Anonymous wrote:BTW does anyone know if the Safe Chemicals act passed or not and is now a law?

It is still in committee, as are two other bills aimed at overhauling FDA regulation of the cosmetics industry. The bills are not likely to see any action, given the current political climate.

Anonymous wrote:I don't wear a lot of makeup normally except for a powder foundation. I'm currently trying Coastal Classics Creations stuff - found it on the EWG website and buy it online. I works fine for me. I plan to try their deodorant next. I also use Tom's of Maine toothpaste.

I've stopped using a moisturizer with SPF (my skin can handle the sun, especially now that fall is here) but still use Eucerin Calming Cream to help with dryness. It's a 3 on EWG.

I'm using hair care products labeled paraben free but have not searched them in EWG because I'm afraid. : )

Not related to makeup, but the overall topic, so I'll also note I stopped using plastics for food and drink long ago - only glass/aluminum now. I've stopped taking receipts wherever possible, but I find it oddly difficult. I pretend not to know about hazards in furnishings (flame retardants in couch, stuff like that). There's only so much I can do.

For those who don't like EWG, this might be helpful:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=new-website-maps-endocrine-disruptors

Im sorry but this made me laugh b/c that's what I do! Unless you want to throw all your couches and furniture out and buy all wool couches, etc and spend a fortune there is no way to remove flame retardants from your home. I have decided going forward, we will buy wood furniture (without cushions), organic mattresses, etc but there is no way to get rod of what you have. It's sad.

PP: wow, I had no idea. Thanks for the info!

BTW does anyone know if the Safe Chemicals act passed or not and is now a law?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:16 - You realize that Personal Care Truth is run by two scientists from the cosmetics industry, right? I think I'll take the independant EWG recs over the cosmetic industry telling me how safe things are.

And I tend to use some Dr. Haushkas, and assorted others. Check ingredient labels for the usual parabens and the like.

I believe it's two former cosmetic industry scientists, right? Who runs EWG?

I'd worry most about known endocrine disrupters, OP, like parabens as mentioned by PP.

I agree. I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem when I was only 28 and I tend to believe it was b/c of all the endocrine disruptors I was exposed to through my life.

Anonymous wrote:To poster 13:01:

"I've stopped taking receipts wherever possible, but I find it oddly difficult."

What does this mean? Thanks.

They have BPA in them. At whole foods, you see the cashiers wearing gloves now and I think that's part of the reason. I don't take receipts either.

To poster 13:01:

"I've stopped taking receipts wherever possible, but I find it oddly difficult."

What does this mean? Thanks.

Hi OP, I use makeup from whole foods that I have looked up on the ewg.com Skin Deep database to make sure it's rated well (low toxicity).

I also use shampoo and conditioner (fragrance free) from whole foods and I use all natural crystal deodorant (from CVS).

I agree it's a pain in the ass but it's good to get into the groove of using less toxic products, even if you are NOT pregnant.

Anonymous wrote:12:16 - You realize that Personal Care Truth is run by two scientists from the cosmetics industry, right? I think I'll take the independant EWG recs over the cosmetic industry telling me how safe things are.

And I tend to use some Dr. Haushkas, and assorted others. Check ingredient labels for the usual parabens and the like.

If by "two scientists from the cosmetics industry" you mean small, independent business owners of cosmetics companies focused on natural ingredients, then yes, I do realize that.

Kristin Fraser Cotte is the founder of The Grapeseed Company--premium eco-friendly skin & personal care from locally grown, certified organic and natural ingredients. Lisa M. Rodgers is CEO and founder of Cactus & Ivy, a wholesale/retail manufacturer of cruelty free and vegan, natural bath and body products. See http://personalcaretruth.com/about/about-kristin/ and http://personalcaretruth.com/about/about-lisa/

Kristin was originally a signer of the EWG's Compact for Safe Cosmetics, but asked to be removed "due to the detrimental direction the Campaign was heading in squashing small businesses, along with the lack of science behind their agenda." Asked multiple times, and yet two years later, her company was still listed as a signer. (The compact has since been phased out, so I don't know if or when her company was ever removed.) See http://www.greenskincareblog.com/2010/07/safe-cosmetic-act-of-2010-is-not.html

They don't really sound like industry shills to me. And EWG doesn't report their funding sources, so how do you know they are "independent"?

If you want to counter my actual points, I'd be happy to engage in a discussion about what is really safe. Skin Deep equates 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!). So what benefit do I get from using it?

Anonymous wrote:12:16 - You realize that Personal Care Truth is run by two scientists from the cosmetics industry, right? I think I'll take the independant EWG recs over the cosmetic industry telling me how safe things are.

And I tend to use some Dr. Haushkas, and assorted others. Check ingredient labels for the usual parabens and the like.

I believe it's two former cosmetic industry scientists, right? Who runs EWG?

I'd worry most about known endocrine disrupters, OP, like parabens as mentioned by PP.

The problem with "natural" make ups is that comparatively, they work like crap and cost a mortgage payment.

If you're really committed though, Kjaer Weiss and RMS have okay products. Do a google image search for swatches and reviews.