Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

I received an update about the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. A bill has been introduced to the House of Representatives that will allow the FDA to have more enforcement over what ingredients are in personal care products. I posted previously about how harmful ingredients are added to the products that we use daily. They can contain chemicals that cause cancer and other serious effects, even the care products for babies. Watch the Story of Cosmetics!! It is really good.

Image from an interesting blog: http://fumblingtowardsagreenerme.wordpress.com/


Here is the update that I received:

This year, you and thousands of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics supporters urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to get cancer-causing formaldehyde out of Brazilian Blowout and other hair-straightening products.

And recently, you signed the petition to the Obama Administration asking for prevention to be a major focus of our country's cancer plan (we joined our allies at the White House in May and dropped off all 73,000 signatures!).

Well, we have exciting news: you've helped build the momentum for Congressional leaders to reintroduce the federal Safe Cosmetics Act in the House of Representatives Friday.

This bill (H.R.2359) would give the FDA the authority it needs to ensure that personal care products are free of harmful substances like lead, 1,4-dioxane and chemicals linked to cancer.

Existing law, which has not been updated in 70 years, allows companies to use these and other toxic chemicals in products we use on our bodies every day. We know that the U.S. can do better to protect our families and to remain a world leader in the marketplace!

Please urge your House members to co-sponsor the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011. Here's how:

1. Email them using our easy form.

2. Call them. Use our Legislator Lookup, dial the number for your federal Representative (we're not contacting Senators yet), and use the email text as a guide for your message to the staff person who answers the phone. Calls usually take about 1 minute, but they are really important!

3. Visit them. You have the right to meet with your Representative (or his or her staffers) to tell them that you want safe cosmetics. Check out our Legislative Toolkit to learn more.

Please take action and spread the word!

Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics

In July the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 was proposed to the House of Representatives. This Act will help to ensure that harmful chemicals are kept out of our cosmetics. Currently, there is no regulation by the Food and Drud Administration on what ingredients go into cosmetics, and the FDA cannot recall products that are found to be dangerous and extremely harmful. Many of the products, including ones listed as green, natural, or organic have ingredients in them that are allergens, known carcinogens (cause cancer), and are linked to neurotoxicity and reproductive and developmental toxicity. The Act still needs to be passed by Congress and the Senate. Contact your local politicians and let them know how important this is to you. You can visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to learn what to do to help.

While we are waiting for the FDA to catch up and regulate these products, how do we avoid putting endless amounts of chemicals on our face and bodies and on our children every day? Think of every product you put onto your body: shampoo, lotion, make-up, deodorant. All those products may contain harmful ingredients! To start, you can go to this website that rates cosmetic products' toxicity from 1 to 10. Pay attention to what products you are buying when you are at the store, and if a product is really unnecessary, stop using it. You can also write letters or emails to companies making these products and tell them that you want safer, toxic free products.

There is a great project going on called the Story of Stuff. Annie Leonard uses cartoons to help educate people on environmental issues. There is a video called the Story of Cosmetics that everyone should watch, and while you are there, take a look at some of her other videos too. The website is www.storyofstuff.org.

Picture from Storyofstuff.org.