Anonymous wrote:Its overwhelming. I was less concerned about make up and more worried about lotions and other skin care products. Spend some time on the Environmental Working Group cosmetic data base. Its shocking how many items that are so popular (and expensive) are rated horribly due to toxins and endocrin disrupters in them.
for lotions I mainly stick to burts bees belly butter and Vitamin E oil.
I *really* wish people would stop recommending EWG's Skin Deep database. It's just plain bad science and scare tactics.
They try to equate hazard with risk, when the two are not the same thing AT ALL (risk = hazard x exposure). Their actual hazard ratings are very subjective, some chemicals are listed under two different names with different scores, and they often treat data gaps as a good thing (but not consistently!).
"In summary, the Skin Deep database does not offer any insight into the true safety in use of any cosmetic product. Indeed, by encouraging the use of ingredients with no supporting toxicity data, they are risking the health of the very consumers they pupport to be seeking to protect. This database should be radically amended (and corrected) to better reflect it’s true worth, or closed down."
http://personalcaretruth.com/2010/05/skin-deep-scratching-below-the-surface/
For what products ARE safe, this is a good article summarizing current scientific knowledge/recommendations:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/pregnancy-and-skin-care-which-products-are-safe.aspx
In a nutshell: avoid hydroquinone and prescription retinoids (e.g., Renova, Retin-A, Differin, Tazorac, and generic tretinoin) and over-the-counter products with retinol, but most other over-the-counter cosmetic ingredients are safe for pregnancy, including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid (BHA), glycolic acid or lactic acid (AHAs), and the usual sunscreen active ingredients.