Not Just a Pretty Face

Stacy Malkan, author of Not Just a Pretty Face, is here with us today. Stacy has been working in the field of environmental health, and then began launching a research and advocacy effort. At age 17, before getting on the school bus, Malkan was exposing herself to over 200 chemicals. 17 carcinogens and 30 plus hormone disrupting chemicals.
Found was that certain chemicals phthalates (hormone disrupting specifically testosterone)exist in higher levels in women. After testing many products, phthalates were found in 70% of them. Shampoo, creams and other body products. Products that have "fragrance" tend to have phthalates. Males are also at risk.

The FDA doesn't have the power to oversee the cosmetic industry, unfortunately. That type of regulation doesn't exist in cosmetics. It's as if the FDA wasn't (until recently) aware that the skin is such an absorbing organ.

Is there a link between breast cancer and cosmetics?
Carcinogens have been found in low levels in all of the products that Malkan tested. Baby Shampoos, body wash, and bubble bath.
High levels of estrogen also leaves breast cancer as a risk, so hormone disrupting chemicals are of concern.

These issues are all connected. Chemicals end up in our streams, our oceans, our agriculture, our dinner plates, our bodies, and our ailments. What to do?

Pink Washing is a term which points a finger at beauty companies which hold pink ribbon events, promoting them selves as friends of the breast cancer victim, mean while using chemicals and carcinogens in their products which are causing breast cancer. What's important is asking the question, how can we stop women from getting this cancer in the first place?

The good news is that their are alternatives! PEG's, Parabens, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are not necessary and companies are staring to find ways to make the product effective without these harmful chemicals.

There is a database called Skin Deep which helps us to find safer alternatives in body care. Look up the companies you have been using, and see how they rank on the rating system.
Whole Foods now has products with a sticker ensuring a Premium Body Care Standard.

What can we do?

Look at those labels! Share the Skin Deep website with your friends, family, and young girls. Look critically at what the beauty industry is telling us. If you drop a product, let the company know why. Be vocal about your actions!


A couple of Malkan's recommended websites:

Mom's Rising

Teen's for Safe Cosmetics

Stacy can be found at Not Just a Pretty Face.

email her at Stacy@safecosmetics.org.

Thank you Stacy!

Olana