Why This is Green

It’s a sad but true fact that the cosmetics we use daily can and do contain chemicals that are harmful to personal health. Some are suspected or confirmed carcinogens, others are neurotoxins or hormone disruptors. There are preservatives and other ingredients that wind up in breast tissue and in our blood—not exactly what anyone bargains for when innocently choosing a shampoo.

Everyone has a different tolerance for risk. The first step is to find out what's in your cosmetics and what the concerns are about the ingredients. Some concerns are relatively clear-cut scientifically, but many are more nuanced. Some ingredients are controversial without being defined as carcinogens, but they might be endocrine system disruptors.

Reading most cosmetic ingredient lists can trigger a deep desire for a degree in chemistry.
An easier—and very helpful--way to know if your chosen product is safe is to find out how it ranks on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database and/or on the GoodGuide. As you check your products on either site, you will become familiar with which ingredients are considered high hazards. Then you can look to avoid those on ingredient lists when shopping.

Learn More

• MyPlasticFreeLife.com: Thinking About Cosmetics Sooner Than I'd Planned
• The New York Times Via SafeCosmetics.org: New Alarm Bells About Chemicals And Cancer
• The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
• The GoodGuide
• Practically Green: Cosmetics Maven Has A Healthy Green Beauty Makeover
• HuffingtonPost.com: 5 Toxins Found In Most Face Moisturizers