Did you know that many of the personal care products — shampoos, deodorants, skin creams, cosmetics, shaving lotions, hair color, and so on — contain potentially dangerous chemicals? Those chemicals are absorbed through our skin every time we use these products, and some are very hard to eliminate. Unfortunately, you can’t always tell from the labels whether a chemical is dangerous or not, but you don’t have to wonder about product safety anymore: Check out the Skin Deep database.
The Skin Deep database was created by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), whose goals are to protect the public from health problems attributed to toxic contaminants and get the federal government to change existing policies so they invest in conservation and sustainable development.
In their own words: “Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know. It shames and shakes up polluters and their lobbyists. It rattles politicians and shapes policy. It persuades bureaucracies to rethink science and strengthen regulation. It provides practical information you can use to protect your family and community.”
In the Skin Deep database, accessed at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com, you can enter the name of any product, ingredient or company to find out more information. It doesn’t contain every product, but the most common products are there, and much more. When you search a product, you’ll find:
The overall level of hazard, rated from 0 to 10.
A summary of the health risks associated with the product.
A list of each ingredient along with its individual hazard rating and a list of the related health concerns.
A clickable link to more information about each ingredient, including the source of the information provided in the database.
Skin Deep is a real time-saving resource you won’t want to be without.
Comments always welcome.
Dr. Larry
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