consumers to carefully read the ingredient labels on the products they intend to buy and be fully aware of what goes in them, that way you will know what to avoid. Ingredients are listed most used to least used (meaning that the first ingredient listed is what makes up the largest part of the product). It is extremely alarming to know that many major brands of skin care and personal care products contain petrochemicals in them.

It pains and angers me to see big beauty brands advertising on TV that they are ‘natural’ but when you look at their ingredients they may also contain some petrochemicals- so make sure you know your ingredients. This is why modern day consumers need to beware of ‘greenwashing’ and become educated on what the ingredients being used are.Your safest bet as a consumer is to choose products that contain all natural, whole and unprocessed botanical ingredients.

According to the ‘campaign for safe cosmetics website’.

“Many of these petrochemicals are known and scientifically proven to be toxic.”

“They can cause eye impairment, intestinal damage, kidney and liver problems, breathing problems, cysts, skin spots, rashes, premature aging and hair loss. Some are endocrine disruptors (that can cause hormonal disruptions and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects), and some even carcinogenic (that can cause cancer, and in particular breast cancer)”.

Our skin is the largest organ in our body so it makes sense that we as consumers wake up & start taking control of what we feed ourselves.

Here is the A-Z list of the 20 most common petrochemicals used in personal care products:

toxic skull and bones

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ReBlog: Are YOU drinking the Keratin Complex Kool-Aid?

I just discovered a blog (thanks Women’s Voices for the Earth) dedicated to “create awareness, and protect people from the harmful toxins that are so regularly used in the beauty industry, most notably that of the Brazilian Blowout.”

“Pretty Toxic” was created by Jennifer Arce and Dawn Marino, two hair stylists whose lives have changed after contracting formaldehyde poisoning from the hair smoothing product known as the Brazilian Blowout being used in the salons they worked at. The site serves as an educational and informative tool for stylists, consumers and the general public in an attempt to protect others from toxic exposure to chemicals in beauty products.

From their post on the 13th Annual Stylist Choice Awards:

While Martino Cartier accepted the award on behalf of Keratin Complex he said:  

“Thank you for drinking the Kool-Aid, and thank you for believing in Keratin Complex.”

Oh Martino, Martino, Martino!! We had to rewind it to just make sure we heard him right, but yep, that’s what he said!!

“Drinking the Kool-Aid,” according to Wikipedia, “suggests that one has mindlessly adopted the dogma of a group or leader without fully understanding the ramifications or implications.” And also, “refers to a person or group holding an unquestioned belief, argument, or philosophy without critical examination.” So this made us wonder…

Did you know Coppola/ Keratin Complex has the second most injuries reported to the FDA according to documents made public in 2011? Yep, but don’t take our word for it, check it out for yourself! here:

via Are YOU drinking the Keratin Complex Kool-Aid?.

nails-on-a-chalckboard

Cosmetics and Fragrance Industry claims government regulations are sufficient

Dear Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association,

How about not hiding behind lax government regulations?

Sincerely,

Me

In  the letter I received from them (included below) they claim that: “it is illegal to sell cosmetics or other personal care products that would cause harm when used as intended”

Really?

Then why are so many people getting asthma, headaches, chemical sensitivities, and some other serious and disabling effects from their products?

CCTFA hides behind lax regulations

CCTFA hides behind lax regulations

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