 When most Americans need to purchase a personal care product, EnviroCitizen.org has found that they go to the store and look for 3 things:
1) A brand or product that they've used before and liked the results of.
2) A brand or product that is on sale.
3) A brand or product that advertises something that seems interesting or intriguing.
If you fall into the first category, you might be the kind of consumer who has used a particular product many times and you've gotten into the habit of using it. If you're in the second category, you're probably the kind of consumer who makes purchases based on price rather than brand loyalty. If you're in the final category, you are probably dissatisfied with the products that you've used previously and you want to find a product that meets your needs. These three categories are lacking something, and that something is the environment and your personal health.
Do you know what is in the products that you use? If you're like most Americans, the answer is NO. For example, did you know that most commercial hair conditioners contain either human or cow placentas? Or did you know that many types of mascara contain mercury? Did you know that many lotions contain petroleum? Again, if you're like most Americans, the answer to all of these questions is probably still NO. So, if you want to become enlightened about the stuff in the products that you buy and put onto your skin, you should take a look at Skin Deep, the Cosmetic Safety Database. Skin Deep is a safety guide to personal care products and cosmetics that informs consumers about what is in the products that you plan to buy.
Skin Deep is an incredibly useful database and search engine that allows you to either search for a specific product or to peruse through their extensive database of products. Powered by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Skin Deep exposes the ingredients that companies are allowed to leave off of their products. This is important, especially when you consider the fact that companies aren't really restricted at all when it comes to the ingredients they use and the United States government does not require companies to test their products for safety before they're sold. The Skin Deep database offers information and safety assessments for 51,985 products, 8,792 ingredients, 2,412 brands and 1,593 companies, making it a great tool for you as a conscientious consumer.
The EWG's Skin Deep database is great, but they do more than just offer information. EWG is also working to fix the policies that allow customers to receive over-exposure to toxic chemicals through personal care products. Skin Deep also fuels the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is a coalition of public health, educational, religious, labor, women-focused, environmental and consumer groups working to protect the health of consumers and workers to require the health and beauty industry to phase out the use of dangerous chemicals and replace them with safe alternatives.
So, before you head to the store to stock up on personal care products and cosmetics, EnviroCitizen.org suggests you take a look at Skin Deep. That way, you can make smart decisions that will benefit your personal health as well as the environment.
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