ABOUT

Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Written by EWG staff.

DONATE TO EWG!

Help us protect your health and environment!  Please donate $5 to EWG today.

GET EWG'S TIPS & ACTION ALERTS

Sign Up here to receive email updates and tips from EWG and stay informed on the issues that matter most to you.

ENVIROBLOG VIA EMAIL

Delivered by FeedBurner

 Enviroblog in your Reader

Get EWG widgets & blog badges.

Join EWG's live chat with Chef Ann Cooper

School lunch: More fruits & veggies, please!

Texas Schools are Drilling for Dollars

Why do blowouts take so long to fix?

SEARCH ENVIROBLOG

FIND PAST POSTS

select month November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004

FEATURED

Support the 2010 Safe Cosmetics Act. It's Urgent.

Why, oh why is there plastic in my aluminum water bottle?

Cell phone radiation series - Part 2: 8 Ways to reduce your exposure

So what products CAN we use?

Test Your Knowledge of Cosmetics Safety: 8 Myths Debunked

EWG's Tips for Parents: The Series

EWG's Tips to avoid BPA exposure

EWG on TV

Cutting the Pork from U.S. Farm Bill

Toxic Tub?

Sunscreen safety & DC drinking water

Perchlorate in people, kids' personal care products & plastics, and sunscreen

BPA in baby formula & safe cosmetics

Ask EWG

What can I do about fluoride in my water?

What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?

What is "fragrance"?

Which infant formula is best?

Are stainless steel water bottles safe?

Is mineral-based makeup safer?

Ask EWG Archives

PEOPLE TALKING TOXICS

Breast Cancer Fund

The Daily Green

Eco Child's Play

Environmental Defense Fund

Green Moms Carnival

Grist

Healthy Child, Healthy World

Huffington Post Green

NRDC's Switchboard

Organic.org

Safer States

TreeHugger

TALK TO US

Did we miss something? Email Enviroblog.

« Mercury in light bulbs | Main | My new year's resolution? Parent power. »

EWG Shopper's Guide to Safe Cosmetics: It's Easy

If you're a regular Enviroblog reader, likely as not you've searched our Skin Deep database once or twice (or if you're like me, every time you head to the store). Maybe to find safer products for your baby, maybe to research your own skin care products. Whatever the case, you're probably looking for the quickest way to choose safer products for you & your family.

Because there are so incredibly many products available to us, I have found it easier to avoid the worst ingredients, the ones we know have adverse environmental health effects. Like reproductive deformities and cancer. And since naturally I can't recall the specific ingredients at the exact moment I'm in the grocery aisle, pushing that gigantic 2-seater shopping truck that my kids always head for, I carry a wallet guide.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Another wallet guide. But trust me on this one, I actually pull it out and in the end it saves me time and prevents me from making bad heat-of-the-moment purchases. It lists the top ingredients and products to avoid whenever possible:

Cosmetic ingredients to avoid:

1. DMDM hydantoin & Imidazolidinyl urea


2. Methylchloroisothiazolinone & Methylisothiazolinone


3. Fragrance and dyes


4. Parabens or -paraben


5. Triethanolamine


6. Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate


7. Triclosan & triclocarban

Cosmetic products to avoid:

1. Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acids


2. Hair dyes with ammonia, peroxide, p-phenylenediamine, diaminobenzene, and all dark permanent hair dyes


3. Liquid hand soaps with Triclosan, aka Antibacterial hand soaps


4. Nail polish & removers with fermaldehyde


5. Skin lighteners with hydraquinone

It might sound like a lot (some serious tongue twisters in there), but it's really not that hard. All you have to do is: download guide, fold and place in wallet, remember it's there (!), and check it when you're buying personal care products. If any of the to-be-avoided ingredients are listed, put it back on the shelf and roll safely on.

And if you want the quick and easy on sunscreen and children's products, this wallet guide is definitely for you. If you want to know more about children's products (as I always seem to), you can peruse our 1-page Guide to Safer Children's Products or check our very thorough list of safer kids products in Skin Deep - including diaper cream, play make-up, and shampoo, among others.

So go forth and shop safer. Could be the perfect New Year's resolution.

« Mercury in light bulbs |