Are Your Products Safe?
The chemicals in any one consumer product alone are unlikely to cause harm. But unfortunately, we are repeatedly exposed to industrial chemicals from many different sources on a daily basis, including cosmetics and personal care products.
Many of these chemicals have gotten into our bodies, our breast milk and our children. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems that are on the rise in the human population. Some chemicals found in a variety of cosmetics — including phthalates, acrylamide, formaldehyde and ethylene oxide — are listed by EPA and the state of California as carcinogens or reproductive toxins.
Learn more about lead in lipstick »
Learn more about 1,4-Dioxane »
Learn about the top ingredients of concern »
View health studies »
See if your favorite products contain toxic chemicals »
U.S. Laws Don't Protect Us
Major loopholes in federal law allow the $50 billion cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of chemicals into personal care products with no required testing, no monitoring of health effects, and inadequate labeling requirements.
From the FDA website:
"The regulatory requirements governing the sale of cosmetics are not as stringent as those that apply to other FDA-regulated products... Manufacturers may use any ingredient or raw material, except for color additives and a few prohibited substances, to market a product without a government review or approval."
Read more about the FDA's authority over cosmetics »
European Laws Mean Safer Products
The European Union has more stringent and protective laws for cosmetics than the US. The EU amended the Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC) in January 2003 to ban the use of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects. This amendment went into force in September 2004. (Visit the European Commission online for the most recently amended Cosmetics Directive in multiple languages.)
The European Union is also proposing to change the way it regulates all chemicals in order to better protect human health. EU wants to require chemical companies to test chemicals for health effects before they are put on the market. The Bush Administration has been working to stop Europe from passing these protective laws. See a report by Rep. Henry Waxman for more information on US interference with the EU plan to change the way chemicals are regulated.
What is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics doing?
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is asking cosmetics companies to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to not use toxic chemicals and to make safer, reformulated products readily available in the U.S. and in every market they serve. More than 900 companies have signed the Compact to date. We're also pushing for smarter laws to protect our health from toxic chemicals.
Join us today in our call for safer products and smarter laws! »
Learn more about us »
State Level Efforts for Smarter Laws
Because at this time, federal oversight of the cosmetics industry is virtually non-existent, some states are taking their own action to limit toxic chemicals in cosmetics.
Learn more »
